Woodbridge Teacher Wins Top Award For Technology Education

WOODBRIDGE, VA — A Woodbridge High School teacher was named "Coach of the Year" by the Virginia Society for Technology in Education (VSTE), Prince William County Schools said Tuesday. Kate Fielding, an instructional technology coach at the high school, received the award at the VSTE's Annual Technology in Education Conference, held in Roanoke, in December.

As a teacher with more than 15 years in the classroom, Fielding shares instructional practices with students and colleagues, helping them understand the ever-changing world of technology. Fielding also works with other instructional technology coaches to improve digital instruction in the classroom and to ensure digital equity for all students at Woodbridge High School, especially those students who need to use assistive devices.

"It was an honor to be nominated by my Woodbridge colleagues, and nice to have been selected among my coaching peers at VSTE," Fielding said in a statement. "I have great support from my administrators to get into the classrooms and help teachers and students use technology in innovative ways."

Fielding has a special interest in using educational technology to improve homebound instruction for chronically ill students. "She sees educational technology as a bridge that can join home, hospital, and school. Katie's life with cystic fibrosis has informed her concern for this often-overlooked demographic," VSTE said in its announcement of the award.

Fielding shared the award with Tonya Coffey, a teacher in the Augusta County Public Schools, and Daniel Vanover, a teacher in the Wise County Public Schools.

In 2019, Fielding participated in the Google Innovator Academy, where she completed a project focused on improving the quality of homebound instruction so that those students can feel a better connection with their teachers and fellow classmates.