Laura Lay served as a social studies teacher and department chair at James River High School in Midlothian where she taught Advanced Placement World History. She received her B.A. in History from the College of William and Mary (1995) and her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1999. Notable accomplishments in her professional life include receiving a Fulbright Memorial Fund Fellowship to study in Japan (2000) and a 2005 National Consortium for Teaching about Asia Fellowship to study in China. Ms. Lay continues her interest in professional development for social studies teachers by serving as Vice President for the Virginia Council for the Social Studies. She is currently at home with her two infant children while writing and designing online social studies curricula for Chesterfield County and the New Global Academy. In addition, Ms. Lay serves as an adjunct social studies supervisor for student teachers at Virginia Commonwealth University.
As the Vice President of Virginia Council for the Social Studies, I am interested in meaningful and constructive professional development for teachers. This includes finding the ideal blend of content and pedagogy that will help students excel at all levels in the social studies curriculum. I am also interested in online curriculum design and online education as a new pathway for teachers to reach students.
