October+November+2011

** Speak Up Survey **
 * __ Virginia Department of Education Update __**

The Speak Up survey is now open. The survey, facilitated by [|Project Tomorrow], collects and reports on the views and opinions of student, teachers, parents, and educators on educational and technology issues. Email sent to school division technology directors on October 14. [|Speak Up 2011.pdf]

** Notice and Opportunity to Comment on State Waiver Request of the “Tydings Amendment” for Federal Fiscal Year 2009 Grants under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) **

The Virginia Department of Education has received notification from the U.S. Department of Education that a waiver of the “Tydings Amendment” (section 421(b) of the General Education Provision Act) is available for federal fiscal year 2009 grant programs authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The Virginia Department of Education intends to apply for a waiver of the “Tydings Amendment” to provide authority for the Department and its sub-recipients to obligate federal fiscal year (FY) 2009 regular and Recovery Act (ARRA) ESEA funds after September 30, 2011. Specifically, the Virginia Department of Education intends to request a waiver of the Tydings Amendment to extend through September 30, 2012. Comments on the waiver request will be accepted through October 21, 2011. Click [|here] for more information.

** Lynchburg 8th-Grade Teacher is 2012 State Teacher of the Year **

Margaret A. "Meg" Smith, an eighth-grade English literature teacher at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School for Innovation in Lynchburg, was named the 2012 Virginia Teacher of the Year Friday evening in Richmond. Smith was selected from the eight Virginia 2012 Regional Teachers of the Year announced in September. She will be the commonwealth’s nominee in the Council of Chief State School Officers’ National Teacher of the Year program. Click [|here] for more information.

**The Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars Program**
The Virginia Space Grant Consortium, NASA Langley Research Center, and the Virginia Department of Education are partnering to provide an exciting opportunity for high school juniors in Virginia in 2011-2012. This competitive program allows high school juniors to apply for an engaging NASA-developed course using a space exploration theme. Online coursework will teach a broad range of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills aligned with Virginia and national standards. After successfully completing the course, scholars have the opportunity to be selected to participate in an all-expense-paid, seven-day residential Academy at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. The Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) coursework is offered online from December 2011 through May 2012. The application deadline is November 4, 2011. Click [|here] for more information.

** Extension of Mini-Grants for High School Purchase of NBC Learn Archives on Demand Reimbursement Request Form for School Year 2011-2012 **

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has secured funds to provide an extension of the one-time $300 mini-grant to each high school that purchases the Economics and Personal Finance Collection for $399 and adds on the $300 package that includes the English Language Arts, Mathematics, and all other programs that are available from NBC Learn. The entire package will cost each high school $699 and VDOE will reimburse the school division $300 for each high school’s initial purchase.

An additional incentive has been offered through NBC by providing an 18-month subscription for the original price of a 12-month subscription, if the order is placed by December 31, 2011. The subscription will start on March 1, 2012; but schools will have access to the program starting immediately. This will give access for the rest of this school year and through March 2013. Click [|here] for more information.

** Student Topics from International Space Olympics **

The topics presented by the six students from Virginia at the ISO along with online information related to their topics are available online. [|Tie-Ins for Younger Students]

Profiles on the students from Viriginia, details of their projects, blog posts, and other information is available. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">Click [|here].

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">** 2011 Virginia Thinkfinity Award Winners **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">Mary Johnston, a first-grade teacher at Clark Elementary in Charlottesville, and Jennie Carr, a fourth-grade teacher at Elkton Elementary in Rockingham County, will share the title of 2011 Virginia “Thinkfinity” Teacher of the Year. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">Johnston and Carr each receive $1,000 stipends to conduct workshops on using Thinkfinity at educational conferences, $1,000 unrestricted cash prizes, and iPads — all provided through a grant from the Verizon Foundation <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">Four teachers were recognized as Regional Virginia Thinkfinity Teachers of the Year and will each receive a $1,000 educational conference stipend and an iPad: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">Click [|here] for additional information.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">Kahla Lose, a first-grade teacher at Ashburn Elementary in Loudoun County;
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">Samantha Martin, an algebra teacher at Prince Edward High in Prince Edward County;
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">Betsy Reid, an English teacher at Atlee High in Hanover County; and
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">Stephanie Smith, an English teacher at Gayle Middle in Stafford County.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">** 2011 State Educational Technology Leadership Awards **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">Ena Wood, the instructional technology coordinator for Arlington County Public Schools, was honored this week with the Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) 2011 State Educational Technology Leadership Award and the Region 4 Educational Technology Leadership Award. The awards were presented during Virginia Tech’s Educational Technology Leadership Conference in Roanoke.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">In addition to Wood, the 2011 regional winners are:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">Region 1 — David Rankin, manager of online learning, Chesterfield County Public Schools
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">Region 2 — Jillanne “GiGi” Badawi, e-learning coordinator, Chesapeake Public Schools
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">Region 3 — Robert Young, director of technology, Fredericksburg Public Schools
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">Region 5 — Tom Lundquist, supervisor of technology services, Staunton Public Schools
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">Region 6 — Dayna Wells, instructional technology resource teacher, Salem Public Schools
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">Region 7 — Jeff Shelton, director of technology, Bristol Public Schools
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">Region 8 — Jane W. Lee, director of testing and technology, Greensville County Public Schools

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">The Virginia Educational Technology Advisory Committee (VETAC), which advises the state Board of Education on educational technology, also presented its 2011 VETAC Leadership Award at the Roanoke conference. The award went to Paul C. Nichols III of Virginia Advanced Study Strategies, the state affiliate of the National Math and Science Initiative.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">** Overview of Virtual Virginia ETLC Sessions **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">Overview of session on the Virtual Virginia program.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">Overview of session on Virtual Learning Partnerships.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">** iPad Pilot Projects ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">TI - Nspire Navigator project at Powhatan High School. The project involves the use of graphing calculators. Click [|here] for more information. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">iPad App for Virtual Virginia AP Biology students. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">FUZE app developed by Houghton-Mifflin-Harcourt being piloted by high school students in Henrico, Powhatan, Arlington, and Botetourt. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px;">If you’re interested in your division participating in a pilot project, please contact Gail Warren at (757) 470-3017.