AGENCY OF EDUCATION:
EDUCATION - JOIN THE CONVERSATION
(Updated 6/19/13)

The Vermont Agency of Education partners with ORCA Media to host monthly roundtable discussions around various education topics.

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Educating Vermonters and facilitating life-long learning is our single greatest obligation, providing opportunities for economic, intellectual and social success. From early childhood education to higher learning, dual enrollment to technical degree programs, Vermont’s educational initiatives are some of the most innovative in the United States. We invite you, the public, to be a part of the education conversation in our state.

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UPCOMING EPISODES

• June 20, 2013: GOVERNOR’S INSTITUTES OF VERMONT
• August 15, 2013: NON-TRADITIONAL CAREERS

The Harassment, Hazing, and Bullying Advisory Council (HHB Council) envisions inclusive, healthy, and collaborative learning environments for all Vermont schools that are free of bullying, hazing, and harassment. We value multicultural learning environments and school communities free of prejudice and discrimination, where all students and adults feel welcome, respected, safe, and empowered to promote fairness and quality on behalf of themselves and others.

Panelists Include:

• Tracey Tsugawa, Civil Rights Investigator, VT Human Rights Commission & HHB Council
• Henri Sparks, Equity Director, Burlington School District & HHB Council
• Ken Page, Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association & HHB Council

The Vermont State Board of Education oversees education quality in the State. This fall, they appointed a commission of practitioners to revise the education quality standards, State Board Rule 2100. These rules will guide a new education system, focused on personalized learning, flexible pathways to graduation, and high expectations for all students.

Panelists Include:

• Jill Remick, Education Project Manager, VT-AOE
• Peter Evans, School Coach & Leadership Team Youth & Adults Transforming Schools Together (YATST)
• Annie Howell, Chief Academic Officer, Vermont State Colleges (VSC)

Vermont's afterschool and summertime programs that occur outside of the school day promote innovative learning opportunities and promote positive intellectual, physical, emotional and social growth. Afterschool and summer programs have exploded in recent years in both the public and private sector. There are more programs, sports, clubs, mentoring programs, school gardens, internships, co-curricula's, private studios, internet-based courses, non-profits, museums, local artists, and community educators involved with schools than ever before. Collaboration is key to the success and longevity of extended day learning and afterschool programs

Panelists Include:

• Emanuel Betz, 21C State Director, VT-AOE
• Holly Morehouse, Vermont Center for Afterschool Excellence
• Ginny Burley, Director, Community Connections

The League of Innovative Schools (LIS) is a professional learning community of educators who work to improve secondary schools through collaboration, support, and the sharing of best practices. The LIS was organized by The New England Secondary School Consortium (NESSC) to implement and expand transformative practices throughout our region. Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont are member states.

Panelists Include:

• Meg Powden, Co-Lead to the League of Innovative Schools, Vermont Agency of Education;
• Rob Reardon, Principal, Essex UHSD;
• Alicia Rominger, Social Studies Teacher, Williamstown Middle/High School;
• Shaylee Martin, Student, Williamstown Middle/High School.

Vermont is unique in that it has a statewide property tax system (Act 60 and Act 68) in order to create equitable opportunities for our students no matter where in the state they live. This system allowed districts that had lacked adequate resources before Act 60 to add important programs. However, because the state's enrollment has been declining (and because we have very small districts) we have among the highest levels of per pupil spending in the United States. As a response, current legislation (Act 156 and Act 153) incentivizes schools to explore school district/supervisory union mergers and Regional Education Districts (RED) in an effort to reduce per pupil spending. As Vermont's enrollment numbers continue to drop, our schools can work together to provide services and create opportunities for our children.

Panelists Include:

• Bill Talbott, CFO & Deputy Commissioner, Vermont Agency of Education
• Marilyn Frederick, Business Manager, Lamoille North SU
• Robin Pembroke, Business Manager, Orange Southwest SU.

Statewide, Vermont schools are working to provide students more challenging academic opportunities to prepare them for success in college and the workforce. In this series we will be exploring dual enrollment programs (earning college credit while in high school), flexible pathways to graduation (Career Technical Education/CTE, theme-centered schools), work-based learning (internships, cooperatives), career pathways and awareness.

Panelists include:

• John Fischer, Deputy Secretary, Vermont Agency of Education
• Annie Noonan, Commissioner, Vermont Department of Labor
• Tim Donovan, Chancellor, Vermont State Colleges

Each of us can recall a special teacher or teachers who impacted our lives in a profound way. Educators choose the profession because they want to be a positive force in children's lives. They celebrate learning, understand the importance of education, and are inspired by our youth. In this episode, Commissioner Armando Vilaseca is joined by a roundtable of educators, who have been honored for their excellence, to get a glimpse into their classrooms and teaching strategies.

Panelists include:

• Jay Hoffman, 2013 Teacher of the Year
• Matt Hajdun, 2012 Milken Educator of the Year
• Tong Chen, 2012 Teacher of the Year
• Katie Sullivan, 2007 Teacher of the Year

In this episode, Commissioner Armando Vilaseca is joined by a roundtable of experts to discuss the USDA's Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. They explore the challenges and opportunities the new nutrition standards have created, menu planning and collaboration, the farm-to-school movement, school gardens, and act H.234.

Panelists include:

• Marissa Parisi, Executive Director, Hunger Free Vermont
• Abbie Nelson, Director, Vermont FEED
• Doug Davis, President, School Nutrition Association of Vermont
• Brooke Gannon, Child Nutrition Programs, Vermont Agency of Education

For questions or more information about "Education - Join the Conversation", contact Angela Ross, Public Information Officer, at angela.ross@state.vt.us or (802) 828-3154.

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