VSTE

Virginia Society for Technology in Education

Events

VSTE DEI Presents (2-21-24): Student Innovators: Merging Technology with Social-Emotional Education Through App Design

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VSTE DEI Logo

In a world where technology continues to shape our daily lives, it is crucial to empower and encourage our students, especially girls to step into the realm of innovation. As I reflect on my book with Adam Welcome "Empower our Girls," I am always excited whenever I encounter young people who are an inspiration and aspire to make their mark in the tech industry.

I know first-hand the transformative power of education and self-empowerment. Growing up, I faced numerous challenges but found solace and inspiration in technology, especially as a young teacher. In my years as an educator and VSTE board member I have encountered others who are determined to break barriers, using technology as a tool to empower not only themselves but also the students they encounter along the way.

What's truly exciting and encouraging for me is the emergence of a generation that actively addresses social and emotional issues. During our recent conference we met some amazing young girls who are taking the lead in fostering supportive communities, advocating for equality, and inspiring change. They are not just passive recipients of technology but active participants, shaping its future, making magic happen.

The equity committee invites you to join an upcoming webinar where you can meet some incredible girls, Cooper and Ava, who are making waves in the tech industry. These young trailblazers are not just breaking stereotypes; they are rewriting the narrative and changing the game for their peers. The webinar promises to be a platform for insightful discussions, inspiring stories, and a celebration of the power that comes from empowering our students in technology. Register now for the 2-21-24 event!

By fostering a culture of empowerment and inclusivity, we pave the way for a brighter, more innovative future where every student is encouraged to speak up, share their ideas, and shape the world of technology.

 

Power of Coaching Conference

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Power of Coaching conference Promo Graphic

Register - February 6-7, Williamsburg, VA

Click HERE to reserve your room to get the discounted price!

The schedule is live!

VASCD and VSTE are teaming up to bring to Virginia educators a coaching conference to unpack the power of coaching!

In this two-day conference, participants will gain knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to effectively serve in the role of instructional coach. As more and more schools bring coaches as part of their staff and as the role of ITRT shifts from resource teacher to coach, this is a much-needed conference for building capacity and for developing strong networks of coaches, instructional leaders, and coach supervisors across the Commonwealth.

Join us for an amazing chance to learn, teach, lead, and connect!

  • Instruction: Teaching and learning are the core business of schools, and the coach’s chief role is to improve and support instruction in the classroom. Sessions in the INSTRUCTION strand provide coaches, instructional leaders, and coach supervisors with practical applications to support the role of improving instruction.
  • Relationships: The relationship between the coach and school leaders is a critical one for improving student learning outcomes. Sessions in the RELATIONSHIPS strand focus on strengthening the partnership between coach and school leader, data literacy, strategic planning, and roles and responsibilities of coaches and administrative teams.
  • Leadership: Working with teachers and leaders is another key function of instructional coaches, and this is a different set of skills when compared to working with students. Sessions in the LEADERSHIP strand will build participants’ capacity for differentiated support when working with individuals, teams, and/or large groups with a heavy emphasis on research-based development, effective professional learning strategies, and adult learning theory.

Day 1:

  • General Session Keynote and Workshop (Eric Sheninger)
  • Lunch and Networking
  • Two concurrent choice sessions
  • General Session Keynote (Kim Richardson)

Day 2:

  • Two concurrent choice sessions
  • General Session Keynote (Matt Mingle)

COST: $325

 

 

Leading ED Forum

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Registration has closed for this event.

Leading Ed Forum - Leading Education Forward

Leading Ed Forum 2023 Leading Education Forward Logo

Thursday, October 19, 2023
ACCA Shriner’s Center
1712 Bellevue Ave, Richmond, VA 23227

The Consortium for School Networking reports that over the past 10 years, the top challenge for EdTech leaders remains the same. Budget constraints and lack of resources were ranked the number one challenge in 2013, it still ranks as the number one challenge in 2023. However, some of the other top priorities have changed. The top three in 2013 were mobile learning, BYOD, and online assessment readiness. In 2023, cybersecurity tops the list, followed by network infrastructure, student data privacy, and security.

With budgets stretched thin and expectations at an all-time high, the return on investment looms large for school technology leaders. VSTE’s 2023 Leading Ed Forum will bring together all those with common concerns and needs so that we can focus on the future, finding ways to deliver ideas and strategies to set the stage for progress for the next decade one school year at a time.

Technology Directors from all regions of Virginia have identified their own greatest areas of concern:

  • Lack of qualified IT staff to support 1:1 computing programs and the division's IT infrastructure
  • Maintaining 1:1 with the financial cost of damaged/lost/missing devices
  • Cybersecurity and the need for division-wide education, training, and staff to support preparedness
  • Keeping pace with modern technology acceleration and the challenges related to emerging technologies including technical support staff and instructional implications for the use
  • Sustaining infrastructure after COVID
  • Standards of Quality funded positions for ITRT's and technicians, given the acceleration of technology, are not currently sufficient
  • Student data privacy!
  • Available and affordable internet at home for students and staff

This year’s Leading Ed Forum will draw together experienced leaders and current industry experts on these topics to assist school divisions in finding the best possible solutions and designing a path forward that honors the desire for educational opportunity with the stark realities of the challenges faced by those leading in education.

The Opening Session will start at 8:30 AM. The full schedule will be released at a later date. The attendee cost is $100.

Registration has closed for this event.

Elections for Board of Directors Now Open!

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2023 Election & Candidates

VSTE Elections Logo

 

Voting began on April 3rd via a membership-protected site and will be open through April 24, 2023.

You will need to log-in to the member site to have access to the page with the ballot.

You must be a member in good standing at least 10 days prior to the start of the election to be eligible to vote. Follow this link to the Elections page to vote!

Incident Response is a Team Sport: A Cybersecurity Event

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According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), when it comes to cybersecurity, K-12 school divisions are “particularly lucrative targets due to the amount of sensitive student data accessible through school systems.”

Incident Response is a Team Sport is an event designed to provide participants with the opportunity to experience how a cybersecurity incident may unfold and how an Incident Response Plan can help minimize loss of information and disruption of services.  K-12 division-level leadership including superintendents, assistant superintendents, technology directors, network admins, and other critical staff who would be involved in incident response decisions should attend. The objective for the day is for schools to leave with a draft of an IRP if they do not already have one, or to refine the one they already have as a result of interacting with cybersecurity and legal experts throughout the day.

We will start the day with district teams engaging in a tabletop exercise to provide an opportunity for school division leaders to strengthen their cybersecurity program awareness, plans, decision-making process, and capabilities.  We will also use the tabletop exercise to determine key considerations for the core components of your division’s IRP.  During the time together, you will have an opportunity to review and update your Incident Response Plan with feedback from colleagues from other divisions as well as agency and organization cybersecurity experts.  It is recommended you register with your division team to get the most out of the tabletop exercise.  The afternoon sessions will provide breakout sessions geared toward the specific operational, legal, communications, and technical concerns of those in the crucial division-level leadership roles mentioned above.

To accommodate divisions in different geographical regions, the event will be offered twice once on March 14th at Richard Bland College of William and Mary in South Prince George, and again with the same agenda on March 30th at the New College Institute in Martinsville.  It is strongly recommended that you register with a team from your division.  Lunch will be provided.

Register your team for the Richard Bland College event on March 14th or the New College Institute event on March 30th by pointing your browser to bit.ly/incident-response-23.