Judith Painter teaches eight graders how to understand geography and to interpret geographic concepts in her World Geography class at Andrew Lewis Middle School in Salem, Virginia. Her background includes working with students from eighth to twelfth grade in all social studies curriculums including Humanities. Over the years she has become known for utilizing inventive and creative strategies and resources to facilitate active learning in her classroom and in professional presentations. Her active classroom led her to pursue National Board Certification in 1999 which she renewed in 2009. Currently she engages her students and her GIS Club by incorporating geospatial and geographic information technology in the classroom. Additionally, she helps sponsor the school Chess Club which is open to students of all abilities with an interest in Chess. Through her work with the Virginia Geographic Alliance she has presented sessions and coordinated workshops on the local and state level in all areas relating to geographic education including geospatial technologies.