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Technology reconnects homebound teacher with special ed students
By Phyllis Coulter
pcoulter@pantagraph.com
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NORMAL -- A Kingsley Junior High School student danced with joy and clapped his hands after he saw his teacher’s face and heard her voice with the help of technology.

It had been too long.

Special education teacher Barb Hartseil was in a serious car accident in late January, and her five students really needed to know she was OK after a nearly two-month absence. Modern technology allayed their fears, with students and teacher using video-conferencing software to see and hear each other.

Now, Cody Gravett, 14, and his classmates regularly see and hear their teacher as she recuperates from two broken legs.

“She works with students with autism and we were discovering that the students were having an exceptionally difficult time with her absence,” said Nora Bardi, the school’s assistive technology coordinator.

“It’s wonderful what technology can do,” said Rita Gyires, technology training coordinator for Normal-based Unit 5 schools.

Hartseil might return to the classroom by May. In the meantime, the students have regularly scheduled interactive visits with their teacher and can be quickly connected to her if they have an urgent need.

“They didn’t understand what happened to her,” said substitute teacher Debbi Ware.

“We miss her a lot. She’s a great teacher,” said Janie Zalesiak, a teaching assistant for the class, along with Ritchie Thompson and Katie Eichoff.

The technology “is fabulous,” said Hartseil, who has been sending prepared lessons and communicates with the teaching team frequently. “I’m incredibly grateful to the district. … It shows their respect for the needs of students.”

Kingsley Principal Lynette Mehall said Hartseil goes “above and beyond.”

“With these students, the relationship is No. 1,” and Hartseil is very aware of that, Mehall said.

At the moment, Hartseil uses a wheelchair to get around her house. A laptop computer, a Christmas gifts from sons Bryce and Ezra, has become her command post.

Hartseil has taught about 14 years. For several years, she was with the district’s program for homebound students.

Ironically, “now I’m homebound,” she said.

Take a look
Kingsley Junior High School substitute teacher Debbi Ware smiles as she uses the SKYPE video conferenceing program to interact with Autism classroom teacher Barb Hartseil. Ware is sitting with Sam Cooper, 13, one of several students that were able to visit with Hartseil, who is recovering from injuries suffered in an automobile accident. The Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY The Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY
Kingsley Junior High School teachers assistant Kari Hennenfent smiles as she works with autism classroom student Cody Gravett, 14, during the SKYPE conference with teacher Barb Hartseil Monday, March 17, 2008. The Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY
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Reader comments on this story - 3 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

tiltee2 wrote on Mar 31, 2008 2:07 PM:

" Barb:
Really hope you keep your head up and see the students are worth it each and everyday. "

events wrote on Mar 31, 2008 8:19 AM:

" this is great, I'm sure it helps the students as much as the teacher. "

Chelly wrote on Mar 31, 2008 8:12 AM:

" Barb hope you recover soon. I think its great you are making the effort to reconnect with the students who need you so much. "
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