Goldzung Earns National Administrator Award from Project Lead the Way
PLTW recognizes outstanding administrators at the forefront of developing and encouraging new ways to facilitate learning experiences that ensure students continue to thrive.
October 8, 2021 - Manassas City Public Schools’ Dr. Laura Goldzung has earned the 2021-22 PLTW National Administrator of the Year award, which recognizes outstanding education leaders that have come up with innovative ways to engage not only students but also parents and caregivers during this challenging time. She was chosen from nominees across the U.S. because of her leadership and commitment to her students.
Dr. Goldzung was principal at Baldwin Elementary School from 2016 to 2021. PLTW is honoring Dr. Goldzung for her work implementing project-based learning at Baldwin Elementary School, which has been a PLTW Launch School since 2017. The goal of the program is that students can develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges in an engaging way.
Dr. Goldzung has more than 20 years of experience in the public education setting. She has served students in the Northern Virginia region as an instructional assistant, literacy tutor, special education teacher and school-based administrator. Dr. Goldzung currently serves as the Director of Assessment and Accountability for Manassas City Public Schools.
“Dr. Goldzung has been a driving force in the success of PLTW at Baldwin,” said Superintendent Dr. Kevin Newman. “With her guidance, she and her team have built a strong program that others can model and we are extremely proud of her.”
Under Dr. Goldzung, Baldwin Elementary has added new modules that incorporate STEM every year since becoming a PLTW Launch School. PLTW Launch curriculum was introduced to all students and the school was recognized as a PLTW Distinguished Launch School for both the 2018-2019 and the 2019-2020 school years.
Despite the school year transitioning to distance learning in March 2020, all Baldwin Elementary students were able to complete at least two modules in every grade, including modules in coding and engineering. With Dr. Goldzung’s leadership, the school re-imagined PLTW for the 2020-2021 school year, ensuring modules could convert in a virtual setting, as well as making sure students were able to participate through Zoom and with specially designed to-go bags of materials.
Dr. Goldzung is deeply committed to interdisciplinary instruction and authentic assessment. She believes that PLTW Launch modules, aligned with instructional standards, provides an opportunity for all students to develop the skills, knowledge, and capacities to meet the challenges of a future we cannot predict.
“Now, more than ever, we can see how these skills will serve our students in their future and why they are essential to educating the whole child,” she said of PLTW.
“Educational leaders perform one of the most critical functions in our society, and we are proud to work with these outstanding educators who are leaders in their school districts and across the PLTW network,” said Dr. Vince Bertram, PLTW President and CEO. “Congratulations and thank you for your partnership in a shared commitment to empowering our students to thrive in our evolving world even amidst the most challenging and unprecedented of times.”
Dr. Goldzung will be recognized at the October 26 School Board meeting.
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About PLTW
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a mission-driven organization that is transforming the learning experience for millions of PreK-12 students and thousands of teachers across the U.S. PLTW empowers students to develop in-demand, transportable knowledge and skills through pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. PLTW’s teacher training and resources support teachers as they engage their students in real-world learning. Approximately 12,200 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia offer PLTW programs. For more information on Project Lead The Way, visit pltw.org.