Board Candidate 2017

Michael Speidel, M.Ed.
Instructional Designer
Loudoun County Public Schools

 

 

Educational Leadership Experience

As a leader and manager I am seen as an innovator. I establish 21st Century vision of the classroom and determine where teachers and instruction need to be and establish practices to facilitate the change process. This is not a passive process. Rather, I focus on actions that make desired outcomes come to fruition. As an educational leader I am always looking for opportunities to make quality improvements that benefit student learning. My leadership style is results-driven where all of my actions are centered on improving teaching and learning in the classroom.

Vision for VSTE

Educational technology is in a very exciting position. With the addition of Virtual Reality, Makerspaces and Personalized Learning I think VSTE is in a unique position. My ideal vision for VSTE is to be a leader in promoting educational innovation and supporting the integration of 21st century skills that educators and students need to succeed in a media-centric, global society. My long term goal of VSTE is to provide the entire educational community professional development and support the integration of existing and emerging technologies and facilitate global collaboration.

Biographical Sketch

I have been working in Loudoun County Public Schools since 1999 serving as a SPED Teacher, Technology Resource Teacher, Staff Development Trainer, and now Instructional Designer. As an Instructional Designer for Loudoun County Public Schools my primary responsibilities are to design online learning experiences that support our online high school, professionally develop and create supportive structures for teachers to create and implement technology rich lessons and engage their students in authentic learning experiences. In addition to supporting the online high school, I am also the system admin for multiple services such as Loudoun’s Learning Management System and Google Apps for Education.

Terry Partlow Lowry
Director of Technology & Curriculum
Wakefield School

 

 

Educational Leadership Experience

My experience in education spans almost three decades and includes the roles of classroom teacher, instructional technology coach, and school administrator. I am currently the Director of Technology and Curriculum for Wakefield School, an Independent School in The Plains, VA. A current member of the VSTE Board, I have chaired the Awards Committee and also served on the Education and Outreach and Advocacy Committees. Throughout my career, I have presented at local and state conferences on innovative practices, resources and instructional strategies and best practices.

Vision for VSTE

The strength of VSTE lies in its membership. VSTE needs to build on its strong history of bringing together some of the best and brightest educators, administrators, and technicians, and continue to expand and create opportunities for these constituencies to share ideas and resources. VSTE must also continue to serve as a vocal advocate for our members, at both the state and national level, strongly articulating their views on instructional issues related to the use of technology for learning.

Biographical Sketch

An educator with 20+ years of experience, I have undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Virginia and have taught in both Virginia and California. In addition to my experience in education, I have also worked as an IT consultant overseeing system implementations and training. Previously an Instructional Technology Coach for Prince William County Schools, in 2015 I accepted the position of Director of Technology and Curriculum at Wakefield School. I currently live in Haymarket with my husband, son, and our 17 year old dog, Jesse.

Heather Hurley
Personalized Learning Supervisor
Arlington Public Schools

 

 

Educational Leadership Experience

I currently serve as a Supervisor in the Department of Instruction where I oversee the district’s personalized learning program. I was an elementary Assistant Principal at an Apple distinguished school, where I assisted in the management of an instructional program that included the successful integration of a 1:1 iPad and STEAM program. As an Instructional Technology Coordinator and Staff Development Director, I collaborated with various stakeholders on the integration of instructional technology. Additionally, I was the VSTE Conference Presentations Chair and I’ve been a board member for Learning Forward Virginia and Massachusetts ASCD organizations.

Vision for VSTE

The new Profile of a Virginia Graduate has been developed to describe the knowledge, skills, competencies, and experiences students should have in order to align with the expectations of higher education and businesses. Areas of focus include: emphasizing critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication, and citizenship. I believe these skills are improved when a students’ learning environment becomes more personalized. There are many Virginia districts who are beginning the journey towards personalized learning. I would love for VSTE to begin looking at how technology supports the new Profile of a Virginia Graduate through the lens of personalized learning environments.

Biographical Sketch

I began my career as a classroom teacher in first and third grades, where my passion was to encourage every one of my students to love the process of learning. I am a graduate of Johns Hopkins University’s program in Educational Supervision and Administration; earned a M.Ed. in educational technology from Lesley University in Massachusetts, and a B.S. in education from Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts. I am a SMART Exemplary Educator, a STAR Discovery Educator, a member of the Discovery Educator Network Leadership Council, a Google Certified Innovator and a BrainPop Educator. In my free time, I enjoy photography, all things Marvel, cooking, wine and BACON!

Anita Harris
Instructional Technology Specialist
Cumberland County Public Schools

 
Educational Leadership Experience

As a classroom teacher, I was chosen to participate on the school leadership team, provide professional development and also be a technology lead teacher. I moved into the ITRT role and has been providing leadership, support and professional development to teachers, students and administrators. I also volunteer for several organizations including VSTE and ISTE, teach online courses for PBS TeacherLine and WHRO, present at conferences and currently serve as a VSTE Board Director, Secretary and Outreach Committee Chair.

Vision for VSTE

My vision for VSTE is for this organization to reach into every Virginia region seeking education advocates who are innovators and leaders in their districts that will also volunteer their time to help VSTE continue to provide professional development opportunities for educators, leaders and students so that all will seek to become more Future Ready. Also, as education continues to evolve, new challenges arise. VSTE leaders and members will need to continue to be flexible, adapt to new changes, collaborate and always seek ways to best support all stakeholders from every school and district across our state through helping to change the mindsets of community, school, and state leaders who are the final decision makers. Finally, my vision for VSTE is also to continue to move beyond borders to partner with other state and national organizations in advocating for educational technology access, tools, funding and support for all learners.

Biographical Sketch

I have been in education for over 20 years. I left the traditional classroom in 2006 to move into the Instructional Technology arena. I am an avid Social Media "Butterfly" who uses Twitter as my own Personal Learning Network where I learns and share anything and everything about education and especially educational technology. I have made it my life goal of being an “EdTech advocate who always seeks, always learns and always shares”.  My favorite quote is: "Your mind is a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds. You can grow flowers. Or, you can grow weeds." ~ Jason Mraz ~

David French
Principal and Digital Learning Leader
Virginia Beach City Public Schools

 

 

Educational Leadership Experience

I am in my 29th year in education. The past 15 years have been as an elementary school principal. All of my experience has been in the Virginia Beach Schools. The past 7 years have been very exciting and rewarding to have been a leader in digital learning transformation.

Vision for VSTE

Schools are now more than ever challenged with how to meet the needs of today's learner- a different kind of learner. Teachers, administrators and leaders must be provided with leadership to encourage and assist with their growth and transformation as digital educators. The role of the educator in our world is quickly evolving from a traditional instructor to a digital, personalized facilitator of learning. Our schools need leadership to help with the transformational learning process and challenge we face.

Biographical Sketch

I have been in public education for 29 years as a teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal. I was presented with the 2012 Region II VDOE/VSTE Instructional Technology Leadership Award. For the past 3 years, I have been a presenter on digital learning and transformation at local, state and national conferences including VSTE, FETC, ISTE. I am also currently a co-presenter with Amazon Education on digital instruction.