Educators across the division are invited to join the monthly #VBEdChat, a Twitter chat hosted by Teacher Forum and the Office of Professional Growth and Innovation specifically designed for the Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) community.

“In so many ways, teaching can be an isolating profession in that we come into our classrooms, close the doors and do our magic behind the walls of our rooms,” said Carrie Gantt, teacher at Princess Anne High School and 2014 Citywide Teacher of the Year. “My experience has been that [#VBEdChat] has really been a way of collapsing walls not just within a building but across a region and it’s a way that I continue to fall in love with what I do.”

Gantt believes the discussions on #VBEdChat have rejuvenated her skills and remind her of why she became a teacher in the first place.

Past topics have ranged from personalized learning and teacher leadership to the most recent April chat topic, emotional intelligence.

Bevin Reinen, 2015 Citywide Teacher of the Year and current VBCPS professional learning specialist, initially proposed the idea for the chat.

“It is a unique way for educators whose paths normally wouldn’t cross to connect and grow alongside each other in the digital sphere,” Reinen said. “It helps strengthen the cohesiveness within our very large school division.”

Gantt and Reinen collaborate with other division leaders to select topics relevant to the division’s strategic plan, Compass to 2020.

They also said that they welcome what is technically called “lurking.” New participants, in particular, are encouraged to “lurk” or simply observe the live conversation until they feel comfortable responding to discussion questions.

Mark your calendars now for the next #VBEdChat, Wednesday, May 25 at 8 p.m. The topic will be anchoring digital learning, and will aim to showcase the work of the division’s Digital Anchor Schools. In addition, a “slow chat” on end-of-year reflections will be scheduled for the last week of school.