Although he's had a lot of experience working with technology, Doug still feels he's a  cynic in some ways. He doesn't think the best way to use technology in the classroom has been found yet, but he's still looking. He believes that there are good tools available now to help teachers with the administrative side of their jobs - things like electronic gradebooks - but the technology that would help teach students new things hasn't solidified yet. "Up until now, we've spent a lot of money on technology," he says, "But we haven't yet seen that worth."

"People are just now figuring out how to use technology to increase student achievement," he adds. "We have so many technologies - the trick now is to separate the flash from the substance."

He began his teaching career with a two-year commitment to a school district outside New Orleans. He then moved to Maryland and taught science at Booker T. Washington Middle School in Baltimore City. He later moved to Robert Poole Middle Middle School, also in the city, where he taught as part of the Ingenuity Project, a city-wide science and mathematics magnet program, with Felicity Ross.

This year, he's moving to Mt. Washington Elementary, where he'll be helping math and science teachers there to remain focused on student achievement. Technology is just one of many tools he's going to use.

Some advice for fellow technology cynics:
"Start on one simple project... maybe it's showing a video clip from a Web site to your students. Maybe it's learning something yourself that you can bring to the classroom. Whatever action you choose, remain focused on what outcomes you want your students to walk away with."