Profile
Teresa Chance
Director of Elementary Curriculum
Cabot
Teresa Chance is the Director of Elementary Curriculum and Instruction for Cabot School District in Arkansas. This is her third year in that position, where she spends the majority of her time facilitating teachers’ conversations as they work on curriculum alignment. Based upon these conversations, Teresa designs professional development programs for teachers.
Always a go-getter, Teresa began her teaching career at the age of nineteen after completing her BSE in three years. She received her MSE from Centenary College. In twelve years, she taught every grade from Kindergarten through-8th, including special education and gifted classes. Although her achievements as a teacher are many, she would tell you that the "Dare to Dream" project which allows every fifth grade student in Cabot School District to attend Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, continues to make her dream of providing educational opportunities for all children a reality. Now in its eleventh year, more than 5000 fifth graders have had the opportunity to see the great impact technology has made on our space program.
Educational leadership is Teresa's second passion. Teresa has been the principal and instructional leader of both an elementary and middle school. Under her leadership, the middle school won the first Shannon Wright Outstanding Arkansas Middle School Award. One year after the school received this presitigious award, Teresa moved to the district office to her current position.
Teresa has always been interested in the ability of technology to enhance instruction. Her first experience with computers was personally purchasing three TI-80's for classroom in 1982. Teresa knows that public education must embrace technology if it is to survive. "As an educational dreamer, I see all children being able to reach their full potential when aided by technology." Not only has she taken every available opportunity to hone her own skills with technological advances, but she has been instrumental in providing opportunities for classroom teachers to have the training and tools they need. Her most difficult challenge with technology remains keeping up with her thirteen year old son’s insatiable quest for new technological knowledge.