Delgado 1

Daisy Delgado

Jodi Flowers

EDU 214

9/17/2022

Teacher Interview

I had the opportunity to interview Mr. Masters about using technology in his classroom

via email and in person. He is a teacher at Tobler elementary school, teaching third grade

through fifth grade in the autism program. This is his first-year teaching at Tobler elementary

and has some experience working with kids with autism and is excited about this school year

with his students.

The educational software that Mr. Masters uses currently for his classroom is Microsoft

excel but also uses another software called “RETHINK” he’s still new to the software and uses it

from time to time but both programs are the way he collects the data of his students. He did

mention that infinite campus is the database that teachers and administrators use to submit their

reports. I did mention to him, what best software products he finds most effective in teaching and

the learning process, and he said that the “Rethink” app is a step in the right direction for his

students. The reason he thinks “Rethink” would be great for teaching is because it helps with

writing out IEPs, collecting data, and assigning work to students and its lesson library is very

thorough. As a future special education teacher, I thought the “Rethink” software had many

things that would be beneficial for teachers who are beginning their teaching journey. Mr.

Master’s mentioned that he has taken a class for the “Rethink” software but still learning how to

navigate it and is scheduled to take a class next month to learn more about collecting the data and

is hoping that it is better than plugging and chugging into excel.

 Delgado 2

Due to some students having sensory issues and can’t sit at the table for long periods at a

time. Mr. Masters has small groups of about two to three students at a time to teach them how to

use software products. He has iPads for his students during downtime that have a few learning

apps on them, which are Starfall, ABC mouse, Khan Academy, and Show Me Math to name a

few that he uses with his students. He mentioned that ABC mouse is the top app that his students

like because that’s the first thing they ask once they get their hands on the iPad.

I brought up the situation if there is a digital divide at the school or in the school system

here in Clark County School District. He responded that the biggest gap in the school system was

that there is no place to gather lesson materials from. Teachers use different websites and

materials to help them prepare for the classroom. He also mentioned that CCSD does have

standardized rubrics and uses the “Rethink” app as well. He understands that the philosophy of

flexibility not cornering teachers into a specific lesson plan, but for new teachers like himself has

been a difficult because he can’t decide which database or website has the best material. I did tell

him that that was interesting because I thought CCSD had materials ready for upcoming

teachers, he giggled and said “No, but that would make teaching a lot easier. Especially for my

classroom with students with special needs.” That I agreed with him because there aren’t that

many teaching materials for children with special needs.

He believed that technology doesn’t interfere in today’s day of age, he likes that teachers

have many options. But for a new teacher like himself, it takes a while to sample and figure out

what best programs work for your teaching style. He’s still learning how to navigate through

everything in his first year of teaching but it’s trial and error for him.

Mr. Masters suggested to improve the use of technology in a classroom would be to give

teachers and new teachers a couple of page handouts of what technology currently is and what
 Delgado 3

popularity it has amongst other teachers. In his opinion, it would cut down on web surfing for

materials that new teachers can use. I believe that Mr. Masters suggestion would help new

teachers most definitely because sometimes we don’t have the right direction on picking the right

technology for our students and it would cut out stress for first-year teachers.

As a future special education teacher, it was nice to interview someone who was new to

CCSD and to know what type of technology he uses in his classroom. Mr. Masters gave me the

confidence that sometimes teachers don’t have all the resources and you must pick the materials

that best suites your teaching style. I’m excited to use technology in my classroom and to see

what kind of software’s will have in the near future.

 How long have you been a teacher at Tobler and what grade are you currently

teaching?

-“This is my first year, I teach third-fifth grade autism program”

 What college did you attend?

-“The United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO

 What made you want to become a special education teacher?

-“I have a nephew with autism so partly it was to help become closer with him. I

also developed some trauma in the military, and I see a lot of similarities between

autism and PTSD.”

 What type of technology do you use for your autism class?

-“Proloquo is a speech program on IOS that I saw a student using last year. I

currently don’t have any for my non-verbal students so I’m not using it for them.”
Delgado 4
Delgado 5