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Heather B. Askea
Instructional Technology Coordinator
The University of Virginia's College at Wise Center for Teaching Excellence

Educational Leadership

My path to educational leadership started in 2005 when I became one of Wise County's first ITRTs. That role allowed me not only to learn from some of the best teachers and tech leaders in our state, but also allowed me to find my place within the Virginia Society for Technology in Education. I was appointed to the VSTE Board of Directors in 2006 and served two additional terms on the board. During my time on the board, I served as Secretary and Vice Chair, and worked on Advocacy initiatives. I was named an ISTE Advocacy Policy Trendsetter in 2010. After that time, I have helped launch the Center for Teaching Excellence online programming and began facilitating the Region VII Tech Directors and ITRT meetings. I continue to work closely with VSTE, the Southwest Public Education Consortium/Foundation and other organizations on a variety of regional events. I also am the lead organizer for the annual TechSplash event held in Abingdon, VA.

Vision for VSTE

VSTE was a place where I found my “people” in 2005 when I attended my first conference. From that time until today, VSTE has always been about connection to me and the rich collaborative environments that are fostered at the conference, regional events, and online initiatives. My vision for the next three years is to continue to grow and shape VSTE’s outreach and support into rural Virginia. This would include efforts to increase membership from Region VII and increase access to information and support on the latest tech trends and happenings throughout the Commonwealth. I believe that my passion for edtech is contagious and I would like to continue to work closely with the VSTE membership and board to advocate for the effective use of educational technology in all parts of Virginia.

Biographical Sketch

For the last 18 years, I have served in many capacities in the field of education from classroom teacher, ITRT, and mathematics instructional coach, to adjunct instructor and Instructional Technology Coordinator at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise Center for Teaching Excellence. I earned my B.A and teaching endorsements in PK-8 at UVAWISE, a M. Ed in Administration and Supervision at UVA, and am currently pursuing a doctoral degree from Boise State University. I am truly passionate about creating engaging and innovative learning opportunities for students and educators as well as advocating for the field of education. I have spent my entire life living and working in Wise County and love the pace of country life. I live in Norton, Virginia with my husband Ray and two adorable fur babies, Henry and Luna.

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Janet Copenhaver
Retired Educator
Henry County Public Schools

Educational Leadership

I was Librarian and then Director of Technology for Henry County Public Schools for 27 years. During my tenure we implemented the first and largest textbook iPad initiative in the Commonwealth. We also implemented the first New Tech School in the state, enhancing project based learning and giving learners an opportunity to chose a traditional, advanced, or New Tech high school experience. We also began to change our media centers from traditional tables and rows of books to new learning spaces and collaborative environments. We hosted many sessions for other school divisions to visit and collaborated with them with best practices to update their technology in their divisions.

Vision for VSTE

My vision for VSTE is to continue to be part of an organization that will continue to support educational technology around our state by providing many professional and collaborative conferences and opportunities. I continue to see VSTE improving communication and relationships with other tech companies and organizations across the nation. In three years, I see that VSTE will continue to expand the yearly technology conference with a wide range of cutting-edge technology experiences. As technology improves and more and more devices are introduced into the learning environment, I want VSTE to continue to research and offer learning opportunities for all school divisions by continuing to support a relationship with our Virginia Department of Education.

Biographical Sketch

Retired and living in Collinsville with husband James. I have BS in Library Science, and MS Educational Leadership from Radford University. Currently serves on Patrick Henry Community College Board as Vice Chair and continue to consult with companies and local colleges to provide training in technology.

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Diane Harazin
Supervisor of Instructional Technology
Prince William Public Schools

Educational Leadership

As the current Supervisor of Instructional Technology for Prince William County Schools, I collaborate with instructional technology coaches, curriculum staff, teachers, and administrators to foster innovation and further technology integration in our schools. In my current position, and in my previous positions in Fairfax County Public Schools, I have led projects that promote student empowerment and engagement and instructional models and strategies that enhance student learning. For the past three years, I have collaborated with a team of instructional technology coaches to host EdCamp PWCS. As a member of the VSTE Board of Directors, I have been a part of the advocacy team that helped lawmakers understand current issues facing our schools. My involvement with VSTE has also inspired me to encourage others in my district to be active members in VSTE. Prince William County staff have increased participation in several VSTE events and activities.

Vision for VSTE

VSTE can lead the way for education in three areas: professional learning through collaboration, keeping Virginia on the forefront of innovative instructional technology in teaching and learning, and advocacy for increased support for the use of technology in education across the state. Over the next three years, I envision that VSTE will develop partnerships with a variety of organizations who support our efforts in to ensure equity of access to high speed internet, quality resources, and innovative tools that enhance learning. I believe the partnership that VSTE has with the Virginia Department of Education should be stronger so that VSTE members have a voice in policy and innovative initiatives. Virginia is a large state and we do not often hear about what districts are doing or how they are solving problems. The VSTE organization can be a unifying agent that brings Virginia school districts together to collaborate and learn from each other.

Biographical Sketch

This is my 32nd year in education in the state of Virginia. I have been a classroom teacher, an instructional technology resource teacher, an instructional technology curriculum specialist and I am currently the Supervisor of Instructional Technology in Prince William County Schools. As a life-long learner, I continue to find new ways to improve my practice. I am a certified Microsoft Innovative Educator trainer and have recently become a CoSN Certified Education Technology Leader (CETL). I hold a master’s degree in Instructional Technology and a specialist’s degree in School Administration.

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Tim Tillman
Director of Technology and Learning
Colonial Heights Public Schools

Educational Leadership

I have been a EdTech leader for Colonial Heights for five years. In that time, we have been able to drastically change the adoption of EdTech in our small district. We are now 1:1 in secondary schools and will be 1:1 in primary schools next year. It's an exciting to be involved in EdTech as we being to integrate new technologies of AI, AR, VR, maker spaces, and more!

Vision for VSTE

VSTE is a powerful organization in the state, providing many resources for IT leaders, teachers, and EdTech companies. I would like to see VSTE more involved in statewide efforts to affect change - such as in Cybersecurity or Data Privacy. The ability of VSTE to bring together diverse voices from many different aspects of education is amazing. I would like to see VSTE continue these relationships and build them.

Biographical Sketch

I have been in IT for 23 years, with half of that time in K-12. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Business Admin, both a Master's degree in Information Systems Management and a Master's degree in Business Admin, and I am currently a doctoral student in Educational Leadership at VCU.

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