Professional Development

The January 2026 virtual meeting of the Southside Virginia Regional Technology Consortium (SVRTC) brought together educational technology leaders from across the region for a session that balanced real-world challenges, forward-thinking planning, and critical updates on data privacy, professional development, and upcoming events. Representatives from 14 SVRTC school divisions were in attendance, including: Cumberland County Public Schools, Mecklenburg County Public Schools, Franklin City Public Schools, Amelia County Public Schools, Dinwiddie County Public Schools, Halifax County Public Schools, Nottoway County Public Schools, Brunswick County Public Schools, Petersburg City Public Schools, Sussex County Public Schools, Charlotte County Public Schools, Henry County Public Schools, Prince Edward County Public Schools, and Hopewell City Public Schools. Staff from Longwood University’s ITTIP also attended, including Kyle Kayhart, Dr. Paula Leach, and Elizabeth Kirk. The meeting featured a presentation by Ramah Hawley from The Education Cooperative (TEC).

A highlight of the meeting was a presentation from Ramah Hawley of the Education Cooperative (TEC), who spoke about student data privacy. Despite initial technical difficulties preventing her from displaying slides, Ramah walked members through the comprehensive privacy services TEC offers to school districts. Founded in Massachusetts in 1968, TEC began addressing student data privacy in 2017 after parent concerns at a school board meeting prompted the organization to take a more proactive approach. Ramah credited Steve Smith with helping them establish FERPA-compliant frameworks and detailed how TEC began offering data privacy agreement (DPA) services to districts for a $1-per-student fee.

Since then, TEC’s program has grown to support over 2,000 districts across 16 states. Their model simplifies compliance through a shared legal structure that includes Exhibit Gs tailored to each state’s data privacy laws. In Virginia, the program now serves 17 school divisions, including Dinwiddie County. Timothy Ampy shared that since joining the initiative, Dinwiddie has increased its number of DPAs from zero to 33, calling the system efficient and easy to implement.

Ramah also introduced the Auto Exhibit E Creator, a tool that streamlines the creation of DPAs by automatically incorporating district information and digital signatures. She addressed growing concerns about AI tools in education and clarified that under FERPA, vendors are prohibited from using student data to train their AI models. Notably, TEC is actively working with OpenAI on privacy terms for its teacher-specific products, and a forthcoming version of the National Data Privacy Agreement will include a dedicated AI exhibit to assist districts in evaluating vendor data practices.

Timothy Ampy of Dinwiddie County Public Schools took a moment to highlight his division’s positive experience working with The Education Cooperative (TEC). Since partnering with TEC, Dinwiddie has gone from having no data privacy agreements in place to establishing 33—an achievement Timothy credited to the seamless and highly efficient support TEC provides. He emphasized that the process has significantly reduced the pressure and workload on district staff, making it easier to ensure compliance while saving valuable time. The service, he noted, has been a game-changer for managing student data privacy in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

Dr. Paula Leach followed with several updates from ITTIP. She welcomed Elizabeth Kirk as the new STEM Instructional Technology Specialist, citing her extensive experience and enthusiasm for the role. Paula also noted the progress of the ACSE grant, which focuses on integrating data science and AI into secondary classrooms, and encouraged Gear Up schools to explore summer STEM camp opportunities for rising 8th graders by contacting local coordinators

Kyle Kayhart provided updates on the upcoming STEM Learning Summit, scheduled for February, which had already attracted 53 registrants. The registration deadline was set for February 7. The featured facilitator, Eric Curts, was noted as a draw for many participants, and members were reminded to complete his AI survey if registered. Paula introduced Angie Seay as the new administrative assistant, succeeding Barbara Scott.

Kyle also encouraged members to reach out with ideas for future professional development topics or presenters, underscoring the consortium’s ongoing commitment to responsive and member-driven programming. He mentioned continued discussions with Attronica and reaffirmed plans for the SVRTC banquet, scheduled for March 24, including an upcoming email with information on award nominations and registration. All nominations are due by February 20, and members are encouraged to reach out to Kyle Kayhart with any questions or concerns.

The next SVRTC meeting will take place on February 18, 2026.

On November 19, 2025, SVRTC members gathered virtually for a dynamic meeting filled with updates, insights, and collaboration. The session spotlighted powerful advancements in educational technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), and offered members opportunities to connect over shared initiatives and challenges. Representatives from 13 SVRTC school divisions were in attendance, including: Mecklenburg County Public Schools, Dinwiddie County Public Schools, Prince Edward County Public Schools, Sussex County Public Schools, Charlotte County Public Schools, Nottoway County Public Schools, Brunswick County Public Schools, Buckingham County Public Schools, Lunenburg County Public Schools, Pittsylvania County Public Schools, Amelia County Public Schools, Cumberland County Public Schools, and Petersburg City Public Schools. Staff from ITTIP at Longwood University also attended, including Dr. Paula Leach and Barbara Scott, along with Kyle Kayhart. Guest speakers included Ryan Champney from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and Charlie Motter from Cumberland County.

To start, Liz Jamerson welcomed members and guests before the group unanimously approved the October meeting minutes. Kyle Kayhart then introduced Ryan Champney from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), who brought several significant updates. Among them was the exciting news that Virginia had received the 2025 State Achievement Award from SETDA (State Educational Technology Directors Association) in recognition of the Commonwealth’s leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) and professional learning. Ryan also introduced a pilot program for the ITRT Toolbox Canvas course and encouraged divisions to participate in upcoming workshops focusing on digital learning and the integration of AI standards. He concluded with a reminder about the fast-approaching VSTE Annual Conference in December.

The meeting then turned its focus to the powerful role of AI in education. Guest speaker Charlie Motter delivered an engaging presentation on a wide range of AI tools and their classroom applications. Charlie shared that his exploration of AI began through platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where he discovered tools that could transform teaching workflows. Despite some formerly free tools shifting to paid models, he continues to curate and share the best of them in ITRT workshops and regional AI VAS sessions. His presentation offered practical strategies for integrating tools such as Gemini, ChatGPT, and Magic School—showing how they can help teachers generate lesson plans, differentiate instruction, and engage students more effectively. He emphasized that AI should be seen not as a replacement for educators, but as a powerful assistant that can enhance teaching efficiency while preserving the human connection at the core of education.

In addition to technology updates, the group received several key announcements related to grants and program developments. Dr. Paula Leach shared that the Department of Education’s ACSE grant is now available to support computer science teachers across the region. She also announced that the Gear Up Grant will soon launch an esports initiative, bringing the excitement of competitive gaming into education. A new STEM specialist position is now open, and members were encouraged to share the opportunity with interested candidates. Dr. Leach also announced that the SVRTC banquet has been scheduled for March 24, 2026. In a moment of appreciation and reflection, she acknowledged Barbara Scott’s retirement, recognizing her contributions during her time working part-time with the organization.

Cybersecurity was another important topic of discussion. The Cybersecurity Rubric Masterclass, held recently, drew 26 participants from 8 SVRTC divisions, demonstrating growing interest in strengthening digital safety practices. Looking ahead, members discussed the upcoming STEM Learning Summit, scheduled for February 26, 2026, which will center around the intersection of AI and education. Elizabeth Jamerson invited members to join the Strategic Planning Committee as the organization begins refreshing its long-term vision.

Josh Adams provided a real-world example of the importance of robust cybersecurity practices by sharing details of a recent incident at Mecklenburg County Public Schools. Fortunately, the division collaborated with VACOR to resolve the issue and turned the experience into a valuable learning opportunity. Josh later presented their findings at CyberCon in Charlottesville. The meeting also included final reminders about the upcoming VSTE Conference, scheduled for December 7–9. Members confirmed their attendance at the associated Leading Ed Forum, including the Cumberland IT staff and Elizabeth’s full team of ITRTs.

As the meeting drew to a close, members looked forward to the STEM Learning Summit. Eric Curts has been confirmed as a featured speaker for the event, which promises to bring timely and inspiring perspectives to the SVRTC community. Jeff Dingeldein also shared his recent experience attending the CERN AI conference. While informative, he noted that the content was more suited for beginners than for those already engaged in intermediate or advanced AI applications.

The next SVRTC meeting will take place on January 21, 2026.