Jody Sommerfeldt is a Master Lecturer in the Teaching & Learning Department at Old à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã University, with special emphasis in Elementary Education, Instructional Technology and coaching. She is currently serving as the Interim Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies at Old à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã University, executing and managing multiple grants to establish residencies and deeper learning experiences for students in our teacher education program. She also served as the Director of the Office of Clinical Experiences where she was responsible for all field experiences preparing all future teachers, and others going into educational professions. She holds Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Elementary Education from the College of William & Mary, along with a Master’s Degree in Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Technology and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership and Administration at ODU, where she was recognized as the Outstanding Student in Educational Leadership. She is passionate about preparing future-ready teachers, public education, effective leadership, the integration of technology as a way to engage students and support higher level thinking, and finding innovative ways to reduce the teacher shortage in our area and across our state.
Jody has served several public school systems in the Hampton Roads Area both as a classroom teacher and a Technology Curriculum Integration Specialist, and continues to serve surrounding school divisions through collaboration and support on grants. She has trained hundreds of clinical faculty to serve intern and practicum students across all licensure programs with her colleague. During her time in the classroom, she was recognized as an Apple Distinguished Educator, Reading Teacher of the Year, Teacher of the Year, and the Sallie Mae First Year Teacher of the Year. While in Newport News, her school received the VA Department of Education Technology Program of the Year Award. She has conducted many workshops and presented at local, state, and national conferences on Project-Based Learning, Technology Integration, and 21st century skills, online teaching, and how to effectively teach in a 1:1 environment. She continues to explore new teaching strategies to help pre-service and in-service teachers in managing the classroom, and supporting the needs of ALL learners.