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UVA Wise STREAM Coordinator Awarded VSTE Leadership Award

Dedra Duty
Heather Askea

Heather Askea, STREAM Outreach Coordinator for the University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVA Wise) was recently awarded the Leader of the Year Award for 2024 by Virginia Society for Technology and Education (VSTE).

The award recognizes and honors individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership in implementing technology to improve education. Award recipients are selected from a pool of nominations submitted by VSTE members from around Virginia. Individuals were recognized for their innovative and engaging work in supporting their peers and districts in becoming change agents in technology education. 

"I'm incredibly grateful for this recognition of my work,” says Askea. “I have been afforded amazing opportunities to learn from and work with the best education leaders in the Commonwealth through my work with VSTE and other collaborations both in Virginia and nationally.  While my leadership roles have not always been traditional, I fully embrace the ‘lead from where you are’ model and believe that all educators can lead change to transform and enhance learning from wherever they are.”

Askea has been a driving force in educational technology and professional development since 2006. As one of the first instructional technology resource teachers in Wise County, she trained hundreds of teachers in technology integration. During her 13 years with the UVA Wise Center for Teaching Excellence, Askea coordinated professional development for thousands of teachers, offering workshops, online courses and summer institutes. 

Now, as the leader of STREAMWISE and UVA Wise STREAM Outreach Coordinator, Askea works directly with both educators and students, hosting school visits, workshops and events that promote STEM and STREAM learning. Through partnerships with organizations like Apple Education, the Appalachian Council for Innovation and regional libraries, she has developed impactful initiatives such as coding camps, professional learning communities and STREAMWISE cornerstones to ensure equitable access to technology-enhanced education.

Collaboration is central to Askea’s work, as evidenced by her leadership in regional partnerships and initiatives such as the SWVA Can Code program and the Math of the Mountains project. Her dedication to continuous learning and professional growth keeps her at the forefront of emerging technologies and best practices.

Askea’s work embodies the mission of VSTE, promoting excellence in education through the integration of technology. She has been instrumental in creating equitable access to digital tools, fostering innovation in the classroom and modeling excellence in digital citizenship. The ability to envision what’s possible and inspire others to achieve it makes her an invaluable leader in education.

“In Southwest Virginia, we have a wonderful culture of collaboration among K-12, higher education and industry partners to accomplish some amazing projects that open opportunities for our students. It’s an honor to be a part of it," adds Askea.