As the new Chair of GRAETC and Instructional Technology Coach for Hanover County Public Schools, I am thrilled to kick off another year of collaboration, innovation, and support for educators throughout the Greater Richmond Area. Our collective mission to enhance teaching and learning through effective, innovative uses of technology is more important than ever. This year, I look forward to working alongside our passionate regional members to provide meaningful professional learning and connected experiences that empower educators and positively impact student success. Let’s make this a year of growth, connection, and inspiration!
I want to start first by recognizing our 2024-2025 Committee Officers:
- GRAETC Chair-Elect: Christopher Biagiarelli, Hanover County Public Schools
- EdTechRVA Chair: Colleen Samuel, Colonial Heights
- Treasurer: Stacey Wright, Chesterfield County Public Schools
- VSTE Representative: Erin Daniel, Henrico Education Foundation
- Grants Coordinator: Dr. Stephanie Playton, Longwood University
- Symposiums Coordinator: Stephanie Kliebenstein, Colonial Heights Public Schools
Welcome to all of our new and continuing Officers!
Fostering Collaborative, Tech-Enhanced Excellence Across Divisions
At our opening meeting, the committee dedicated time to setting goals for the 2024-2025 school year, ensuring they align with our mission and guide our efforts. This year, we will provide professional learning opportunities directly to division stakeholders through various channels, including blogs, symposiums, social media, and the EdTechRVA conference. Building on last year’s success, we plan to continue expanding our social media presence.
This year, we aim to host two symposiums on high-interest instructional technology topics for Region One division stakeholders. These events offer a valuable opportunity for our learning community to connect in person, share ideas, and collaborate.
We have also set a goal to increase our financial support for students and teachers in Region One. This could include sponsoring EdTech registrations for student-teachers, providing professional development opportunities, funding innovative classroom projects, and more. Additionally, we remain committed to supporting educators across Region One through GRAETC’s mini-grants.
Finally, we aim to maintain and expand the EdTechRVA conference’s impact by offering engaging, relevant sessions and networking opportunities that foster greater feedback, participation, membership, and growth within the educator community.
Keep your eye on our blog and social media platforms for details about all of these upcoming events!
If you have any suggestions on how GRAETC can better support you or your division, feel free to contact your division representative or reach out to me directly via email.
Laura Cooper, GRAETC Chair 2024-2025
Authorship Information
Laura Cooper serves as an Instructional Technology Coach for Hanover County Public Schools. As a former Biology teacher, she has combined her interest in science with her passion for learning. Laura believes in the importance of using science and theory as the backbone of instruction to teach in the way the brain learns best.