candidate

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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Lynmara Colón

Director of English Learner Programs and Services
Prince William County Schools

Educational Leadership

Lynmara brings the perspective of a teacher, assistant principal, and principal—positions she has held since joining education in 2003. As principal of an elementary school in 2014, she served over 1,000 students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade and was able to increase reading engagement by leading a culture of literacy, personalized learning, and collaborative learning teams. She now leads the English Learners office where she supports over 20,000 Els, teachers, and their families.

Vision for VSTE

My vision for VSTE is to continue to advocate for special populations and represent the fastest growing population in the VA. I want to continue supporting educators in seeing Els as students who have potential and deserve access despite where they come from or the level of their digital literacy skills.

Biographical Sketch

Lynmara believes all schools should be run like Disney; providing magical experiences to every student regardless or their background. She now heads the office that provides comprehensive registration services to English learners and immigrant children, including translation and interpretation services, to a school division serving over 90,000 students. These students represent 124 countries and 149 languages. Colón holds two master’s degrees: a degree in curriculum and instruction, and the other in educational leadership. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in education through Old Dominion University.

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Kerry Adkins

Gifted Resource Teacher
Marsteller Middle School/Prince William County Schools

Educational Leadership

I have served on many county committees, on gifted advisory boards, as grade level chair, 504 coordinator, mentor, and on leadership teams making decisions that offered equitable and rigorous opportunities for all students. I currently participate in my county’s digital citizenship educator cohort and facilitated a professional development session on gifted education via Zoom using collaborative apps like Mentimeter, Padlet, and break out rooms. Previously, I served as a middle school assistant principal where I facilitated a digital safety session for parents and served on the county’s leadership team making decisions on initiatives for the county. I presented at a Virginia gifted conference on a STEM project in which my students had an experiment included on a NASA sounding rocket; I enjoyed encouraging teachers to participate in the program.

Vision for VSTE

My vision for VSTE is to support the goals of all Virginia educators from small to large divisions as they use the tools of technology to implement Virginia’s 5 Cs. VSTE can lead the way by researching emerging technologies while considering how they can support current school initiatives such as ensuring equity and culturally responsive instruction. VSTE can also lead in demonstrating how technologies can support learners of all abilities. By providing requested professional learning and other opportunities for educators, both live and asynchronous, VSTE will lead the way in supporting teachers and encouraging technology in education.

Biographical Sketch

For seventeen years I have worked in four counties with students of all ability levels on the elementary and middle school levels. I taught Language Arts and gifted resource classes and served as a middle school building administrator and 504 coordinator. I recently earned a doctorate in educational leadership from VCU and the experience taught me a great deal about working digitally with a team. I enjoy sharing my passion for lifelong learning and my interest in using tools that engage students in STEAM education to bring them what they need for the future.

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Matt Caratachea

Coordinator of Technology Integration & Innovation
Goochland County Public Schools

Educational Leadership

Before becoming an educational leader in title for Goochland County Public Schools, I had many leadership roles. I helped organize and carry out division-wide events celebrating students and teachers for the innovative learning experiences happening across the county. I also helped organize division-wide professional learning events for teachers and leaders that were both packed with learning and fun. Currently in my role in central office I am lucky enough to lead an amazing team of coaches as we not only design professional learning to help teachers and leaders feel supported and prepared for anything, but help shape the instructional vision of the school division as we continue to grow and innovate.

Vision for VSTE

Driving state-wide educational innovation and creating opportunities to bring educators together are two incredibly important aspects of the VSTE organization. Though this past year was one of immense struggle, one positive light is the widespread adoption of integrating technology by teachers. VSTE must now reach the teachers who are starting to see the potential in these technological tools in order to not only meet these teachers with the high quality professional learning they need to carry on, but to also guide these educators in meaningfully integrating this into their classrooms. True innovation in schools can only happen when top notch pedagogy and 21st century tools and practices come together. There are teachers and leaders all over the state excited to help shape what comes next in education in a post-COVID world and VSTE will be the force behind bringing them together and making it a reality.

Biographical Sketch

From classroom teacher, to coach, and now in central office, I have always been an advocate for the innovative use of technology in the classroom. Helping teachers, students, and leaders see technology as a tool that can be used to create is a passion of mine. My day is made when a student is able to find their voice or their next creative outlet through a tool they have learned in school, or when a teacher has a vision and I can help with the tools or knowledge to help them see it through.

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