Dear Fellow Technology Education Teachers:
While pondering on where do we need to be going as an organization the following proverb comes to mind
"Do not confine your children to your own learning for they were born in another time."
As our new school year opens, I am hopeful that you and all of the Virginia Technology Education teachers are rejuvenated and
willing to encourage the next generation. For those of you who I met at this year’s conference I hope you found the conference informative
and intend to bring new ideas and members to the 2009 summer conference, in Richmond. Please encourage your fellow VTEA member who
didn’t come this year to come to Richmond and bring someone new with them, to join VTEA.
This is an exciting time for Technology Education in Virginia. With the recent developments in environmental and energy concerns many new
opportunities will become available particularly in the areas of Environmental Science, Atmospheric Science, and Power and Energy Technology.
We should take advantage of these new opportunities to strengthen our programs, develop new ones and demonstrate the critical nature of our work,
and provide leadership in our schools and communities.
As technology teachers we need to always be learning and pushing the envelope, to teach technology you need to constantly try new things.
It won’t be easy. After all, "we always did it this way" and "there isn't any money in the budget" are strong arguments for resisting change.
Eventually though public awareness will manifest itself and the budgets to do things right becomes available. We need to start preparing ourselves,
and future members to provide, a practical education that will prepare our students for work that does not yet exist and cannot yet be clearly defined.
“To be a teacher is to be a profit, because you are not preparing kids for the world you grew up in, or the world today, but a world you can’t even imagine.”
Gordon Brown, MIT Dean of Engineering.
As for me, I am a Technology Teacher in Norfolk Public Schools, Granby High School. I am married (25 years) and have two daughters and a son.
I started out as an Apprentice Toolmaker after graduating from South Eastern Regional Vocational Technical High School (SRVTHS) in New England.
I joined the Navy in 1978 and served for 22 years. I have traveled extensively while in the Navy, but my most memorable tour of duty was on the
Antarctic Winter Crew at McMurdo Station. My last tour of duty was as the Military Supervisor for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Repair Center Pumps.
Upon retiring from the Navy I went to work at Newport News Shipbuilding as an Independent Contractor, in Engineering and Planning for the CVNX Project,
which is now the USS George Bush, I started teaching Technology Education in 2001 after the completion of my contract with Newport News Shipbuilding.
I am active in my community with Special Olympics, BSA Scout Master for Troop 222 and as Assistant Director for Religious Education at
Saint Paul’s Catholic Church, and at Granby High School I am a TSA Advisor and Anime Club Advisor. I currently teach Technical Drawing,
Architectural Drawing and Digital Visualization. I am also an Adjunct at Tidewater Community College teaching Computer-Aided Drafting and Design I-II
and Parametric Solid Modeling I-II.
I hold the following Industry Certifications; AutoCAD (Master), ADDA Drafter, DOL Journeyman Machinist, DOL Journeyman Propulsion Systems Design,
DOL Journeyman Propulsion Equipment, DOL Journeyman Auxiliary Equipment. I have a degree from Saint Leo’s College (AS) and two degrees from
Old Dominion University in Occupational Technical Studies, Technology Education (BS) and Community College Teaching (MS). I hold endorsements in
Vocational Education for Special Needs and Vocational Evaluation. I am also an active member of TBA Young Designers, Woman in Engineering
Organization (WIEO), and Drafting Advisory Committee, Norfolk Technical Center.
I ask you to do your part as Technology Education teachers. Learn everything you can. Get involved with the VTEA. Promise to believe in our mission,
and demonstrate your belief in what you think, plan, act, do, and say. Promise to make this your best year in Technology Education. Finally, be sure to
check the VTEA website (www.vtea.org) and the ITEA website (www.iteaconnect.org) for information and ideas. Check these sites often.
I look forward to working with you in the coming year,
Richard (Rick) Dyer
2008-09 VTEA President
Virginia Technology Education Association
Norfolk Public Schools
Granby High School
7101 Granby Street
Norfolk, VA 23505
757-451-4110 x1058
757-451-4418
rdyer@nps.k12.va.us
