Teacher-Driven Resource Design
Local teachers help identify needs, review activities, test resources with students, and provide the feedback that drives revision.
Hampton Roads, Virginia
Built here. Growing here.
Virtual Science Teachers was founded in Hampton Roads, and this community continues to shape our work. Local educators help us design, test, and improve science resources while VST supports schools through professional development, curriculum collaboration, and community STEM experiences.
Hampton Roads is more than where VST started. It is home. The resources we build here are strengthened by the teachers, students, schools, and organizations that work with us, and the lessons we learn locally help us support science classrooms far beyond the region.
What working with VST looks like
We work directly with Hampton Roads educators and organizations to strengthen science learning while reducing some of the preparation burden placed on teachers.
Professional Development
VST provides Hampton Roads science teams with professional learning focused on practical classroom use, data analysis, scientific reasoning, and making student thinking visible.
Community STEM Experiences
VST participates in STEM nights, career events, camps, school programs, and regional events that connect students with science beyond the classroom.
Growing our reach across the region
Here is what our Hampton Roads work looks like so far.
Thousands
of Hampton Roads learners engaging with VST digital resources
200+
Hampton Roads teachers reached through professional development
1,000+
students engaged face-to-face through community STEM events
100+
interactive Mini-Challenges developed with teacher input
Hampton Roads teachers help shape what we build
VST resources are strengthened by educators who understand their students, standards, and classrooms. Teachers help identify gaps, review instructional design, use resources with students, and tell us what needs to change.
That feedback matters. It helps VST create resources that do more than deliver information. They create opportunities for students to predict, analyze evidence, explain ideas, revise their thinking, and make their reasoning visible.
Ways local educators work with VST
- Identify standards or concepts where students need additional support
- Co-develop lessons, interactives, Bell Ringers, and other classroom resources
- Test resources with students and provide classroom feedback
- Help identify misconceptions and places where students need stronger scaffolding
- Serve on VST's Academic Review Board and resource-development teams
Professional development for Hampton Roads educators
VST works with schools and divisions to build professional learning around the needs of their teachers and students.
Use VST Effectively
Learn how Bell Ringers, interactives, simulations, graphing tools, and other VST resources can fit naturally into instruction.
Reveal Student Thinking
Explore strategies that use predictions, evidence, explanations, models, data, and discussion to make student thinking easier for teachers to see and respond to.
Build Science Skills
Strengthen instruction around graphing, data analysis, claim-evidence-reasoning, scientific investigation, and other skills students use throughout science learning and STEM careers.
Hampton Roads STEM events
We love meeting students face-to-face. VST participates in career events, community programs, STEM nights, camps, and school events throughout Hampton Roads.
Expedition Port of Call
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Naval Station STEM Event
Norfolk, Virginia
Worlds of Work
Hampton Roads Workforce Council
COVA STEM Exploration
Worlds of Work
Expedition Port of Call
Portsmouth STEM Night
Chesapeake STEM Camp
REACH Foundation STEAM Day
Naval Station Norfolk
Langley Air Force Base
Newport News STEM Community Event
Schools & organizations working with VST
Our Hampton Roads work grows through collaboration with educators, school divisions, foundations, workforce organizations, and STEM partners throughout the region.
Hampton Roads School Divisions
Regional Organizations & Supporters
Expanding our investment in Hampton Roads
The next stage of VST's regional work is being built with local teachers, schools, and partners.
Authentic Local Data
Develop science and data-analysis experiences using authentic datasets connected to Hampton Roads industries and scientific work, including maritime research, shipbuilding, and aerospace.
Deeper District Integration
Expand LMS integration so teachers can more easily assign VST activities within systems already used by Hampton Roads schools.
Sustained Teacher Partnership
Continue building resources with educators, expanding regional professional development, and creating stronger feedback loops between classrooms and VST.
Let's build something for Hampton Roads
Whether you're a teacher with an idea, a science leader looking for professional development, an organization planning a STEM event, or a regional partner interested in supporting science education, we'd love to hear from you.