Instructional Technology Coaches
Katie Dean
Ms. Dean joins Gemini from Oak Park School District 97, where she was an Instructional Coach at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School. During her years at Brooks, she also held the role of Data and Instructional Technology Coach and taught social studies, serving students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. In addition to her middle school teaching experience, Ms. Dean also taught 5th grade at Horace Mann Elementary school in Oak Park District 97, and she began her career teaching elementary school science at Frances Xavier Warde School in Chicago. Throughout her coaching and teaching experience, Ms. Dean has consistently sought out and championed opportunities to incorporate technology into learning designs for students in order to best meet their learning needs. She is thrilled to continue this work in her role as the Instructional Technology Coach at Gemini.
Ms. Dean graduated from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in Anthropology, and she earned her M.A. in Elementary Education from Roosevelt University. She also recently completed a M.S. in Instructional Design & Technology from Concordia University.
Ms. Dean will assist staff at Gemini Middle School with integrating meaningful technology into their classroom curriculum. She can be reached digitally at kdean@emsd63.org.
Dr. Rebecca Durbin
Dr. Durbin is joining East Main School District 63 as an Instructional Technology Coach. She has been an elementary teacher since 1999 and has had the opportunity to teach in Michigan, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. In her most recent role as technology integration specialist she worked with students and teachers from grades K-2. Her role was muti-facited and included coaching teachers on best practices for technology integration, co-teaching and modeling the use of technology in core instruction, supporting the writing of the district technology plan and goals, and professional development. She created two innovation lab spaces to work with classes in the area of STEAM education, which were funded by grants that she obtained. In these learning spaces, students and teachers used robotics, coding, engineering challenges, and more to focus on the 4Cs: Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication combined with content based standards. She is excited to join the team at D63 and to continue working with educators and students as they explore all the ways that technology can invigorate learning.
Dr. Durbin received her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education in 1999 from Michigan State University and completed a second Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at the University of Michigan in 2002. She continued her education by completing her Master's degree in Elementary Education with a focus on Educational Technology at Michigan State University in 2005. She completed her education at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh with a Ed.D. in Instructional Technology and Leadership.
Dr. Durbin will assist staff at the Nelson and Melzer schools with integrating meaningful technology into their classroom curriculum. She can be reached digitally at rdurbin@emsd63.org.
Becky Lim
Mrs. Lim is joining East Main School District 63 as a Digital Learning Coach. She is coming to District 63 from Newhall School District, an elementary district in California, where she supported teachers and students as an Instructional Coach. While there she focused on creative technology integration across classrooms to enhance best practices in a meaningful way; additionally, she led and facilitated the rollout as the district deliberately implemented the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Prior to that, she taught 5th grade in Atlanta, Georgia, at a STEAM school where she wrote and received grants to implement Genius Hour, a classroom Makerspace, an augmented reality sandbox, and a vertical hydro garden. She started her career as a kindergarten teacher where she focused on inquiry-based learning. She is delighted to collaborate on innovative and creative methods of the use of technology in the hopes of transforming learning and continuing to support teachers as they integrate 21st century teaching practices.
Mrs. Lim received her Bachelor's degrees in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education in 2012 from Peru State College and completed her Master's degree in Educational Administration from California State University, Northridge in 2020. She also received a Graduate Certificate in Instructional Technology: Teaching the 21st Century Learner from Brandman University, Irvine in 2021.
Mrs. Lim will assist staff at the Early Learning Center and Apollo schools with integrating meaningful technology into their classroom curriculum. She can be reached digitally at BLim@emsd63.org.
Nicole Sandine
Mrs. Sandine began her career teaching Kindergarten in Evanston and 3rd grade in Waukegan. She joined District 63 in 2004 and taught 6th grade at Apollo for 14 years. While at Apollo, she facilitated professional development on different technology tools and integrated technology to enhance the learning in her classroom.
Most recently, she has taught 7th grade science and 7th and 8th grade STEAM at Gemini Middle School. She co-facilitated the Rockin’ Robots club and facilitated 3D printing with over 300 students. She has a passion for integrating technology into the learning experience and fostering student creativity. Mrs. Sandine is excited to collaborate to create transformative learning experiences for the students in District 63. This is her first year as a Digital Learning Coach.
Mrs. Sandine has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Illinois State University and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University. She is endorsed to teach ELL, Middle School Science and ELA. She is currently working on obtaining her Technology Specialist Endorsement.
Mrs.Sandine will assist staff at the Mark Twain and Washington schools with integrating meaningful technology into their classroom curriculum. She can be reached digitally at nsandine@emsd63.org.