"I was at the regional journalism conference with my students, and during the adviser meeting I was using my Palm and keyboard to take notes. Of course most people knew what the handheld was, but many were fascinated by the gel keyboard, so I had an impromptu opportunity to share. Pretty soon I had a fairly large group asking questions, and the bottom line was that everybody agreed it was an innovative way to augment technology in the journalism classroom," Gaye wrote in an email to the H.E.L.P. group. "In the end, I was asked to make a presentation at the state conference next fall as well as write an article for a couple of our publications," she added.

Gaye's story is a success on many levels. Although she had never used a handheld before joining H.E.L.P., she is now a comfortable and confident user herself. She has successfully integrated handheld technology into the journalism classroom to improve the quantity and quality of  the students' output. And, best yet, she is fulfilling the #1 mission of H.E.L.P.--to cultivate teacher-leaders who will serve as models to inspire and instruct their colleagues and administrators.

Gaye, who teaches at North High School in Wichita, KS, was accompanying her students at the Regional Journalism Competition, February 20, 2003 at Wichita State University, sponsored by the Kansas Scholastic Press Association.