The opening meeting for the SVRTC 2025–2026 school year was held at the SEED Innovation Hub and was attended by representatives from 10 SVRTC school divisions: Amelia County Public Schools, Appomattox County Public Schools, Brunswick County Public Schools, Colonial Heights Public Schools, Cumberland County Public Schools, Hopewell City Public Schools, Lunenburg County Public Schools, Nottoway County Public Schools, Prince Edward County Public Schools, and Sussex County Public Schools. The meeting also included ITTIP’s staff and our guest speaker from Classlink.
Dr. Paula Leach shared organizational updates from ITTIP, including the recent departure of a team member and the pending process to fill the vacancy. She also informed members about a newly submitted grant proposal in partnership with George Mason University, aimed at enhancing STEM learning opportunities for middle and high school students. A decision from the Virginia Department of Education is expected soon.
ITTIP is in the early planning stages for a STEM Learning Summit slated for February 2026. The summit is expected to focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and pedagogy-first learning environments.
The meeting featured a presentation by Mona Johnston, Senior Director of Instructional Technology at Classlink. She explained how Classlink serves as a single sign-on (SSO) platform used by several SVRTC divisions, including Colonial Heights, Prince Edward, Brunswick, Appomattox, Charlotte, and Henry Counties. Johnston discussed tools such as App Track, Threat Scan, and One Data, and emphasized Classlink’s focus on data privacy, security, and ease of access for students and staff. Members enjoyed lunch following the presentation, courtesy of Classlink.
The meeting concluded with a guided tour of the SEED Innovation Hub led by Evan Jones, Director of the SEED Innovation Hub. Members explored makerspaces and saw demonstrations of 3D printers, laser cutters, and digital media equipment in action.