- Agency of Education, State of Vermont and Federal Updates
- Seeking Participants for Focus Group on Educator Shortages
- Grant Funded Statewide Agencies Supporting Students with Disabilities
- Student-Centered Mathematics Networked Improvement Community: Teachers Leading Innovation, Spread and Scale of Equitable, Evidence-based, Effective Instructional Practices
- Book Study: Designing Authentic Performance Tasks and Projects
- The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21C) Grant Application-Second Notification
- Vermont School Threat Assessment Team Survey
- Vermont Public: September Resources for Back to School
- Courtesy Posts
Agency of Education, State of Vermont and Federal Updates
This section of the Weekly Field Memo contains posts from the Agency of Education, other State of Vermont agencies, federal agencies or Vermont's congressional delegation.
Seeking Participants for Focus Group on Educator Shortages
Audience: Teachers, Human Resource Professionals, Principals
The Vermont AOE is working with an external research group, APA Consulting, to conduct a study of the current state of Vermont’s Educational Workforce. As part of this study, it is critical that the researchers hear directly from our state’s educators on a variety of key topics. To this end, the research team will conduct a series of online focus groups over the course of the next month to obtain educator input on educator shortages facing Vermont, barriers Vermont districts face in recruiting and retaining educators, types of approaches most likely to be effective in addressing educator shortages and diversity and feedback on policy ideas identified through a recently conducted national literature review. If you are interested in participating, please reach out to Dale DeCesare at DMD@apaconsulting.net by Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.
Contact: Patrick Halladay at patrick.halladay@vermont.gov
Grant Funded Statewide Agencies Supporting Students with Disabilities
Audience: Teachers, Special Educators, Administrators, Directors
The Vermont Agency of Education has selected vendors through a grant approval process designed to improve local education team's capacities to implement research-based interventions and current best practices for students with low-incidence disabilities, students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and students who are blind or visually impaired. Please see the information about the vendors and contact information on the Special Education Technical Assistance Requests and Professional Development website.
Contact: Cassie Santo at cassie.santo@vermont.gov
Student-Centered Mathematics Networked Improvement Community: Teachers Leading Innovation, Spread and Scale of Equitable, Evidence-based, Effective Instructional Practices
Audience: Educators, Principals, and Systems-level Leaders
To empower educators in accelerated learning and recovery, we are inviting educator teams to join a unique professional learning opportunity. In the Networked Improvement Community (NIC), participants use a collaborative model for improvement in which participants partner with subject matter experts/researchers to improve instruction, using formative data and cycles of learning. The goal of this network is to improve student-centered instruction and formative assessment practices in mathematics using evidence-based practices. Participation in this NIC will help your team routinize equitable, quality practices to improve student learning and build efficacy and capacity for continuous improvement. Participants will also receive a certificate for Professional Learning Credit hours. If you are interested in taking advantage of this unique, rigorous professional learning opportunity, contact aoe.mhshubgroup@vermont.gov.
Contact: Lori Dolezal at lori.dolezal@vermont.gov
Book Study: Designing Authentic Performance Tasks and Projects
Audience: Curriculum Directors, K-12 Educators, Instructional Coaches
Join members of the Agency of Education’s Proficiency-Based Learning Team as we engage in an online book study of Designing Authentic Performance Tasks and Projects, by McTighe, et. al. The goal of this peer learning community is to develop a shared understanding of the uses and benefits of performance assessments as they relate to equity, student engagement and authentic assessment as part of a Local Comprehensive Assessment System. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the power of performance assessments and come away with practical tools and strategies for implementing performance assessments in their practice. This professional learning opportunity is free of charge, however, participants will need to purchase the book. Sessions will take place on the following Thursdays from 3:30-5 p.m. and it is strongly recommended that participants attend all six sessions on Nov. 17, and Dec. 15, 2022, and Jan. 26, Feb. 16, March 23, and May 11, 2023. Register on the Performance Assessment PLC page to attend.
Contact: Emily Leute at emily.leute@vermont.gov
The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21C) Grant Application-Second Notification
Audience: All
The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21C) Grant Application with an estimated annual available minimum of $3,000,000 is now open for the purpose of providing comprehensive high-quality afterschool and summer learning opportunities. Investments are for five years. Virtual applicant trainings for teams will be held on Oct. 13, 2022, (Part 1) and Nov. 3, 2022, (Part 2) from 9-11:30 a.m. E-Letters of Intent are due Nov. 22, 2022. Applications are due Feb. 3, 2023, in the Grant Management System. To view a paper copy of the grant application, go to the AOE 21C webpage. To get on the applicant mailing list and to register for trainings use the 21C Competition Contact Form. You may also view the 21C quick eligibility checker.
Contact: Emanuel Betz at emanuel.betz@vermont.gov or (802) 828-6977
Vermont School Threat Assessment Team Survey
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Independent School Heads, Administrators, School Safety Coordinators
In August 2022, Gov. Scott announced a 10-Point Public Safety Enhancement and Violence Prevention Action Plan, which included reestablishing the Violence Prevention Task Force (VPT). One focus of VPT is to work with AOE and the Vermont School Safety Center to expand the use of behavioral threat assessments, develop a plan to ensure every school is using and updating assessment tools and create a streamlined response and reporting system. To help determine what schools have threat assessment teams and received behavioral threat assessment training please have each school in your district complete the 2022 Vermont School Threat Assessment Team Survey no later than Nov. 15, 2022.
Contact: Ted Fisher at ted.fisher@vermont.gov
Vermont Public: September Resources for Back to School
Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
The Vermont Agency of Education and Vermont Public continue our partnership to meet the anywhere, anytime, educational, social and emotional needs of Vermont students. As the new school year begins, visit the Vermont Public Kids and Education page to find recommendations for high-quality media and resource collections, including the Teach Your Way collection for PreK-2. For K-2, check out But Why Podcast’s new collection as well as PBS Kids’ new C3 Standards connected series, Rosie’s Rules. For older students, check out the Election Collection and the new U.S. History Collection. For a Vermont connection, listen to Brave Little State Podcast’s Remembering Vermont’s 19th Century Black Communities. Also, don’t forget to visit the Education Ambassadors page to learn more about how Vermont educators are involved in our partnership.
Contacts: Emily Leute at emily.leute@vermont.gov or Heather Duhamel at hduhamel@vermontpbs.org
Courtesy Posts
The views, opinions and resources shared in this section of the WFM are solely those of the original contributors. The Agency of Education does not endorse the views expressed by these contributors and reserves the right to refuse submissions. Questions related to any of these resources should be directed to the organizations, people and opportunities as shared. Please refer to the Weekly Field Memo submission guidelines for additional information.
Reflective Practice Cohort with Gillian Boudreau
Educators are all experiencing a profoundly challenging work environment right now. The Vermont Higher Education Collaborative (VT-HEC) is offering limited spaces in an eight-session webinar series with Gillian Boudreau to Reset, Regroup and Revive. Using the guiding principles of reflective practice, the cohort will meet monthly, starting in October 2022, to offer a supportive space where participants will: process emotions, learn and share strategies to maintain resiliency and reduce the effects of compassion fatigue with others who understand the demands of working in schools. This experience will afford the capacity to keep up our important work in the world of inspired service.
Contact: Julie Medose at info@vthec.org or (802) 498-3350
Vermont School Boards Association/Vermont Superintendents Association Annual Conference
The Vermont School Boards Association/Vermont Superintendents Association Annual Conference focuses this year on “How are the Students Doing?” The opening keynote session and following workshops focus on everything we do in school governance and administration, to provide you with new ideas and tools to provoke new ways to approach discussions and decisions at the board table. Visit the Annual Conference webpage for more information and to register.
Contact: Kristi Tate at ktate@vtvsa.org
Financial Aid Filing and Training Opportunities
Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) is hosting multiple financial aid events this fall. The “Annual Financial Aid Training for Education and Agency Professionals” is being held on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. Appointments to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are being offered virtually and in person between October 2022 and January 2023. A “VSAC Shows You How” webinar on filing the FAFSA is being presented virtually on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. Visit the VSAC calendar of events for details and registration information.
Contact: Chris Barry at barry@vsac.org
All Learners Network Math Professional Development
Getting Started with Math Menu is a three-hour workshop offered in person on Oct. 12, 2022, from noon-3 p.m., at the All Learners Network Learning Center in Burlington. This workshop focuses on building teacher pedagogical knowledge about effective practices for mathematics teaching and learning using the Math Menu framework as an effective practice for differentiating and enhancing mathematics instruction to meet the needs of all learners.
Contact: TJ Jemison at communicationsdirector@alllearnersnetwork.com
October Umatter For Schools: Suicide Prevention Awareness Training
The Umatter for Schools Suicide Prevention is the national best practice program for suicide prevention which is supported by funding from the Vermont Department of Mental Health. This newly designed four-week course consists of asynchronous, self-paced work and virtual live zoom sessions. All four modules will include the content presentation in multiple formats, self-reflection through discussion, activities designed for team engagement and learning assessments at the end of each module. Register online today on the Umatter for Schools Fall Series Virtual Training webpage.
Contact: Karen Carreira at karen@healthandlearning.org
Professional Learning: Fall English Language Learners-Equity Workshop
Registration is open for Classroom Design Supporting Students' Cultural Backgrounds: Co-Planning for Informed English Language Learners (ELL) Instruction in K-12 Classrooms. This two-day workshop will be held Nov. 8-9, 2022, in our Champlain Valley Educator Development Center classroom in South Burlington with virtual or in-person options. The focus is on accommodating the needs of ELL students while considering their cultural backgrounds and other important factors for creating culturally-sensitive classroom environments. Facilitated by Kayla Johnson, Marina Brzostoski and Christine Sealey, ELL Trainers. More info online on the Champlain Valley Educator Development Center's webpage.
Contact: Lauren Wooden at lauren@cvedcvt.org or (802) 497-1642
Learn About Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Reading Comprehension and Assessment with Dr. Melissa Farrall
Learning to read and write is complex, and reading comprehension requires plenty of foundational skills. When difficulties arise, as they do for many children, effective intervention hinges on accurate, well-designed assessment. In this five-part webinar series, renowned expert on reading, language and assessment, Melissa Farrall, Ph.D., will unravel the complexity of reading, writing and reading comprehension, unpack the components of an evaluation targeting these areas and guide educators in assessing literacy and providing targeted recommendations for intervention to help children who struggle. Register for one or all of the webinars on the Stern Center for Language and Learning course webpage.
Contact: Peter McDonald at pmcdonald@sterncenter.org
First-Ever State Youth Council is Now Accepting Applications
Applications are now being accepted from Vermont youth ages 11–18 to be the first members of Vermont's historic State Youth Council! Established by Act 109 in 2022, the State Youth Council is a diverse group of twenty-eight Vermont youth from each county responsible for advising the Governor and General Assembly on policies that impact young persons today. The Council provides youth an opportunity to directly participate in Vermont's democracy and guide its future. Please submit your State Youth Council Application before the Oct. 18, 2022, deadline.
Contact: Brianne Smith at brianne@vermontafterschool.org
First-Ever State Youth Council is Now Accepting Applications
Applications are now being accepted from Vermont youth ages 11–18 to be the first members of Vermont's historic State Youth Council! Established by Act 109 in 2022, the State Youth Council is a diverse group of twenty-eight Vermont youth from each county responsible for advising the Governor and General Assembly on policies that impact young persons today. The Council provides youth an opportunity to directly participate in Vermont's democracy and guide its future. Please submit your State Youth Council Application before the Oct. 18, 2022, deadline.
Contact: Brianne Smith at brianne@vermontafterschool.org
Contact Prevent Child Abuse Vermont to Learn Act 1 Options
Not sure how to go about fulfilling the Act 1, child sexual abuse prevention education mandate? Prevent Child Abuse Vermont (PCAVT) can help. PCAVT has virtual publicly available faculty/staff trainings on a variety of topics. We can train personnel to facilitate student lessons and we have virtual events that parents can attend. PCAVT can also meet to consult with you about your school’s Act 1 needs. Visit the PCAVT events page for a list of our upcoming trainings and events
Contact: Marcie Hambrick at mhambrick@pcavt.org
Organizing for Equitable Spending of COVID-19 Recovery Funds
Join the Vermont National Education Association, the Education Justice Coalition and Rights and Democracy to learn how you and your community can leverage COVID-19 Recovery Funds to advocate for greater equity. This virtual event is Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, from 5-6:30 p.m. Visit the Organizing for Equitable Spending for COVID-19 Recovery Funds webpage for event info and registration.
Contact: Alyssa Chen at alyssa.edjvt@gmail.com or (802) 829-1816
Synergy: Teaching Literacy in a Multi-level Classroom
Partnerships for Literacy and Learning (PLL) knows there are many levels of abilities in today’s classroom. The course, Synergy: Teaching Literacy in a Multi-level Classroom, for grade levels 1-6, is designed to make clear how these multi-levels and multi-ages can be a true asset for the literacy learning in our classrooms. The brand new book, The Literacy Studio, written by Ellin Oliver Keene, will be the anchor text and participants will find embracing multi-levels creates a synergy like never before. Find more details and registration on the course webpage.
Contact: Mary Grace at info@pllvt.org or (802) 828-0521