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Volume 11, Issue 22

May 31, 2017

Licensing Updates

Audience: Vermont Educators
The Educator Quality Division is currently recruiting educators for Peer Review Panels, Transcript Review Panels and Results Oriented Program Approval (ROPA) college/university teacher education preparation program reviews.  Please review the memo regarding these three programs and complete the survey if you are interested in being included in our database of available educators.
Contact: Peer Review Program contact wendy.scott@vermont.gov, ROPA contact linda.mcsweeney@vermont.gov and Transcript Review contact debora.price@vermont.gov

Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Implementation Grant - School Wellness Policies

Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Local Wellness Team Members
The Vermont Department of Health (VDH) is pleased to announce a one-year grant opportunity beginning in the 2017-2018 academic school year.  The VDH Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Team is seeking proposals from eligible Vermont-based Local Education Agencies (LEA) to implement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development’s WSCC model, and use this LEA WSCC team to update and improve the LEA’s local School Wellness Policy.  Up to three LEA proposals will be awarded.  The selected LEAs will receive $8,000 each.  The anticipated grant period will be September 1, 2017 through August 31, 2018.  The release date for the request for proposal (RFP) is May 1, 2017.  Proposals must be submitted by June 26, 2017 by 3:30 PM.  See the RFP and learn more.
Contact: Nathaniel Waite at (802) 865-1399 or nathaniel.waite@vermont.gov


Courtesy Postings

National Board Certification Courses

The Vermont-NEA is the Candidate Support Provider for National Board Certification. National Board for Professional Teaching Standards has been certifying teachers since the early 1990s against rigorous standards.  Although this is a voluntary certification, it is a natural continuum of our profession.  Accomplished professional teachers, as evidenced by National Board Certification, is a growing voice of our profession. Learn more about the National Board Certification Courses.
Contact: Juliette Longchamp at jlongchamp@vtnea.org

Work-Based Learning: Providing Safe, Legal and Effective Opportunities for Students, Schools and Businesses

This three-credit course will be offered in an independent study format with a combination of online and in-person session. This course is available for graduate or undergraduate credit. The first in-person session will be held at Johnson State College in Johnson, VT on June 5, 2017 from 5-8 p.m. Other in-person sessions dates and locations will be determined by the group. Register online for the Work-Based Learning independent study. Course #: EDU 5515 C65 (graduate), EDU 4710 CFS9 (undergraduate) In order to develop legal, safe, and effective work-based learning programs and experiences, school personnel must understand labor and safety laws and practices, sales and marketing, career development strategies, effective systems for organizing, monitoring and evaluating student learning opportunities with businesses and community partners. This course provides participants with the knowledge base needed to develop a coherent school work-based learning program.
Contact: Rich Tulikangas, course instructor, at rtulikangas@comcast.net

Special Olympics Vermont Conference

The Special Olympics Vermont Conference will be held on Friday, November 10, 2017, to build more inclusive school communities through Unified Sports, inclusive youth leadership, and whole school engagement. Learn how Special Olympics programs support the transition of students from Pre-K through grade 12 and beyond. Sessions will provide tools and resources to promote equity, access and social inclusion. Agenda and registration information will be available in September.    
Contact: Justin Graham at jgraham@vtso.org

A Framework for Applying Structured Teaching for Students with ASD and Other Similar Learners

The Vermont Higher Education Collaborative is offering a summer three-day intensive training for teams working with students with autism. Participants will learn to use a planning framework tool and software (included) to analyze and design appropriate physical and visual structure across the school day using the foundation principles of structured teaching.  Please register as a team (two-four members) working with one target student.  Participants can also choose to complete additional work for one graduate credit. Training dates are July 11-13, 2017 at Middlebury Union Middle School. Register online for the Framework for Applying Structured Teaching
Contact: Julie Medose at (802) 498-3350 or julie.medose@vthec.org

Lawrence W. O'Toole Teacher Leadership Awards

The O’Toole Awards is looking for nominations for New England public high school teachers who have served as advocates for and champions of student-centered learning, and who have advocated for student-centered approaches to learning not only in their classroom, but at scale. This year, the O’Toole Awards will focus exclusively on classroom educators who are working on the ground every day to advance and advocate for student-centered approaches at scale. Nominations are accepted until July 14, 2017. Up to 12 teachers will be selected to receive $15,000 grants to continue their work of advancing student-centered approaches to learning at scale. Nominate a teacher.
Contact: The Nellie Mae Education Foundation at info@nmefoundation.org

T-I-M-E for Teachers Foundational Literacy Skills

This interactive course provides a conceptual understanding of how children learn to read and the elements of effective reading and spelling instruction. Topics covered include: current research, developmental models, and practical teaching strategies and activities to help teachers understand students' evolving insights into the workings of our alphabetic system. Participants will gain an awareness of the power and usefulness of explicit, systematic instruction in phonemic awareness, phonology, phonics, and morphology. Participants will also leave this course understanding how the English language works and how teachers can foster literacy for all learners. Knowing how our language works is the key to delivering quality reading and spelling instruction. This course is available for three graduate credits. The course will be held at the Rutland Central Supervisory Union Central Office in Rutland from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, June 26, 2017 to Thursday, June 29, 2017. Register online for the T-I-M-E for Teachers Foundational Literacy Skills.
Contact: Caitlin Niland, Intake Coordinator for Professional Learning, at (802) 878-2332 or proflearning@sterncenter.org

Mobius Seeking Applicants for the 2017-2018 Vermont Mentoring Grants

Mobius is excited to announce the start of the 2017-2018 Vermont Mentoring Grants application process. These annual grants, open to agencies, non-profits, and school districts/supervisory unions, are designed to support new and existing mentoring programs in Vermont that match adult volunteers as mentors for youth mentees (ages 5-22) in long-term, one-to-one, quality-based mentoring relationships.The Vermont Mentoring Grants have traditionally been made possible through support from the A.D. Henderson Foundation, the Permanent Fund for Vermont’s Children, and the Vermont Department for Children and Families. Potential applicants should send an email of intent to Chad Butt at grants@mobiusmentors.org by June 6, 2017. Learn more about the Mobius Vermont Mentoring Grants.
Contact: Benji Thurber at benji@mobiusmentors.org

Youth Environmental Summit Seeks Workshop Presenters

The Youth Environmental Summit (YES) is an annual event for middle and high school students who want to learn about environmental issues and find ways to take action. This year’s Summit will take place on November 2, 2017 at the Barre Civic Center. We would especially love school environmental clubs to present a workshop or host an exhibit on actions you have taken at school or in your community.  Email Lauren Traister with your idea for a workshop by June 30, 2017. Learn more about the Youth Environmental Summit.
Contact: Lauren Traister, 4-H Teen & Leadership Program Coordinator, at (802) 888-4972 ext. 402 or lauren.traister@uvm.edu

 


Subscribe Online

The field memo has time-sensitive and relevant information designed for students, teachers, and staff. The agency encourages principals, headmasters, and superintendents to share the memo with their education community. Additionally, individuals can subscribe or unsubscribe online.

Questions? Email aoe.edinfo@vermont.gov.