School puts best foot forward -- in cyber-space

Now, in addition to being a fourth grade teacher at St. Teresa of Avila School in Albany, she is also the webmaster for its award-winning website.

"At times, I'm hesitant to try new things," she said. "But once I do, I'm hooked."

Web purposes

According to Sister Patricia Houlihan, RSM, principal, "We've gotten a number of inquiries and registrations from the site. It's an excellent tool. It lets people know we're alive and well."

Mrs. Miller said it is important to her that the website be useful and attractive. "When people are coming to the Albany area and are looking for a Catholic school, they go to [the diocesan schools website] to explore schools," she said. "If we have an attractive website, people will call."

Maintaining the site takes several hours of work a week, she said, but adds that "it's a hobby now. It's a different avenue to explore, and it relaxes me."

In touch

"It allows out-of-town grandparents to keep in touch with their grandchildren," Mrs. Miller noted. "The site is an extension of us."

The students enjoy the website as well. Just as children enjoy seeing their pictures in a newspaper, they get excited to see their pictures on the web, she said.

Enriching

"You hear so much about the really scary sites out there," she said, "but there are a lot of positive sites. You can find so much information on the web."

Mrs. Miller encourages other adults, especially senior citizens, to put aside their fears of using the computer and dive in. "There is so much out there," she said. "You can really expand your horizons."

(To view St. Teresa's website, go to www.stasalbanyny.org. To view the diocesan schools website, visit www.rcdaschools.org.)

(06-13-02) [[In-content Ad]]