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Virginia Society for Technology in Education

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Join ARISE at George Mason University to Engage in the Use of AI Tools for School Improvement Planning

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Interested in AI tools for decision-making?

Join ARISE at George Mason University to Engage in the Use of AI Tools for School Improvement Planning

By Drs. Seth B. Hunter and Beth Davis

 

K-12 education has entered a new frontier where educators are exploring the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in innovative ways to enhance student outcomes. While many human-AI collaborations focus on efficiency, some venture into uncharted territory, exploring new and improved decision-making. The AI Informed Education Policy team at George Mason University is working with educational leaders to use AI to assist in making better school improvement decisions based on current, rigorous, and technical education research.

School improvement planning demands significant time and resources from school and district leaders, with many struggling to meet federal and state requirements for federally defined “evidence-based interventions.” Indeed, a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that many schools face challenges identifying and implementing compliant evidence-based interventions, conducting thorough needs assessments, and identifying resource inequities. These challenges persist despite dedicated efforts from district and school leaders.

At George Mason University, our preliminary workshops on AI-enabled tools showed great promise in reducing the time and resource demands of school improvement planning. When equipped with specialized AI tools, aspiring educational leaders reported significant benefits in both efficiency and effectiveness. These tools expedited the identification and evaluation of evidence-based interventions and saved valuable time. Dozens of future education leaders trained at George Mason are now learning to use AI tools for efficient and equitable school improvement planning. This is a testament to the potential for growth and learning in this field. Districts that understand and help shape these emerging practices will be better positioned to support and leverage the skills of their leadership pipeline.

 

Aspiring Education Leaders Use of AI-Enabled Tools for School Improvement Planning

This project, referred to as ARISE (AI for Responsive, Inclusive School Enhancement), brings district leaders across Virginia and beyond to transform school improvement planning from a compliance exercise into a catalyst for meaningful change. Our current participants, which include districts serving 10,000 to 100,000 students, are a testament to ARISE's rich opportunities for cross-district learning and collaboration. 

We are currently accepting additional divisions to be part of this exciting initiative to be at the forefront of AI and school improvement planning. There are many benefits for your division to join, including: 

Access cutting-edge AI tools that streamline the identification of evidence-based interventions

 

Connect with peers across districts to share challenges and solutions in school improvement planning and implementation

 

Shape the development of AI tools and processes that address your specific district needs

 

Receive affiliate faculty status at George Mason, providing access to comprehensive digital research resources.

 

If you are interested in getting started or would like to schedule time to discuss the initiative, contact Dr. Beth Davis at edavis32@gmu.edu. 

2024 Annual Report from the Executive Director

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As the year draws to a close it is fitting that we look back on the months and milestones that have made 2024 a year of significant growth and advancement for VSTE. The highlights from 2024 feature many of the ways that VSTE has advanced and grown as an organization. Communication, Membership, Development, and Partnership are the four goal areas identified in the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan. Guided by our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, we achieved the following.

Communication
Communication as a goal primarily focuses on showcasing the identity of VSTE, focusing on its purpose, and recognizing ways to strengthen involvement through awareness. Our strategic plan emphasizes a clear purpose and intentional decision-making. Developing the strategic plan provided many opportunities for the Board to discuss the values and vision of the organization. The plan has helped to solidify our commitment to our core values and utilize our organizational strengths. Communication is critical to our success. There is more to follow regarding the Communication Plan and gaining insight from our membership. We have restructured our regular meetings to enhance communication and encourage dialogue among the Board. Weekly meetings with the executive director have also increased the flow of information and the opportunities for said dialogue.

Membership
Engaging and expanding our membership is the focus of the second strategic plan goal. The adoption of an association management system and the creation of a membership portal will lead the organization toward better understanding and interacting with its membership. The membership portal has enhanced member engagement by allowing members to manage their profiles and keep their information up-to-date. The membership portal has also allowed the organization to better keep track of the roles and locations of our members, including those that support the organization as exhibitors and sponsors. This will lead to more effective and efficient dialogue with members and allow VSTE to effectively know and better understand our membership. Through these efforts, we have been establishing a foundation for enhancing the benefits of membership. Every attendee at this year’s annual conference is an active VSTE member with an updated profile including all of our exhibitors and our sponsors.
Our annual conference builds on our reputation for providing an outstanding lineup of presenters and featured speakers. Our presenters allow us to celebrate the success of the finest educators in Virginia and bring perspectives from those recognized for their impact on the national teaching and learning community. The efforts of our conference team have been focused on continuing this legacy through the enhancement of the overall conference experience.

Development
Continued development is important to any organization. VSTE has continued to build on the certified coaching program and has also begun to shape and develop the professional services team. The certified coaching program has grown significantly, with over 300 certified coaches and over 100 more in training. The professional services program has begun to recruit talent and has taken on its first series of content creation and delivery which will roll out in early 2025. Both of these programs bring together a network of talented individuals to support the ongoing innovation that is a hallmark of VSTE. These networks will also help us to better identify the needs of our community and also the expert and experienced professionals to meet those needs.

Partnerships
Partnerships with other organizations stretches VSTE in positive ways as the collaborations extend the reach and influence of the organization. Our partnerships with key supporters are essential to our mission and vision. Maintaining ongoing partnerships and seeking out new partnerships provides both structure and new opportunities to serve our community. We are pleased to continue the work we have done with the Virginia Department of Education, Virtual Virginia, the Virginia Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (VASCD), CodeVA, the Greater Richmond Area Educational Technology Consortium (GRAETC) and the Shenandoah Valley Educational Technology Collaborative (SVETC), Blue Ridge PBS, WHRO, Virginia Ed Strategies, Forward Edge, Virginia's Training and Technical Assistance Centers (T/TAC), the Commonwealth Partnership for Learning, as well as our many sponsors and exhibitors. We also continue our memberships with national organizations like the Consortium of School Networks (CoSN), the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) and the School, Health, Library Broadband Coalition (SHLB). We learned in 2024 that the merger of ASCD + ISTE will bring changes to the relationship we have with those organizations as ASCD + ISTE refine their partnership program. Continuing on with effective partnerships provides VSTE and its members with great possibilities in the future. An example of this type of collaboration can be heard and seen in season one of the ActiVAtED Podcast series and by subscribing to season two.

Strategic Planning
The recently adopted 2024-2027 Strategic Plan is one way the Board has focused on VSTE’s internal growth and development. We completed several necessary revisions to our guidance documents and standard operating procedures like the VSTE Webinar Protocols, Procedures, and Best Practices and the Finance Policy and Procedures documents. The development of a Communications Plan has helped us make improvements in the utilization of the VSTE Blog, VSTE newsletter and various social media platforms to keep our followers informed and engaged. Effective communication, emphasis on the value of membership, developing programs that respond to the changing needs of our community and engaging partners that can support our growth are the goal driven and strategic means by which VSTE can proudly enter into 2025 and toward our fortieth conference with pride in its past and hope for its future.

Be well, make good happen, and keep in touch.

A Forward-Thinking Approach: How Virginia Beach City Public Schools Empower Students to Thrive Amidst Cell Phone Bans and Responsible Tech Use

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On November 13, VSTE partnered with Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) and The Social Institute for a dynamic webinar, "A Forward-Thinking Approach: How Virginia Beach City Public Schools Empower Students to Thrive Amidst Cell Phone Bans and Responsible Tech Use" that covered important topics about cell phones in schools and Virginia's new "bell-to-bell" cell phone ban. Jennifer Clements and Charlie Hinsch, who are Instructional Technology Coordinators at VBCPS, joined Laura Tierney,  Founder and CEO of The Social Institute, to talk about some big challenges schools were facing related to cell phones and social media, like overwhelming notifications, TikTok challenges, and even behaviors like vaping in school bathrooms.

To address these challenges, VBCPS, implemented stricter cell phone rules, even before the state-wide ban, that require students to keep their devices in their backpacks during class. While these rules have been helpful, Clements and Hinsch pointed out that it can be hard for teachers, who often feel torn between enforcing phone restrictions and teaching students how to use technology responsibly. Instead of just banning phones, VBCPS teamed up with The Social Institute to take a positive and proactive approach to empowering students to make high-character decisions as they navigate technology, like cell phones. Through #WinAtSocial, The Social Institute's gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, VBCPS students learn from each other about making positive choices online, helping them build healthy tech habits without feeling restricted.

A big part of this strategy is involving students directly. Through #WinAtSocial, students can share their experiences anonymously, giving teachers a better understanding of what students face online. With this approach, VBCPS hopes to not only tackle tech challenges but also to empower students with the skills to make positive decisions online. Their goal is to build a school culture where students feel encouraged to use technology thoughtfully and responsibly.

Free Resources:

2025-2026 VSTE Certified Coach Cohorts Open!

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Header image that says :Become a VSTE Certified Coach"

Applications are Now Open for the VSTE Certified Coach Program!

Join the fastest growing network of certified coaches in Virginia! The VSTE Certified Coach program (#VCC) is now accepting applications for its 2025-2026 cohorts. This program was created by VSTE to provide a custom professional learning experience for instructional coaches that allows them to collaborate in cohorts while learning the art of coaching. The VCC curriculum is aligned with the ISTE standards for coaching and has been developed in partnership with Forward Edge, an Ohio based company that specializes in instructional coaching. Although originally developed with EdTech Coaches in mind, the VCC program is open to all instructional coaches in Virginia.

All coaches who complete the VCC program will:

  • Have a clear understanding of their role as an educational technology coach.
  • Think systematically about the role their coaching program plays in larger district goals and initiatives.
  • Be prepared to incorporate formal coaching cycles into their coaching program.
  • Create and market professional learning experiences founded in andragogical best practices that are personalized, memorable, and lead to classroom implementation.
  • Possess a strong skill set for building relationships and deepening coaching conversations with educators.
  • Utilize data to make informed decisions about their work as a coach and the needs of educators they support.
  • Approach technology integration from a learning objective first mindset.

 

VSTE Certified Coach LogoOver the past year, hundreds of Virginia coaches have joined the VCC and VSTE is developing the VCC Professional Learning Network to provide continued support, professional collaboration, and opportunities for growth to all VSTE Certified Coaches. You can become a part of this amazing PLN by applying for one of the 2025-2026 VCC cohorts. Act fast - applications close on December 20th, 2024.

Application Link: Go to https://vste.org/vcc/ and tap “Apply Now!”

 

 

The VCC Application Details

Interested coaches will need to determine which cohort they wish to register for based on their experience and availability. There are three VCC cohort options for the 2025-2026 VCC Application: spring semester, fall semester, and full year. The spring semester cohorts will run from January through May and will meet twice each month. The fall semester cohorts will run from August through December and will meet twice each month. The full year cohorts will run from August or September through May and will meet once every month. Newer coaches are recommended to register for the full year cohorts in order to allow more time between learning experience to grow their practice, but all applicants can indicate their preference within the registration form.

Interested coaches will need to fully understand the expectations of the VCC program and must obtain approval from a direct supervisor.  There will be meeting times that will occur during regular working hours, and there is an expectation that participating coaches will commit to the meeting times and participate during those sessions.  In order for candidates to be successful, supervisors will need to be supportive of a coach’s participation and made aware that there is a cost of $350.00 per participant associated with the VCC program.

The 2025-2026 VCC Application Deadline is December 20th, and all applicants will be notified on or before January 10th of their acceptance.  The first meeting of each cohort will be announced in advance, and subsequent meeting times will be determined by a cohort poll.  Arrangements for the payment of $350.00 must be made prior to the first cohort meeting.  Divisions interested in hosting a division-wide cohort should contact the VSTE Certified Coaching Coordinator at VCC@vste.org.

 

 

Common Sense Education Resource Share – November 2024

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An image of students working on laptops in a classroom. A Common Sense Education text overlay appears in the top right of the graphic."Common Sense is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to helping all kids thrive in a world of media and technology. They support pre-K–12 schools with lesson plans, edtech reviews, family resources, and everything else students need to thrive in a connected world." Below is a custom set of resources pulled from this month's newest updates! Check them out via the links and explore even more at www.commonsense.org/education. VSTE is proud to partner with Common Sense Education.

For Teachers:

For Parents & Caregivers:

 

All Resources via Common Sense Education

All VSTE Posts of Common Sense Education Resources