2023 SVRTC Awardees

SVRTC DivisionAwardeeSVRTC Technology Award
Amelia County Public SchoolsTina HueyTechnology Teacher Award
Brunswick County Public SchoolsRamone DaleyTechnology Teacher Award
Charlotte County Public SchoolsAmy DeitrichTechnology Teacher Award
Colonial Heights Public SchoolsMelisa ThurmanTechnology Teacher Award
Cumberland County Public SchoolsLisa CortazarTechnology Teacher Award
Danville City Public SchoolsElizabeth PlylerTechnology Teacher Award
Dinwiddie County Public SchoolsKristin BuyalosTechnology Teacher Award
Halifax County Public SchoolsAubree MitchellTechnology Teacher Award
Henry County Public SchoolsJosh DossTechnology Teacher Award
Hopewell Public SchoolsSavannah HodgesTechnology Teacher Award
Lunenburg County Public SchoolsElisabeth AmosTechnology Teacher Award
Martinsville City Public SchoolsJessia ClervoiTechnology Teacher Award
Mecklenburg County Public SchoolsKatherine PetersTechnology Teacher Award
Nottoway County Public SchoolsAlyssa ShorterTechnology Teacher Award
Petersburg City Public SchoolsStephanie FarrarTechnology Teacher Award
Prince Edward County Public SchoolsAshley RossTechnology Teacher Award
Sussex County Public SchoolsRyan KennedyTechnology Teacher Award
Amelia County Public SchoolsTatum SanfordTechnology Support Award
Appomattox County Public SchoolsSteven JohnsonTechnology Support Award
Brunswick County Public SchoolsElizabeth LynchTechnology Support Award
Buckingham County Public SchoolsDan FisherTechnology Support Award
Charlotte County Public SchoolsBrenda HaskinsTechnology Support Award
Cumberland County Public SchoolsSteven GillsTechnology Support Award
Danville City Public SchoolsBuddy CookTechnology Support Award
Dinwiddie County Public SchoolsDerese WynnTechnology Support Award
Greensville County Public SchoolsClif BattsTechnology Support Award
Halifax County Public SchoolsAndrew BarksdaleTechnology Support Award
Henry County Public SchoolsWilliam CraigTechnology Support Award
Hopewell Public SchoolsAnthony Perez LopezTechnology Support Award
Lunenburg County Public SchoolsJoe NemethTechnology Support Award
Martinsville City Public SchoolsRyan SpencerTechnology Support Award
Mecklenburg County Public SchoolsAshley SmithTechnology Support Award
Nottoway County Public SchoolsIsaiah JonesTechnology Support Award
Petersburg City Public SchoolsJay MatthewsTechnology Support Award
Pittsylvania County Public SchoolsHenry CrenshawTechnology Support Award
Prince Edward County Public SchoolsJason CrabtreeTechnology Support Award
Sussex County Public SchoolsCorey Long Jr.Technology Support Award
Amelia County Public SchoolsVictoria LunsfordInstructional Support Award
Brunswick County Public SchoolsKimberly JonesInstructional Support Award
Buckingham County Public SchoolsMelissa HanesInstructional Support Award
Charlotte County Public SchoolsJennifer SwartsInstructional Support Award
Cumberland County Public SchoolsAshley PostansInstructional Support Award
Danville City Public SchoolsToni NuckolsInstructional Support Award
Dinwiddie County Public SchoolsAmanda BooeInstructional Support Award
Halifax County Public SchoolsHeidi WardInstructional Support Award
Henry County Public SchoolsArrica AgeeInstructional Support Award
Hopewell Public SchoolsRich HalasInstructional Support Award
Lunenburg County Public SchoolsKenneth VaidenInstructional Support Award
Martinsville City Public SchoolsTyler HuntInstructional Support Award
Mecklenburg County Public SchoolsTraci SykesInstructional Support Award
Nottoway County Public SchoolsAmanda HawthorneInstructional Support Award
Petersburg City Public SchoolsElizabeth LayneInstructional Support Award
Pittsylvania County Public SchoolsBrandon HopkinsInstructional Support Award
Prince Edward County Public SchoolsWolfgang AcevedoInstructional Support Award
Sussex County Public SchoolsKatina Fitzgerald-JohnsonInstructional Support Award

Visit from VDOE Instructional Technology Specialist

Connected devices to the modern cloud.
Connected devices in the modern cloud. [Photograph]. (2015).  www.bluecoat.com/

The January 18, 2023, SVRTC meeting was held virtually, with representation from 10 counties with 17 in attendance: Amelia, Brunswick, Colonial Heights, Cumberland, Danville, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Mecklenburg, Nottoway. The professional development portion of the meeting welcomed Calypso Gilstrap, the new Instructional Technology Specialist for VDOE.

Ms. Gilstrap informed the group about several projects and responsibilities she has as the VDOE Instructional Technology Specialist, including:

  • Go Open VA – An online portal which provides online professional development modules and lessons for educators
  • Revising the Virginia Educational Technology Plan – this revision along with the comprehensive education plan for the state, will overlap in ways which should be helpful to fully integrate digital learning that will focus on improving innovations and use of technology.
  • Updating the ITRT Guidelines – Currently in search of any doctoral students who have done research on ITRTs, the guidelines may adjust ITRT roles to be a coaching model (for technology)
    • Related, VSTE is looking at updating standard of quality for ITRTs, technicians, and other technology educators and management. VSTE will present these recommendations to VDOE in March. Examples from SVRTC schools are welcome to showcase struggles or benefits to having additional technology support.
  • Instructional Technology Newsletter – going out via email; there will eventually be a spot for the newsletter on the VDOE website.
  • Keep updated on issues and progress made in schools in regards to instructional technology, as well as the need for any professional development courses

Furthermore, Ms. Gilstrap shared the importance of distributing the Project Tomorrow Speak Up Survey. This survey is geared towards all community stakeholders, including educators, parents, and students, and collects information on what technology is readily available in their homes and at school, their preferred learning methods, and what type of internet access they have. ITRTs and technology directors can distribute this survey to their school districts and will receive the data between March and April of this year. The data collected will be used to leverage companies to provide access in divisions and rural areas that currently lack it. It can also be used to inform strategic planning decisions, lesson plans, and apply for grants. The survey can be found on the VDOE website.

Additionally, some upcoming professional development opportunities were shared with the group:

  • February 1: Academic Integrity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Webinar – Discussions will include ChatGPT and its use effective for students and teachers, as well as how students use it and what limitations there should be on the use of AI in academic settings.
    • Related, VDOE’s current stance on ChatGPT is that the security of using it should be thoroughly investigated in conjunction with your privacy agreements, as ChatGPT downloads a lot of data from its users.
  • February 25: Blended Learning Conference, Webinar – Free opportunity in collaboration with VSTE to discuss new ways to use blended learning as well as new ideas for in-person learning.
    • Virtual Virginia will also be shared to foster teachers in the classroom and help administrators who are lacking the staff to offer certain classes.
  • TBA: Brainstorm Conference, Virtual – A 3-day event hosted by Shenandoah Valley Educational Technology Consortium and open to all of Virginia either for free or a minimal cost. The Brainstorm Conference focuses on coming up with solutions and new ideas for issues schools face in regards to technology and digital integration. 

Lastly, Ms. Gilstrap directed SVRTC members to Dr. Susan Clair for cybersecurity questions. Dr. Susan Clair will be running a professional development module on Cybersecurity and AI and will be involved with the EdTech forum on cybersecurity in the Fall. 

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