Students with Extensive Support Needs Specialist
Virginia Department of Education

Matthew Newton, Ed.S., is currently the Students with Extensive Support Needs Specialist for the Virginia Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Instructional Services, Department of Special Education and Specialized Populations and is also the co-lead of the VDOE’s statewide Assistive Technology Network. Prior to these roles, Matt served as the Coordinator of Assistive and Instructional Technology for the Virginia Department of Education’s Training and Technical Assistance Center (T/TAC) at Virginia Tech. Matt began his career in education as a special education teacher working with students with multiple disabilities in the Roanoke City Public Schools division and has also served there as an instructional technology resource teacher. He was recognized as Roanoke City's Teacher of the Year in 2014 and Virginia's Region 6 Teacher of the Year in 2015, as well as a Joy Zabala Fellow in 2022.