Virtual Virginia Teacher Named Finalist for National Teaching Award Second Year In a Row

The Southern Regional Education Board and the International Council for K12 Online Learning have announced the list of finalists for the second annual National Online Teacher of the Year. Nominations for 65 candidates from 25 states were considered. We are very proud that to announce that Virtual Virginia's Human Geography teacher Tom Landon has been named one of those five finalists.

Read the press release here: http://home.sreb.org/publication/news1.aspx?Code=1282

This is the second year in a row that one of Virtual Virginia's teacher has been named a finalist for this recognition. Virtual Virginia AP Economics teacher Steven Sproles was one of the three finalist for the 2010 award.

One of this year's five finalists will be named the 2011 National Online Teacher of the Year on March 10 in Atlanta, at the Excellence Dinner during the SREB’s Education Technology Cooperative’s Teaching and Learning Symposium.

The 2011 National Online Teacher of the Year will receive a crystal Flame of Excellence and a day with Karen Cator, the director of the Office of Educational Technology at the U.S. Department of Education, plus a trip to the Virtual School Symposium sponsored by iNACOL, November 9-11 in Indianapolis. The winner also will be recognized during the iNACOL Annual Meeting and will be featured on the SREB and iNACOL websites. The other four finalists will receive special recognition at the awards banquet in March and other honors.

Tuesday Teacher Profile: Ms. Colleen Spinelli

Name: Ms. Colleen Spinelli

Courses Taught: AP Environmental Science

Years Teaching: 10

Location: Bristow, VA

Hidden Talent: I learned to row at age 6.

Thoughts About Teaching and Learning Online: Teaching is a great way to reach out to other people and share an experience. Whether it is academic or athletic, I love to see someone learn and connect. Online learning allows me to interact with wonderful students in any zipcode.