The Team

Brandon Milonovich

Scratch Instructor

Brandon is currently working on his Bachelors Degree in Secondary Mathematics Education at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY. The Scratch journey started for Brandon in January 2010 when he was recruited by one of his Saint Rose professors to help the teachers of TOAST out. Brandon's specialty is Mathematics, although one of his favorite hobbies is computer science. He has had a passion for learning and educating since he was a young child and abides by the educational philosophy that constructivist and constructionist practices are the 21st century way to educate youth. Brandon is a member of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), Association of Mathematics Teachers of New York State (AMTNYS), the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), American Mathematical Society (AMS), and the New York State Association for Computers and Technologies in Education (NYSCATE).

 

Laurie Ellis

TOAST 4th Grade Teacher

Laurie Ellis is an Integrated Fourth Grade Educator at T.O.A.S.T. She is the Building Representative of Technology for the District. From The College of Saint Rose she has earned an Undergraduate Elementary Education Degree and Graduate Degree in Educational Psychology, she has always believed that ALL learners can achieve, if content is presented in a creative “project based” format. Laurie was the first teacher from the Capital District Region to receive a Certificate of Technology from The College of Saint Rose. She is a member of both the New York State Association for Computers and Technologies in Education (NYSCATE) and International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). NYSCATE has been an invaluable membership for learning technology integration within the urban classroom. Last year, at the ISTE Conference in Washington D. C. she witnessed students’ enthusiasm for learning through Scratch. Scratch’s strength is that it is a “level playground” for all learners! Through Scratch the TOAST learners are well on their way to developing 21st century skills.

 

Steven Costello

TOAST 5th Grade Teacher

Steve Costello is a fifth grade teacher at T.O.A.S.T. The SCRATCH journey began for him when he saw the versatility of benefits from this program. There is a low floor with wide walls.  This means that every participant gains something from this program and is able to contribute her or his unique knowledge, skills and perspective.  The project fit perfectly into his long time educational philosophy which has always been student centered, project based learning filled with independent motivation built through choice in the classroom.  This is the basis of 21st Century skills that students need to learn and develop.  A member of NYSCATE, he believes that we have much to learn from each other and is constantly seeking new ways to share and gain new knowledge and skills.  Steve has a History and Anthropology Bachelor’s degree from The University of Massachusetts and an Elementary Education Masters from the College of Saint Rose.  His active membership as a lifelong learner in the Capital District Council for The Social Studies of New York State (CDCSS) is another avenue for gathering ideas to share with colleagues and students.  Topics studied and discussed such as the Underground Railroad, William Johnson and the roles of Native Americans in our past, present and future lead directly to discussions and SCRATCH projects based on redefining multicultural perspectives of history.

 

Alice Florance

TOAST Library Media Center Specialist

Alice Florance is the Library Media Specialist at T.O.A.S.T..  Her work in the Library Media Center includes the promotion of literacy, hands-on and accessible project-based design and sharing, collaboration and problem-solving, ethical and prodcutive inquiry learning, and the development of other 21st century skills.From the instant she noticed Scratch in the literature, Alice knew that Scratch would provide her young students with the context and tools fundamental to 21st Century learning.  Alice’s exploration of Scratch combines her early doctoral interests in cognition and language development with her roles as an active information specialist including teaching and instruction, curriculum and technology integration, and collaboration.