ODU Center for Educational Innovation & Opportunity

10/16/2026

🚨 Hiring Fiscal Technician

Provide fiscal and administrative support for the ODU Center for Educational Innovation and Opportunity, including accounts payable, lab school purchasing, account monitoring, record-keeping, customer service, payroll, and employee onboarding. Part-time, 20 hours/week, through spring 2029.

Remote with possible on-site work in Hampton.

Lear more and apply today: https://hera.odurf.odu.edu/careers//Careers.aspx?req=26-052&type=JOBDESCR

10/14/2026

Four seasons, five senses, and a classroom full of curious kindergartners!

Our kindergarten students at the STEM Academy at Booker T. Washington explored “Sensing the Seasons” in the Innovation Den with ClassVR.From spring flowers and a rushing waterfall to colorful fall leaves and snowy winter scenes, students looked closely for seasonal clues, compared what they noticed, and shared their thinking.

Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” added a musical connection as students considered how we use our senses to explore the world around us. Even in kindergarten, we are building the habits of scientists: observing carefully, making predictions, and explaining our thinking. What a fun way to bring the seasons into our classroom!

A special thank-you to Demetrice Smith-Mutegi, Ed.D., of Old Dominion University for leading today’s lesson. She is an important part of our work, and we are grateful for her partnership and the meaningful learning experiences we create together for our students.

10/09/2026

🎓 Future Monarchs in the Making! 🦁✨

STEM Academy 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders recently got a taste of college life during an unforgettable field trip to Old Dominion University!

From stepping onto a university campus to exploring real-world STEM research, our students had an incredible hands-on learning experience. Highlights from the trip included:
Exploring the wonders of space at the ODU Planetarium
Guided campus tours seeing student life up close
Playing games out on the green at ODU Stadium
Dining like real college students in the Broderick Dining Hall

Our grade levels also engaged in special interactive learning sessions:

🔬 3rd Grade: Visited the CRAM Lab for an exciting hands-on experience!
🎨 4th Grade: Participated in a dynamic Design Jam led by Dr. Baaki!
🏎️ 5th Grade: Had a remarkable time in the Motorsports Lab, inspecting the Baja cars and asking insightful questions!

Experiences like these plant seeds of curiosity, ambition, and college readiness early on.

10/09/2026

📣 Calling all 5th grade families! Help your student build skills for a future in computer science at SmithTech!

Applications are now open for rising 6th graders for the 2027–28 school year at the SmithTech School of Computer Science, Innovation, & Design at Oscar Smith Middle School. Students apply computer science skills and principles across subjects through hands-on learning.

SmithTech is a College Partnership Laboratory School led by Old Dominion University with Chesapeake Public Schools that provides students with opportunities to apply computational thinking and design thinking to real-world challenges while building critical problem-solving, collaboration, and data analysis skills.

📅 Apply by October 30, 2026.
Apply here: https://tinyurl.com/smithtechapp2728

09/30/2026

09/28/2026

STEM Academy fifth graders took their learning beyond the classroom with a visit to WTKR News 3 ’s weather station to meet meteorologist Myles Henderson and explore how professionals monitor, interpret, and communicate weather.

The visit connects directly to their signature project, ⚡ Operation StormWatch🌦️, where students explore weather science and emergency preparedness. By connecting classroom concepts to professional tools and technology, students can apply what they learn to their project while discovering careers in weather science and broadcasting!

Learn more about STEM Academy:
https://www.odu.edu/center-educational-innovation-opportunity/lab-schools/stem-academy

09/25/2026

📣 Join our team!

We’re hiring a part-time Fiscal Technician at ODU’s Center for Educational Innovation and Opportunity!

Be part of the ODU CEIO team as we transform education at the speed of innovation.

Apply here: https://tinyurl.com/5n6tjerk

09/23/2026

So proud of our MEESA innovator, Cameron! 🌊⚓️ The future of maritime is bright!

🌟WOLVERINE SPOTLIGHT!🌟

On September 15, 2026, the Maritime Engineering and Environmental Studies Academy (MEESA) had the opportunity to present at the Newport News Public Schools School Board Meeting! 🌊⚓

We are especially proud of Woodside High School student Cameron Ahrens, who spoke about his experience in the MEESA program and shared how this unique opportunity has impacted his educational journey. 🎓

Cameron did an amazing job representing Woodside High School and highlighting the many opportunities available to students through innovative programs across Newport News Public Schools. His confidence, preparation, and willingness to share his experience are something our Woodside community is truly proud of!

09/15/2026

This is Virginia Lab School learning in action.

After completing the first year of George Mason University’s Data Science, Computing, and Applications Lab School, Nathan Sanchez, Lemuel Boateng, and Gavin Flynn applied their classroom learning during summer internships with Virginia Works.

The students used professional data science skills to create dashboards and digital tools that make complex workforce and economic information more accessible. They also presented their findings to Virginia leaders, including the Virginia Secretary of Labor, officials from the Office of the Governor, and members of Virginia Works.

As DSCA begins its second year, this accomplishment demonstrates how Virginia’s College Partnership Lab Schools connect classroom learning with real-world experiences, growing careers, and future education pathways.

Great work, Nathan, Lemuel, and Gavin! Swipe to explore their projects and what they gained from the experience.

Read the full story: https://www.frederickcountyschoolsva.net/newsroom/everyday-champions-extraordinatory-stories/data-science-lab-school-students-deliver-high-impact-workforce-dashboards-to-virginia-leadership