- AOE Seeks Qualified Individuals for Short-Duration Activities
- Combined Incident Reporting Software Report - Due Date July 1, 2017
- OER Commons Chosen as Vermont Partner for VTOpen
- Small, Rural School Achievement Program Grants
- Vermont Early Learning Standards Institutes
- 2017 Annual Technology Survey Now Open
- Crisis Text Line available in Vermont - Text VT to 741741
- School Safety Training Opportunity - Emergency Communication Best Practices
- Financial Literacy Program for Vermont Elementary Schools
- Courtesy Postings
AOE Seeks Qualified Individuals for Short-Duration Activites
Audience: All
The Agency of Education is seeking qualified individuals for short duration activities to be held throughout the year. The activities will consist of Peer and Transcript Review Panels, ROPA Teams, Student Assessment Scoring, Site Monitoring Teams, Committee of Practitioners, Conference Presentations, and ad hoc Committees, Groups and Panels. NOTE: If you previously completed the survey, a new response is needed for the fiscal year 2018. Learn more about small-scale short-term contracts.
Contact: Shelley Matz at (802) 479-1754 or shelley.matz@vermont.gov
Combined Incident Reporting Software Report - Due Date July 1, 2017
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Behavior Specialists
The Combined Incident Reporting Software (CIRS) data collection is a collaborative effort among the Agency of Education, the Department of Health, Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs, and the Department of Mental Health. The information will be used to provide schools with valuable information regarding your school climate, assess individual school compliance with Every Student Succeeds Act, Act 120 (Hazing, Harassment and Bullying) and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and prepare for Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act on-site evaluation visits.
Contact: Tracy Watterson at (802) 479-1353 or tracy.watterson@vermont.gov
OER Commons Chosen as Vermont Partner for VTOpen
Audience: Tech Integrationists, Library Media Specialists, Principals, Curriculum Coordinators, Classroom Educators
Recently, OER Commons was contracted by the AOE to help Vermont's education community collect, disseminate, and catalog Open Education Resources. Our partnership with OER Commons will include some professional development in the form of a train the trainer model. A full roll-out of this work will begin in Fall 2017. If you are interested in being an “Ambassador” and be more involved in this initiative, please contact Peter Drescher.
Contact: Peter Drescher at (802) 479-1169 or peter.drescher@vermont.gov
Small, Rural School Achievement Program Grants
Audience: Superintendents and Principals
Has your supervisory union or school received an email from the U.S. Department of Education with the subject line, “Did you submit an FY17 REAP-SRSA grant application?” The purpose of the Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) program is to provide rural LEAs with financial assistance to fund initiatives aimed at improving student academic achievement. These are granted to eligible districts directly from USED and grant applications are due via an electronic grant system (Grants.gov) by 4:30 p.m. Washington, D.C. time on June 30, 2017. If your supervisory union or school district received an email with the subject line noted above, please contact Jennifer Gresham at the Agency of Education. She can assist in the application process or answer questions you may have. Jennifer would also like to know if your supervisory union or district is applying for these funds.
Contact: Jennifer Gresham at jennifer.gresham@vermont.gov
Vermont Early Learning Standards Institutes
Audience: K-3 Teachers, Childcare Providers, Public/Private Pre-K Staff, Administrators, Head Start, Early Childhood Mental Health, Early Childhood Special Educators, Specialists
The three two-day institutes will be held this fall of 2017 for the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS) guide educators in the development and selection of program-wide curriculum and educational strategies for children from birth through grade 3. The VELS Institute flyer contains more information including specific dates and locations. Register for the VELS Institutes. Register by July 15, 2017 for two out of the three institutes and get one free.
Contact: Kate Rogers at kate.rogers@vermont.gov
2017 Annual Technology Survey Now Open
Audience: Technology Coordinators, Principals, Others with Knowledge of Education Technology at Local Schools
The Annual Technology Survey will be open through the month of June. This is a required survey and is to be answered on the school level for each public school in Vermont. Please be sure your school is represented in the survey. This information is used by legislators, state and local policy makers and is regularly referenced in both state and national press with regards Vermont’s status around education technology. The survey should take about 25 minutes with some preparation. A .pdf of the survey is included so individuals may see the questions prior to taking the survey. Please complete by June 30, 2017. Take the technology survey.
Contact: Peter Drescher at (802) 479-1169 or peter.drescher@vermont.gov
Crisis Text Line available in Vermont - Text VT to 741741
Audience: All
Vermonters who are experiencing a mental health crisis now have a new way to find support when and where they need it, 24 hours a day. Crisis Text Line™ provides free*, round-the-clock support, seven days a week by providing access via text messaging to trained Crisis Counselors at the moment help and support are needed. This service is being provided through a partnership between the Vermont Department of Mental Health and the national organization Crisis Text Line. This is a welcomed key addition to the other mental health services available for Vermonters to access when circumstances or events become difficult to handle. Learn more about the national organization. *for Verizon, AT&T, Sprint or T-Mobile carriers; all others carriers may charge rates
Contact: Melissa Bailey, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health, at (802) 241-0122 or melissa.bailey@vermont.gov
School Safety Training Opportunity - Emergency Communication Best Practices
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, School Crisis Planning Team Members
Vermont Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Public Information Officer Mark Bosma in collaboration with the Vermont School Safety Center is offering a one-day Public Information training for school administrators and communicators. It is offered as a free service to schools, it can be brought directly to districts, and will be offered in four regions this summer. The training has been revised to focus on the communication needs of schools and the people schools must reach during an emergency. The training provides background on the Public Information function, provides advice for establishing communication plans and how to communicate with the public, and offers guidance on media relations, interviews, and press conferences. To register for the course please contact Mark Bosma at DEMHS at mark.bosma@vermont.gov or (800) 347-0488. The training will be held at four locations: Waterbury, Winooski, White River Junction and Rutland. Learn more about the Emergency Communication Best Practices training.
Contact: Rob Evans, Margolis Healy, at revans@margolishealy.com
Financial Literacy Program for Vermont Elementary Schools
For the past seven years, the State Treasurer’s Office has offered the Reading is an Investment program to elementary schools. The program emphasizes the importance of reading and teaching young children about money and basic financial information. This past school term, Vermont elementary schools from across the state participated and we received more than 4,200 individual reading logs from students who completed the personal reading requirements. The Reading is an Investment program takes a two-prong approach to promoting financial literacy — class or library instruction and personal reading. Each fall, participating elementary schools receive two or three new hardback books. Lesson plans and activities are included with the books to teach money concepts. In order to receive the free library books and personal reading materials for students, a school must sign up for the program through the State Treasurer’s Office. We are now assembling the new books and materials for the upcoming school term. To sign up, email the following information to Dylan Giambatista: school name; number of students in grades K-6th grades; school contact name, job title, phone and email; and mailing address for the school. Deadline is June 30, 2017.
Contact: Dylan Giambatista, State Treasurer's Office, at (802) 828-3706 or dylan.giambatista@vermont.gov
Courtesy Postings
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.
The Secondary School Summer Institute
To meet teacher PD needs of personalized and proficiency-based learning, the first annual Secondary School Summer Institute for teachers will be held August 7-12, 2017 at Montpelier High School. The courses will address the what, why, and how of these important shifts in education and provide time for teachers to apply new learning to practice. Teachers will have the chance to update or design units and share learning across school districts. Since the five courses run concurrently, the institute also provides a unique opportunity to connect with Vermont educators at its plenary events: the institute's localvore luncheon, celebration of learning, and optional Friday social offer the chance to network with colleagues from around the state. It promises to be a fun and useful professional development experience. Register online for one of the institute's 3-credit Saint Michael's College graduate courses. For more information, consult the course offerings.
Contact: admin@lapdavt.org
Fundations 2 Workshop
This introductory workshop exposes educators to the Fundations for Grade 2 program, which focuses on the importance of teaching phonological/phonemic awareness, phonics and spelling in the general education classroom. Fundations is based upon the Wilson Reading Principles and is designed to provide high-quality classroom instruction for all students. Each Fundations workshop aligns with that grade’s Common Core Reading Foundational Skills, provides a practical application of reading research, and will prepare teachers to teach Fundations in Prevention (Tier 1) and/or Early Intervention (Tier 2) settings. Participants will gain an understanding of the skills and components of effective reading and spelling instruction, how Fundations teaches these skills through multisensory activities, how to use the Fundations teacher’s manual, and how to prepare a Fundations lesson plan. Held at the Stern Center for Language and Learning in Williston from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, July 18, 2017. Register online through the Stern Center.
Contact: Caitlin Niland, Intake Coordinator for Professional Learning, at (802) 878-2332 or proflearning@sterncenter.org
Mentoring and Coaching New and Preservice Educators
The Vermont-NEA is offering a class to support teacher leaders become stronger mentors and coaches. We will include new material for the summer of 2017 with the introduction of Danielson's Six Clusters for High-Level Learning. Register online. Learn more.
Contact: Juliette Longchamp at jlongchamp@vtnea.org
Curriculum and Instruction: Theory and Practice of Personalized Learning
This course will prepare educators and school leaders for the transition to personalized learning. The course will explore different conceptions and models of personalization and the theories of learning, human development, and schooling that underlie this approach. Participants will learn and implement strategies of personalization through practical application. The course itself will be personalized by allowing participants to engage with texts and projects that are aligned with their professional interests, responsibilities, and goals. Learn more or register at EDCI 200 Theory and Practice of Personalized Learning.
Contact: Steven Netoch at steven.netcoh@uvm.edu
Registered Behavior Technician Training
VT-HEC is offering a new summer training for the Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). This training is designed to give paraprofessionals the background necessary to implement a plan designed by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) or appropriately trained behavior specialist or professional educator. This program is offered independently from the BACB. Additional supervision and successful completion of the RBT exam is required to be officially awarded the RBT credential through the BACB. Participants can also choose to complete additional work for three undergraduate credits. Training dates are Aug 7-11, 2017 at the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce in Berlin. Learn more about the Registered Behavior Technician Training. Register online.
Contact: Julie Medose at (802) 498-3350 or julie.medose@vthec.org
Coaching Cycle and Partnering Fundamentals: Foundation of the House
Knight Instructional Coaching is the focus on August 8-9, 2017 with Jim Knight's consultant Peter DeWitt for Coaching Cycle and Partnering Fundamentals: Foundation of the House. A great two-day workshop for instructional coaches to explore effective coaching practices and leadership skills that will enable them to lead reform efforts in schools and work with adult learners/teachers. This workshop will build your coaching capacity and prepare you for continued coaching supports that CVEDC's Coaching strand will bring. Jim Knight will be back this fall to work on using video to support high-quality teaching. Register online for the Coaching Cycle and Partnering Fundamentals.
Contact: Lauren Wooden at lauren@cvedcvt.org