VSTE

Virginia Society for Technology in Education

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Thank You For The Opportunity to Serve

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woman walking
Photo by Scott Kiser

It has been an honor and great pleasure to serve as the Executive Director of the Virginia Society for Technology in Education for the past 12 years. Is is the best job on the planet, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and lead with educators across the Commonwealth.

I want to thank the VSTE Board of Directors and the Conference Committee with whom I have worked most closely to provide leadership to the organization as we fulfill VSTE's mission and vision. I count them as friends, and I value our collaborations along with the wisdom they have shared with me. We have been able to bring exciting new staff on board, and I am eagerly looking forward to what they do next!

Thanks, also, to each and every one of you--VSTE members and friends--who have supported and participated in our work. You are the reason we do what we do, inspired every day by your passion for education and technology. VSTE is ultimately YOUR organization, and I hope you are proud of it. I also encourage you to get more involved: join a committee, present at the conference, run for the Board of Directors.

I leave you with the same message I give at every conference: Tell Your Story. The world often only hears the bad news of education with the loudest, negative voices dominating the public discourse. But, I know that there is inspiring, innovative work happening in our schools, with educators creating engaging learning experiences and environments for students. It is up to each of us to tell THOSE stories, and VSTE can help. Submit a blog post or video to published on vste.org or share your work on social media using the hashtags #vsteinaction and #vsteretweetme. We'll get the word out. These are the stories the world needs to hear.

Thanks for all you do in service to education in Virginia. Best wishes for a restful summer and a wonderful, magical new school year.

Seas the Day: VSTE 2022 Registration & Call for Proposals Open Now

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Conference LogoSeas the Day and Dive into Learning with VSTE 2022

VSTE 2022 will be held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center from December 4-6, 2022. Super early bird registration is open now along with the call for proposals. Whether you are a first-time attendee or a seasoned veteran, you will discover a wealth of learning opportunities ready for your consideration and implementation.

VSTE 2022 will be mostly face to face but will offer a virtual option with limited seating.

Learn More About Registration

One of the best parts of the VSTE conference (besides the M&Ms and ribbons, of course) are the presenters who share their expertise with the attendees. We are able to offer presenters a discounted rate for the entire conference as we encourage them to be part of the full experience. We have detailed information about the types of presentations and the general conference schedule at the conference website.

Learn More About Presenting

Join VSTE For Some Early Summer Fun

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logo for go open va

On June 16, 2022, at 7 PM, Jean Weller, leader of the GoOpenVA initiative at Virginia Department of Education,  will tell the thrilling tale of how open education resources and Creative Commons joined forces to defeat the enemies of creativity and teacher empowerment. It has a happy ending!

It’s time for a quick refresher in how copyright impacts education and the essentials you need to know, ESPECIALLY if you haven’t taken a session on copyright since the world went digital. Then we’ll talk about the open education movement and the use of alternative copyright schemas for those interested in supporting freedom of creativity but still mindful of the creator’s rights of ownership. This is a worldwide movement that encompasses museums and archives as well as higher education and K-12. Finally, we’ll take a look at how #GoOpenVA ensures Virginia educators have the opportunity to learn from each other in a space that enthusiastically encourages sharing, not “stealing.”

This event is free but registration is required. 

Register in advance for this copyright meeting

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

VSTE Welcomes New and Returning Board Members

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a blue apple with a green leaf and brown stemFive candidates have been elected to the VSTE Board of Directors for the 2022-2025 term. Three are new members while two are returning for a second term. You can learn more about each Board member below.

 

Photo of Heather Askea

Heather Askea

Instructional Technology Coordinator

The University of Virginia's College at Wise

View Candidate's Statements
Photo of Dani Hall

Dani Hall

Coordinator of Instructional Technology

Prince William County Public School

View Candidate's Statements
headshot of Patrick Hausammann

Patrick Hausammann

Supervisor of Instructional Technology/ITRT

Clarke County Public Schools

View Candidate's Statements
photo of Wanda Parker

Wanda Parker

Manager, Service Desk, Desktop Support and Telecommunications

Richmond City Public Schools

View Candidate's Statements
Photo of Lucy Spenser

Lucy Spencer

Learning Technology Integrator

Albemarle County Public Schools, Baker-Butler Elementary and Broadus Wood Elementary Schools

View Candidate's Statements

 

VSTE Welcomes New Staff

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The Board of Directors of the Virginia Society for Technology in Education is pleased to announce the selection of two new staff members. Rod Carnill has been appointed as Executive Director. Ashley Clarke will be serving as Assistant to the Director. 

Rod Carnill recently retired from Frederick County Public Schools where he served as the supervisor of instructional technology coaches. He recently served for two years (2018-2020) as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Virginia Society for Technology in Education (VSTE). He was also an adjunct professor for Shenandoah University teaching Educational Technology Applications and Online Learning courses for pre-service and K-12 teachers. He now supports the SU Children’s Literature Conference as a technical advisor and webinar administrator. With over thirty years experience as an educator focused on literacy and the effective use of technology, Rod still finds it rewarding to help others make great things happen for learners. He is now focusing his efforts supporting professional learning, teacher and student advocacy and educational project management. 

Ashley Clarke serves as Executive Assistant to the Dean Of Faculty/Superintendent for Academics at Virginia Military Institute. Ashley has worked with faculty and students in K-12 supporting educational technology at Jackson River Technical Center and Alleghany High School where she assisted faculty, staff, and students with their technology needs. While at AHS, she aided with the implementation of New Tech in the classrooms through the use of Chromebooks and educational apps. Ashley has worn a variety of other hats in her career including senior sponsor, head varsity cheer coach, co-teacher, SPED teacher assistant, administrative assistant, Freshman Transition Team member, computer lab manager, 1:1 Initiative Team member, and Project Based Learning Manager. Ashley’s true passion is helping students of all ages be successful whether in a general education or trade/CTE classroom setting. She loves seeing students reach their full potential.

“VSTE has been a dynamic part of the educational landscape of Virginia since its inception.  It has grown through the hard work and expertise of its leadership. The Board of Directors is excited for this new chapter of the organization and is eager to begin working with Rod and Ashley as we move into this new season.  We honor our history but happily look to the future as we poise the organization for growth and change to better serve our membership and the students of the Commonwealth,” said Heather Askea, VSTE’s Board Chair. 

Rod and Ashley will begin their tenure on July 1, 2022, upon the retirement of the current Executive Director, Dr. Karen Richardson.