VSTE

Virginia Society for Technology in Education

VSTE News

2024 Outstanding Technology Teacher, Coach, and Leader of the Year Award

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VSTE will recognize and honor Virginia Educators, Technology Coaches and Leaders who are VSTE members (nominee not a member have them join here) and who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership in implementing technology to improve education. Award recipients will be selected from a pool of nominations submitted by VSTE members from around Virginia.

Nominations will be accepted from September 28, 2024 - November 1, 2024. Nominations will be reviewed by the VSTE Board of Directors and past winners. Select nominators and nominees will be contacted by November 4, 20234 to provide additional evidence and documentation.  Documentation will be due on November 11, 2024.

Winners will be notified no later than November 13, 2024.  Award winners will be recognized during the opening general session at the annual conference. 

The Awards Committee uses the ISTE standards as the basis for judging the Outstanding Technology Coach awards. Please review the appropriate standards when preparing nomination materials. Nominees are rated solely using criteria identified in the rubric.

Please use this form to nominate a teacher, technology coach, or leader for this award.

More information about the ISTE Standards for Coaches, ISTE Standards for Educators, ISTE Standards for Education Leaders.

Questions should be addressed to awards@vste.org.

 

 

2023 Winners

  • Outstanding Teacher: Heather Russel - 4th Grade Teacher, Chesterfield County Public Schools
  • Outstanding Coach: Nicole Holdcraft - Instructional Technology Coordinator, Virginia Beach Public Schools

 

2022 Winners

  • Outstanding Coach: Logan Childress - Emerging Technology Specialist, Bristol Virginia Public Schools
  • Outstanding Coach: Catherine Richards  - Lead Instructional Technology Coach Goochland County Public Schools
  • Outstanding Leader: Dr. Anthony Brads  - Superintendent Culpeper County Public Schools 

 

2021 Winner for Outstanding Coach

  • Fara Faust, Virginia Beach Public Schools

 

2018 Winners for Outstanding Coach

  • Patrick Hausammann, Clarke County Public Schools
  • Krystle Demas, Goochland County Public Schools
  • Timothy Signorelli, Fairfax County Public Schools

 

2017 Winners

  • Outstanding Leader: Tim Taylor, Instructional Technology Supervisor, Shenandoah County Public Schools
  • Outstanding Teacher: Nichole Thomas, Instructional Facilitator for Technology, Liberty Elementary School, Loudoun County Public Schools

 

2016 Winners

  • Outstanding Leader: Dr. Amy Cashwell, Chief Academic Officer, Virginia Beach City Public Schools
  • Outstanding Teacher: Dr. Ann Nash, ITRT, Henrico County Public Schools

 

2015 Winners

  • Outstanding Leader: Dr. Helen Crompton, Assistant Professor, Old Dominion University
  • Outstanding Teacher: Doug Saunders, ITRT, Henrico County Public Schools

 

2014 Winners

  • Outstanding Leader: Janet Copenhaver, Director of Technology, Henry County Schools
  • Outstanding Teacher: Daniel Nemerow, Math and Special Education, Prince William County Schools

 

2013 Winners

  • Outstanding Leader: Richard Pierce, Associate Professor, Shenandoah University
  • Outstanding Teacher: Wendy Phillips, literacy specialist at Belview Elementary School, Montgomery County Schools

 

2012 Winners

  • Outstanding Leader: Mark Nichols, Special Education Supervisor for Assistive Technology and Individual Education Programs, Loudoun County Public Schools
  • Outstanding Teacher: Norene Skiles, library media specialist at Windsor Oaks Elementary School, Virginia Beach City Public Schools

 

2011 Winners

  • Outstanding Leader: Thomas Woodward, Assistant Director of Instructional Technology, Henrico County Public Schools
  • Outstanding Teacher: Kristina Peck, Riverbend High School Math Teacher, Spotsylvania County Public Schools

VSTE Professional Services Planning Survey

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VSTE is preparing to launch professional services! This group will promote excellence in education through professional development endeavors supporting the integration of existing and emerging technologies.

We want your input on crafting what we offer and how we offer it.

Please complete this survey to help us make this new initiative something that can help all educators in Virginia and beyond.

 

For more information on the VSTE Professional Services please visit https://www.vste.org/professionalservices

VSTE professional services who, what, & how

Common Sense Education Resource Share – July 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

VSTE Professional Services Coordinator Announced

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Patrick Hausammann picturePatrick Hausammann is a perpetual optimist and believer in the power of a growth mindset to fail forward approach en route to creativity and innovation. Most fittingly, he will now take the helm of VSTE Professional Services as the professional services coordinator.

Patrick works as the Supervisor of Instructional Technology & as an ITRT with Clarke County Public Schools. Patrick serves on the VSTE Board as the Treasurer and VSTE’s Digital Resources Manager. 

VSTE professional services operate to meet the professional development needs and desire for lifelong learning of school divisions and individuals throughout the state.  The Professional Services Coordinator (PSC) will lead this outreach and education component of VSTE by coordinating Professional Services, overseeing the maintenance of the consultant database, coordinating booking and logistics of client engagements, marketing the services offered, and collaborating with the VSTE Board and the VSTE Certified Coach Coordinator. The VSTE PSC is a contracted consultant to the VSTE Board and serves the VSTE membership.

Welcome Patrick to your new role with VSTE!

 

2024/2025 Applications are Now Open for the VSTE Certified Coach Program!

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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 2024-2025 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 2024-2025 VCC cohorts. Act fast - applications close on May 17th, 2024.

VCC Application Link  (bit.ly/VCCappSpring24)

 

 

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 2024 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 $300 per participant associated with the VCC program.

The 2024 VCC Application Deadline is May 17th, and all applicants will be notified on or before May 24th 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 $300 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.