Virginia Educators Honored for Technology Leadership

The Virginia Department of Education recently honored eight outstanding educators for their advocacy and use of educational technology in the commonwealth’s public schools. The awards were presented during the department’s Educational Technology Leadership Conference, Nov. 29-Dec. 1.

The Education Technology Leadership Award, presented annually, acknowledges outstanding school division leadership in education technology planning and implementation. Division superintendents in each of the department’s eight study regions select individuals for the award. Recipients are chosen because of their success in helping school divisions improve teaching and learning through the use of instructional media and technology. The 2006 winners are:

• Mohammad Omar Barbarji, technology education teacher for West Point Public Schools, Region Three
• Ernie C. Conner Jr., director of technology for Mecklenburg County Public Schools, Region Eight
• Denise Dawson, director of business and technology for Harrisonburg Public Schools, Region Five
• Dr. Sharon D. Dodson, division superintendent for Henry County Public Schools, Region Six
• John Hendron, instructional technology specialist for Goochland County Public Schools, Region One
• Jeffrey S. Shelton, director of technology for Bristol Public Schools, Region Seven
• Georgianna Skinner, director of technology for Hampton Public Schools, Region Two
• Dr. Edgar B. Hatrick III, division superintendent for Loudoun County Public Schools, Region Four

Goochland County’s Hendron was also recognized as the state award winner.

The Virginia Department of Education Award was presented to Pamela A. Currey for her previous work as deputy secretary of finance for Governor Mark R. Warner and as legislative fiscal analyst with the Senate Finance Committee. In her previous positions, Ms. Currey was responsible for public education and debt issues and staffed the Education Subcommittee and the Commission on Equity in Public Education as well as other select committees and commissions. She currently serves as associate vice chancellor for budget and planning with the Virginia Community College System.

The Virginia Educational Technology Advisory Committee (VETAC), which advises the Virginia Board of Education on educational technology, also presented its 2006 VETAC Leadership Award to Dr. James Carroll, a special projects administrator in the department of information services with Arlington Public Schools.

###