Kywanda Fortenberry’s Introduction Teaching Learning and Leading in the 21 st Century EDU650

Who am I  My name is Kywanda Fortenberry  Born January 25, 1978  Am 36 years old  From McComb, MS  Adopted child (raised by my grandmothers)

My Family  Married to Laboris Fortenberry  4 children (Raven 19, Kabreya 13, Nakhiya 8, Lakaiden 6) helping Raise 1 child (Ariah Green 2)  Husband works in the oil field  Raven attends college at Alcorn State University on a Band Scholarship playing the trombone  Kabreya 8 th grade dancer and cheerleader  Nakhiya 3 rd grade dancer and future cheerleader  Lakaiden 1 st grade plays little league baseball  Ariah pre-k loves to get on the children nerves  I couldn’t make it without a special Aunt (Aunt Dot)

My Educational Background  Finished High School at McComb High School in May 1996  Finished College at Alcorn State University in May 2000 with BS in General Studies concentrating in Elementary ED and Health and Physical Education  Marched with ASU Sounds of Dynomite Marching Band playing the trombone all 4 years

My Professional Background  Long term sub Eva Gordan Elem 2 nd grade teacher  Long term sub Magnolia Elem 5 th grade teacher  Assistant teacher 3 rd grade 1 st semester / Assistant teacher 5 th grade Sped 2 nd semester  Pre-GED teacher South Pike High School  worked in retail Footlocker (during college ) JC Penny’s, Bath and Bodyworks, and store manager of Shoe Department before I went back into the school system in August 2008  School Receptionist Otken Elementary  School Receptionist Otken/McComb High Varsity/JV Cheer Coach and Sponsor for the district  started as 21 st Century Programs Records Clerk then promoted to Kennedy Early Childhood Center’s Administrative Assistant/MSIS Contact/Records Clerk as I continued as the MSD Varsity/JC Coach and Sponsor  Administrative Assistant/MSIS Contact/Records and (MSD Varsity/JV Coach and Sponsor last year)  2013-Current Administrative Assistant/MSIS Contact/Records Clerk

My Experience  Grow up watching my grandmother as she taught Headstart (taught 42 years)  I’ve taught at the elementary level 3years as a long term sub  I worked in different educational setting with my current Job

My Interest  I love children so why not make a career in it  I want to start my own daycare to help develop more better prepared Kindergarteners in this area and then maybe branch off in other needed areas  I decided late in college that child development should have been my major so now I want to purse my goal

Type of Schools I Attended  I attended a Community Headstart program before entering Public School  I attended Public School K-12 th in McComb School District  My key experience was the band program which lasted 6 th – 12 th grade years. My band director was inspiring and keep us evolved in academics. The band program helped me receive a 4 year band scholarship to a senior college.

Future Goals  To own my on Daycare here in McComb  One day own more in needed areas  Open a dance/cheer studio for children ages 4 – 18

How this Master’s Degree will help  This master’s degree should help me reach my goal as becoming a daycare director  As well as enlighten my knowledge to how children learn in stages  Keeping children safe and feeding the nutritious meals to grow  I want to learn creative teaching strategies and how to run effective program

My Quote  “EDUCATION IS OUR PASSPORT TO THE FUTURE, FOR TOMORROW BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE WHO PREPARE FOR IT TODAY “ BY MALCOM X