Ginger was honored at the 2007 Texas Staff Development Council Conference as the Texas Staff Developer of the Year. Ginger Tucker Ginger's Biographical Information Ginger Tucker is a former classroom teacher and education specialist. Since 1996 she has owned her own consulting company, providing training for school, business, and church personnel. She presents at local, state, and national conferences. Ginger’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in history and English education from Hardin Simmons University, a master’s degree in history and geography from West Texas A&M University, and a mid– management certification from WTAMU. She recently retired from Canyon ISD in 2008 as the Executive Director of Curriculum and Professional Development. Ginger is married to Tommy Tucker and has two grown children and eight grandchildren. Ginger’s professional mission is to provide quality training and services in a way that enhances people’s morale and performance so that they can make a difference in the lives of others. GKT Consulting, Inc. For References Contact: Dr. Happy Carrico Denton ISD 940-369-0000 Linsae Snider Director of Professional Development and Public Relations Frenship ISD Wolfforth, Texas 806-866-4756 Dr. Lorraine Morazzano Grand Prairie ISD Staff Development 972-237-5315 Lisa Casto Director of Curriculum and Professional Development Allen ISD 972-727-0511 Michelle Barrera Executive Director of Human Resources Hays CISD 512-268-6027 Dr. James Veitenheimer Keller ISD Superintendent 817-744-1000 Dr. Jody Westbrook Executive Director Texas Staff Development Council 817-508-3415 Lesli Laughter Canyon ISD Assistant Superintendent 806-677-2600 Charle Scott Consultant Ector County Texas 432-352-6613 Tom Garland Houlette and Garland CPA Canyon, Texas 806-655-8772 Letters from teachers... Hi, Ginger, I'm a second year teacher.  I was in your academy last year. I just wanted you to know that I did make it back!  Also, I want you to know how much your academy last year and my reviewing the materials right before starting this year have helped me.  Your cooperative learning ideas are wonderful, but not only that, they get me started and I can branch those ideas out in ways that work for my class. Today I had my calculus students line up in the order of their birthdays so that I could number them off into groups of four.  I needed to cover some pre-requisites for calculus before we delve into the tuff stuff, but I new they'd be bored to tears with me lecturing them with what they already know but have temporarily forgotten.  So, I took a cue from you and had each group take a section from Chapter 1 of the textbook and prepare a presentation for the class including a handout and 5-problem assignment. You should have heard them discussing ideas!  What's even better is that it keeps me from having to write detailed plans for the next 4 days! Thanks, Ginger, for making teaching fun... Cheryl Mother Tucker   (I feel like you mothered me into my first year of teaching)        I just wanted to write short note and thank you so much for FYTA that you are teaching.  You have no idea what a huge blessing it has been!!!  That class is going to be more practical than any class I took in college!       Well, I just finished my 2nd real day of school.  Whew!  Enough said!  The first day I thought I was going to lose my voice I talked so much, but today I was fine.  I feel so much more confident that now I really can do this job (I have doubted some this summer).  I already love my kids and am desperately trying to learn names!       You helped me so much to prepare for the first days, but I wish you could see me at school... running to ask questions a hundred times a day.  There are so many little procedures (campus stuff) that they forget to tell new people.  Oh well, I'm learning as I need it, and at the moment I'm on info overload.   Thank you for all your help! Sheila   PS  The worst thing that happend on the first day of school was that I was so nervous that morning I forgot to pack a lunch (not that I would have eated much anyway!