W&M and NNPS receive 2025 VACTE School-University Partnership Project Award
Posted: April 21, 2025
William & Mary's School of Education and Newport News Public Schools were jointly selected to receive the 2025 School-University Partnership Project Award by the Virginia Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators.
The award is a statewide recognition honoring collaborative initiatives between Virginia's higher education institutions and K-12 school divisions that enhance student learning, well-being and teacher preparation.
The partnership was recognized on April 3 at the VACTE Spring Conference held at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland.
The award celebrates the STEAM Camp program, a summer initiative co-designed in 2021 that has demonstrated significant growth over the past four years, according to Tami Byron, NNPS STEM instructional supervisor.
This innovative program delivers interdisciplinary STEM experiences to NNPS students while supporting social-emotional development and real-world problem solving. At the same time, it provides pre-service teachers from William & Mary with structured, high-impact field experiences that connect graduate coursework with hands-on teaching.
Byron and NNPS STEM Instructional Specialists Jennifer Barker and Kevin Nelhuebel collaborate with W&M faculty members Dr. Meredith Kier and Dr. Lindy Johnson on the project.
"This partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration between K-12 and higher education to create scalable, meaningful learning opportunities," Byron said. "It benefits students, educators and future teachers alike, advancing both academic outcomes and professional preparation."
In 2023, the STEAM Camps were recognized as a 2023 "Program that Works" by the Virginia Mathematics and Science Coalition.
