Hodges, Jeri Elaine The school children of Texas and educational technology have lost a strong advocate. On Thursday, December 8th, Jeri Elaine Hodges passed away after a long battle with Cancer. She was born January 17, 1954, in El Dorado, Arkansas. She attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas and Texas Tech University where she graduated with a degree in education. She holds masters degrees from Texas Woman's University and East Texas State University. Jeri began her career with the Dallas Independent School District as a special education early childhood teacher at W.W. Bushman Elementary School in Oak Cliff. Jeri was then promoted to resource teacher and, at that time, realized very early on the potential for the utilization of computers in education. She then embarked on a 15-year career to integrate technology and the teaching capabilities utilizing computers into the entire education process throughout Texas. In the early 1970's Jeri realized the potential for utilizing computers in the education of children. She began to formulate visions and initiatives, which integrated technology as a strong and limitless teaching tool. As she formulated those ideas, she began to rise through the ranks of the Dallas Independent School District to the point where she held the position of Executive Director of Instructional Technology from 1992-2000. As the Education Technology Specialist, she designed a district-wide program for the integration of technology into special education classrooms. The program was recognized as a first recipient of the National School Boards Association "Innovative Uses of Technology in Education" award in 1990. In 1986 she launched the Special Technology Advisory Committee, which was a one-of-a-kind initiative, which brought special educational personnel from various instruction disciplines to receive training in computer basics, utilization of software, and this program became an unprecedented element for teachers in the state of Texas. Her journey in education moved to the Texas Education Agency as the Technology Consultant and Grand Administrator on projects such as the Technology Applications Teacher Network (TATN, 2000-2010), the Technology Immersion Pilot (TIP, 2002-2008) and Vision 2020 (2008-2010). She really loved this work and was a champion for technology grants in rural and disadvantaged districts. As an early visionary of educational technology she took tremendous pride in being present for the rollout of laptop and technology grants. She would travel to the far reaches of Texas to make sure children were given every advantage. She would come home so fulfilled by the expressions of kids entrusted with their first computer. The visionary became witness to the vision. As a lover of the outdoors, Jeri became very involved in the construction of the homestead family ranch in Palo Pinto County, Texas, on the cliffs overlooking the Brazos River. Her greatest joy was spending time among the wildlife at the family ranch. She took a great interest in wildlife of all types, and was the founding secretary and organizer of the conservation movement that became the quail tech alliance through Texas Tech University. Her guidance and skill in providing the documentation for this program has added greatly to her legacy. Jeri became an accomplished hunter and wing shooter and has become an accomplished pheasant hunter, the highlight of which is the annual to South Dakota with her husband. Jeri loved travel and the arts. She served for many years as a board member of the Equest Therapeutic Riding Program based in Dallas and contributed to it's growth as an organization, promoting therapeutic riding for individuals of all disabilities. The impact of her vision and accomplishments will be manifested in educational programs throughout the state of texas for generations to come. Her pioneering leadership with regard to the emersion of technology into the educational process has enabled school children throughout the state for multiple generations to benefit and have every advantage, whether from urban upbringings or the poorest school district. Hodges spearheaded initiatives to ensure that all children of Texas had opportunity to the finest technology available. As a mother and new grandmother, Jeri was steadfast in her provision of limitless love and caring for her family. To her daughters, she served as guide, counselor and friend. She took great pride in the arrival of her first grandchild in November of 2009. Abigail Elaine Berger became to true light of her life and the recipient of Jeri's unending love and kindness. She was a truly remarkable woman who carried herself with a sort of strength that most can only aspire to possess. Jeri is survived by her husband of 36 years, Charles M. Hodges, Dallas, two daughters, Courtney Lee Hodges, Dallas, and Christian Hodges Berger and husband Jonathan Berger, Dallas, and granddaughter Abigail Elaine Berger, Dallas, one sister Sherri Gill, Springvale, Minn., and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Shirley and Gerald Howell, Dallas. Memorial Service will be held on Monday, December 12, 2011 at 3:00pm at University Park United Methodist Church located at 4024 Caruth Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75225. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jeri Hodges Memorial Fund at American Bank of Texas, P.O. Box 1619, Frisco, Texas 75034. If you wish to make a donation, please specify if you would prefer your donation to go to the Jeri Hodges Wildlife Endowment at the College of Agricultural and Natural Resources at Texas Tech University or the Jeri Hodges Technology in Education Scholarship at Region 10 Education Service Center.
