About Mrs. Oak
My name is Mrs. Oak and I teach Touch Systems Data Entry (Keyboarding), Principles of Information Technology, and 6th Grade Intro to Computers (Wheel) at McMath. Teaching computers means that I am responsible for educating the future workforce in a constantly growing field that is driving our world. It is an important and yet daunting task, one which I take very seriously. Your child’s education in computers is my number one focus when in the classroom. My wish is for them to leave my lab, knowing more than I do about the world of technology.
This is my 5th year teaching at McMath Middle School in Denton ISD, and my 12th year of teaching. Before McMath, I spent 6 years teaching in Birdville ISD, teaching Pre-AP and GT (or Expo) English & reading to 7th graders at North Ridge Middle School in North Richland Hills. While at North Ridge, I also was the yearbook adviser and school videographer. Before that, I also spent one year teaching Computer Applications in Frisco ISD. I enjoyed teaching English and reading, but my true passion is computers.
I am happy married to a computer nerd whose job it is to write video games as a computer programmer. We are the proud parents of 3 cats, 2 who are brothers (Riley & Malley), and a third, DiNozzo. Both of us are avid gamers and computer geeks, having spent our entire lives dealing with computers in one way or another. We still own an Atari as well as an Apple II-GS and Commodore 64. When we’re not gaming or programming, we’re often working in graphic design, web design, or video design. I have worked on a variety of web sites and graphic designs for companies and non-profit organizations (such as Fort Worth Tours, RAINN, Save Fry Street, & Presbyterian Hospital) as well as local musicians. While in BISD, as the school videographer I completed 3-4 videos per school year for the annual school DVD. I promise that my husband and I do have interests outside of computing though! My husband and I enjoy traveling together as well as both being avid readers. We own a house in Little Elm near the Little Elm & Frisco border, which makes for a nice place to live–close to both of our work locations.
My Bachelor’s Degree is in Education from UNT (with minors in Music, Computers, & English), and my Master’s Degree is a Master of Science in CECS, Computers in Education and Cognitive Systems, also from UNT. As an undergrad, I was 6 credits short of a major in Music Composition & Theory, so I was almost a double major. While my master’s degree is in CECS, my prior knowledge allowed me to skip 1/2 of the classes required for my degree and thus, I ended up taking more advanced computing courses dealing with topics such as Networking, Linux/Unix Systems, PHP/MySQL Programming, and Video Production. I plan to eventually pursue my Ph.D. in Computers.>
Besides teaching, web design, video work, and graphic design, I am also a published author, writing mostly science fiction and fantasy novels, though I’ve written a few general fiction novels as well. Somewhere in all this chaos, I am also a musician, with 1 released CD of original compositions on piano. My interests lay in many different areas and take me in many different directions. I feel this can only add to my ability to be a teacher.