History

Early History

• Unofficial Beginnings:  

In 1991, Linda Goodwin, St. Mary’s Episcopal School, initiated a meeting of computer teachers from Hutchison, St. George’s Day School (now St. George's Independent School), Presbyterian Day School, Briarcrest, Harding Academy, and Grace St. Luke’s Academy. In addition to Linda, these computer teachers included Sue Burnett, Frances Cowan, Cathy Kyle, Gail Braddock, Jane Maness, and Betty Wilson.

These unofficial meetings continued to be educational and supportive, and continued at different schools and the Cooker Restaurant. Additional members joined the organization over time.

• Making it Official:  

In 1995, Zvi Schoenburg mailed a letter to many of the local independent schools, asking if they would like to send a representative to a meeting to share ideas about educational technology. Attendees from the various schools included:

• Briarcrest Christian School– Gail Braddock

• Christ Methodist – Terry Balton

• Grace St. Luke’s – Betty Wilson, Karen McLaren

• Harding Academy – Doug Pinkerton, Jane Maness

• Hutchison School -- Sue Burnett, Peggy McPherson, Sandy Benson, Annabel Haynes

• MUS – Ellen McDonell

• PDS – Cathy Kyle

• St. Agnes – Jo Ann Lynn

• St. George’s – Frances Cowan

• St. Mary’s – Linda Goodwin, Julene Reed

• Solomon Schechter School – Zvi Schoenburg

By–laws were written in 1996.  By–laws committee members included:

• Annabel Haynes

• Jo Ann Lynn

• Sue Burnett

• Gail Braddock

• Julene Reed

• Others

Past Presidents of MAIS-TEC: 

• 1994–1995 – Zvi Schoenburg (chairman of group)

• 1995–1996 – Frances Cowan

• 1996–1997 – Gail Braddock

• 1997–1998 – Julene Reed

• 1998–1999 – Julene Reed

• 1999–2000 – Jane Maness

• 2000–2001 – Betty Wilson

• 2001–2002 – Patty Scully

• 2002–2003 – Judy Rutledge

• 2003–2004 – Cathy Kyle

• 2004–2005 – Candace Reynolds

• 2005–2006 –  Amy Moody

• 2006–2007 –  Amy Moody

• 2007–2008 – Stewart Crais

• 2008–2009 – Stewart Crais

• 2009–2010 – Melissa Smith

• 2010–2011 – Melissa Smith

• 2011–2012 – Sheri Burkeen

• 2012–2013 – Bryan Berretta 

• 2013-2014 – Whitney Miller

• 2014-2015 – Scott Young

• 2015-2016 – Lynn Williams 

• 2016-2017 – Lynn Williams

• 2017-2018 – Jessica Lancaster

• 2018-2019 - John Simi

• 2019-2020 - Justin Whitford

• 2020-2021 - John Simi

• 2021-2022 - Cindy Brock

• 2022-2023 - Arthur Rosario

• 2023-2024 - Scott Young

• 2024-2025 - Jordan Park

Webmasters:

• 1998–2003 – Sandy Benson

• 2003–2005 – Patty Scully

• 2013–2015 – Lori Carter

• 2015–Present – Lynn Williams

Professional Development Sponsorship History

• Hooked on Technology sessions (HOTS) 

Gail Braddock of Briarcrest and Jane Maness of Harding Academy led the early efforts to organize and offer technology related professional development to teachers of both public and private schools in the Memphis area. They developed the idea of HOTS sessions, short one–hour professional development sessions, which were held at several MAIS–TEC schools. These professional development opportunities were first organized and offered from January 19 through February 27, 1998. HOTS featured classroom teachers as well as technology specialists sharing ideas of how to utilize technology for teaching and learning. JoAnn Lynn had the original idea of allowing classroom teachers to share how they were utilizing technology in their own classrooms. The HOTS workshops were discontinued in 2012 in favor of the ed–camp inspired innovatED mini–conference.

• innovatED (MAIS–TEC Sponsorship began in April of 2012)

innovatED is an annual mini ed–camp style conference. Melissa Smith and Cindy Brock, both of Presbyterian Day School, Philip Cummings (then at Millington High School), and Akevy Greenblatt conceived the idea of innovatED and held the first conference at Presbyterian Day School in April 2011. MAIS–TEC acquired sponsorship of the event in 2012. This ed–camp style conference has been increasingly well attended with each passing year, and it has been approved for Continuing Education Credit by city, county, and independent schools in the Memphis area.

Note: Early History compiled by Sue Burnett, August 2005