Elections

Fara T. Faust

Instructional Technology Specialist (ITS)
Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Educational Leadership

I have served as an Instructional Technology Specialist (ITS) for 10+ years in my district. During this time, I have served on the building Leadership Team and district-wide curriculum committees. I am a frequent presenter at VSTE and other state level technology conferences, and I serve on the district technology conference planning committee. My teammate, Heather Thomas,LMS, and I serve as a model for a successful Educational Technology Team collaboration. We host many visitors each year to our school’s Learning Commons where we share our design ideas, MakerSpace area and co-teaching model. During the past year, I created a weekly Computer Science webinar for elementary age students in her district. I work with a fellow ITS to provide engaging and enriching activities for our students.

Vision for VSTE

I would like to see VSTE promote and advocate for equitable access to technology for all students across the state of Virginia. Computer Science is an area of great interest to me. VSTE is the perfect organization to promote the Virginia Computer Science Standards of Learning especially in the elementary grades. So often people think that Computer Science is covered in the secondary schools and there is no need to include Computer Science integration in the elementary grades. I feel that the opposite is true. We need to provide teachers in Virginia elementary schools with learning opportunities that will enable and empower them to provide integrated Computer Science instruction to their students.

Biographical Sketch

I began my career as a special education teacher and moved into instructional technology in 2007. I have taught in both Nashville, Tennessee, and Virginia Beach, Virginia. In 2018, I was named the CodeVA Computer Science Educator of the year. I was the first educator in Virginia to receive this state-wide distinction. I also work as a facilitator for CodeVA. Outside of school, I enjoy pursuing my interests in history, genealogy, travel and cooking.

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Amy Stewart

Virtual Academy Administrator
Colonial Heights Public Schools

Educational Leadership

I have had the opportunity to lead educators for the past 8 years in various capacities in two states; from building leader to district level leader. My experiences have included Reading Specialist, Instructional Coach, Administrator, Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning, and Supervisor of Instructional Technology and Extended Learning. All of these opportunities allowed me to merge my love of curriculum and instruction with educational technology.

Vision for VSTE

To further create opportunities for minorities in EdTech leadership positions by highlighting the work of those currently in the field and introducing the educational technology field to those who are interested. Also to forge the path of revamping how professional development is created and delivered so that it is more inclusive of teacher needs and experiences.

Biographical Sketch

I have dedicated my career to building lifelong learners who are equity minded knowledge seekers. My goal has always been to assist learners, both adult and children, by helping them find the areas they want to grow in and supporting their journey. I believe the future of education is to prepare the future trailblazers to be users of technology and not used by technology. My success has been contingent on my desire to create an environment that fosters the desire to be on a continual hunt for self improvement, while highlighting the strengths of those she is charged to lead, while supporting them in the areas they are looking to grow in.

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