- Educator License Renewal
- Arts Professional Learning Day
- School Threat Assessment Training Video
- Teaching Strategies Gold Introductory Training
- MTSS Survey Coming Soon
- Sexual Health Professional Development Workshops
- Summer Meals Program Application Due Soon
- Public Comment: Revisions to Rule 5100
- Vermont SSIP Report to OSEP
- Summer School Safety Training Opportunities
- Courtesy Posts
Educator License Renewal
Audience: Licensed Vermont Educators
There are 3,414 Vermont educator licenses that will expire on June 30, 2018. Renewal applications opened on January 3, 2018. As of April 13, 2018, there have been 1,642 applications submitted or 48 percent of expiring licenses. 1,284 renewal licenses have been issued following payment of the licensing fees. If your license is set to expire in June, visit our licensing page to start your renewal application today. Need help? You can read or watch our online licensing tutorials.
Contact: AOE Licensing Help Line at (802) 479-1700 or aoe.licensinginfo@vermont.gov
Arts Professional Learning Day
Audience: PreK-12 Visual Art Educators
The Brattleboro Museum and Art Center in Brattleboro, Vermont will be hosting a professional learning opportunity for art teachers on April 24, 2018 from 8 a.m.to 2:30 p.m. This workshop will begin with a resource sharing session. Five or more participating visual art educators will share materials that they have developed or a resource they use in their classrooms. The Agency of Education’s Arts specialist, Emily Titterton will also share resources created in collaborative work sessions that assist in implementing the National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) and transitioning to personalized and proficiency-based systems. This portion of the day will be completely participant driven. Resources shared should be aligned to the National Core Arts. Bonus points for resources that facilitate personalized and proficiency-based learning. The second portion of the day will be spent engaging in a collaborative work session. Using NCAS as a guide, participants will discuss and draft materials that could include a scope and sequence and/or a bank of learning targets.
Contact: Emily Titterton at (802) 479-1378 or emily.titterton@vermont.gov
School Threat Assessment Training Video
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, School Crisis Planning Team Members
This 75 minute Behavioral Threat Assessment training video by Dr. Marisa Randazzo will educate and inform participants about how to evaluate concerning behaviors that may have a negative impact on your school. Please share this training opportunity with all appropriate faculty, staff and school crisis planning team members.
Contact: Rob Evans, School Safety Liaison Officer, at revans@margolishealy.com
Regional Teaching Strategies GOLD Trainings
Audience: Early Childhood educators, administrators, directors, and staff in public and private Prequalified PreK Programs
The Agency of Education is offering free regional Teaching Strategies GOLD (TSGOLD) Introductory training and Teaching Strategies GOLD one-day Refresher trainings throughout Vermont in 2018. TSGOLD is the recommended PreK formative assessment measure in Vermont. Prequalified public and private prekindergarten programs are required to use TSGOLD to document children’s progress. The training sessions are offered through the state’s Early Learning Challenge Grant. Space is limited to 20 participants.
Contact: Shirley Rawson at shirley.rawson@vermont.gov
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Survey Coming Soon
Audience: Superintendents and Principals
Each superintendent shall annually provide to the Vermont Secretary of Education the status of a tiered system of supports in each school in the supervisory union or school district; how it is funded and how building the capacity of the tiered system of supports is addressed in the School's Continuous Improvement Plan, according to Act 117 - VSA Title 16, Section 2904. Included in the report will be a description and justification of how funds received due to Medicaid reimbursement under section 2959a are used. A link to the MTSS Survey for 2018 will be available on May 1, 2018. The deadline for completing the survey will be June 1, 2018.
Contact: Dr. Emma Louie at (802) 479-1336 or emma.louie@vermont.gov
Sexual Health Professional Development Workshops
Audience: Health Educators, School Counselors, School Nurses, Other Educators Interested in Improving Their Skills in the Classroom or When Working with Parents
On May 18, 2018, the Agency of Education will be hosting two half-day workshops in Burlington, VT, designed to increase the quality of sexual health education being provided in Vermont. The free workshops will run concurrently from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Workshops will be limited to 40 participants. Workshop A: Skills Building for Quality Sexual Health Education will focus on three of the six core skills needed to effectively facilitate sex education. This workshop does not include information on content such as birth control methods, STDs, healthy relationships, etc. Educators are strongly encouraged to brush up on their content knowledge prior to participating in this workshop. Workshop B: Training of Trainers (TOT) for Implementing Parent Workshops will prepare attendees with everything they need to successfully implement a parent education workshop developed by Vermont sexuality education experts. You do not need to be a sexuality expert to teach this workshop, you just need to be willing to lead parents in how to have conversations about relationships, health, and human sexuality with their children. Register for Sexual Health Professional Development Workshops.
Contact: Tom Aloisi at (802) 479-1869 or thomas.aloisi@vermont.gov
Vermont Summer Meals Program Applications Are Due Soon
Audience: Superintendents, Business Managers, Principals, Food Service Directors and Managers
Vermont Summer Meals Program applications are due June 1, 2018. Now is the time to ensure that your school is in compliance with State Law 16 V.S.A. § 1264, which requires public schools that operate the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), with at least 50 percent or more students eligible for free and reduced price meals in any month in the preceding school year, and where the district operates or funds educational, recreational, or camp programs for 15 or more hours a week during the summer, to offer meals for the duration of that program. We can help you become a sponsor or connect you with an existing sponsor to establish a meal site so your summer program students will continue to have access to healthy meals during the summer.
Contact Jamie Curley at (802) 479-1207 or jamie.curley@vermont.gov
Rule 5100: Rules Governing the Licensing of Educators and the Preparation of Educational Professionals
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Special Education Directors, Curriculum Coordinators, Career and Technical Center Directors, Local and Regional Standards Boards, Educators, Higher Education Institutions
The VSBPE is undertaking revisions to the rules that govern the training, licensing and professional standards of teachers and administrators. Specifically, the VSBPE is revising educator competencies and/or authorizing statement of the following endorsements: 5440-00 Elementary Education Holder Statement, 5440-36 Early Childhood Education – Additional Requirements, 5440-86 Director of Special Education, 5440-91 Principal, 5440-90 Superintendent, 5440-93 Director of Curriculum, 5440-02 Art, 5440-03 Business Education, 5440-09 Family and Consumer Sciences,5440-12 Music, 5440-14 Computer Science, 5440-15 Social Studies, 5440-25 Online Teaching Specialist, 5440-37 Theater Arts and 5440-42 Educational Technology Specialist. The VSBPE is also revising Core Leadership Standards to align with National Leadership Standards and Competencies; aligning Education Quality Standards and Vermont Education Initiatives with expectations for Vermont Educator Preparation Programs; revising current rules regarding Emergency Licenses and the Instructional Level of the Elementary Education endorsement to support schools in recruitment and retention in the field. Your input is important to us: you can review the proposed licensing rule changes; submit your feedback, or attend our public comment session on May 22, 2018.
Contact: Amy Scalabrini amy.scalabrini@vermont.gov
Vermont State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) Report
Audience: Special Education Administrators and Special Educators
The Vermont Agency of Education Special Education team is pleased to share Vermont’s 2018 SSIP Report to the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). This report may be found on the AOE website under special education reports.
Contact: Tonya Rutkowski at tonya.rutkowski@vermont.gov or (802) 479-1245
Summer School Safety Training Opportunities
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, School Crisis Planning Team Members
The Vermont School Safety Center is pleased to provide the Summer 2018 School Safety Training Announcement for public, private and independent schools.
Contact: Rob Evans, School Safety Liaison Officer, at revans@margolishealy.com
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.
National School Nurse Day Celebrated May 9
Wednesday, May 9, 2018 is National School Nurse Day. School nurses optimize student health and learning every day of the year. On National School Nurse Day, we take special time to celebrate and recognize the contributions that school nurses are making to the health and learning of our nation’s 50 million children.
Contact: Claire Molner at claire.molner@rcsu.org
Space Available: The Governor's Institutes of Vermont
There are a few spots open in the Governor's Institutes of Vermont Summer Institutes. Motivated, curious Vermonters who are willing to challenge themselves, are interested in the world and new ideas, and who want to be a part of a supportive community of people passionate about learning can apply on the Governor's Institutes of Vermont Website.
Contact: Susie Moakley at susie@giv.org or call (802) 865-4448
Valcour: Teaching the American Revolution through Archeology
This professional development course for history and social science teachers and archaeologists will be held July 5 to July 7, 2018. Join Lake Champlain Maritime Museum for an adventure to Valcour Bay, where a pivotal battle of the Revolutionary War took place. During this three-day course, participants will examine primary archaeological resources on and off the LCMM campus and consider how they influence the creation of historical knowledge. This course features an on-water exploration of the area of Valcour Island with LCMM archaeologists and will culminate in the creation of an archeology lesson plan. Graduate credit is available through Castleton University.
Contact: Matt Harrison at matth@lcmm.org or (802) 475-2022, ext. 123
UVM AHEC New School Nurse Training (NSNT)
The University of Vermont (UVM) Office of Primary Care and Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program is pleased to tell you about a free one-day New School Nurse Training (NSNT) for registered nurses, developed with input from school nurses and the Vermont Department of Health. It will be held on Wednesday, August 15, 2018, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the UVM Larner College of Medicine in Burlington, Vermont.
Contact: Cynthia Kline at cynthia.kline@med.uvm.edu or (802) 656-9294.
Positive Education Conference for Educators
Register for the World Positive Education Accelerator (WPEA) in Fort Worth, TX, from June 25 to 28, 2018. Champlain College is co-convening this event with an aim to elevate, formalize, and accelerate the field of positive education, which encompasses science-based interventions that build well-being: resiliency, growth mindset, social and emotional competency, character strengths, mindfulness, and optimism in students from early through higher education.
Contact: Jessica Blackman at jblackman@champlain.edu
Getting to Y: Youth Bring Meaning to their Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Getting to "Y" consists of teams of youth and adult members who come together for a day-long orientation where they learn tools and strategies to (a) analyze their youth risk behavior survey data, and identify strengths and concerns, (b) host a dialogue even t to engage their community, and (c) frame and implement action steps to create a healthier community. Planning has begun for AY 2018-2019, middle schools and high schools interested in the program should contact Up for Learning.
Contact: Sharon Koller at sharon@upforlearning.org
Social Thinking: A Model for Managing Anxiety and Improving Self Regulation
Audience: classroom teachers, special educators, reading specialists, and content area teachers
Social Thinking: A Model on Managing Anxiety and Improving Self-Regulation will focus on managing anxiety and improving self-regulation using techniques for increasing self-awareness and modifying one’s own behaviors. The Incredible 5-Point Scale (Dunn-Buron and Curtis) is demonstrated as a springboard for developing individualized plans for relaxation, organization and emotional attunement.
Contact: Caitlin Niland at (802) 878-2332, ext. 320 or cniland@sterncenter.org
Evidence-Based Reading Instruction
Pam Chomsky-Higgins, Literacy Consultant, will be facilitating this day-long session on evidence-based reading instruction at the Hampton Event Center in Colchester on June 26, 2018. Grades K-5 Classroom Teachers and Special Educators will investigate how to integrate assessment with instruction in a variety of ways. Participants will explore possibilities for capturing student learning, planning for embedded assessment tasks at the beginning of next school year, and creating instructional plans for groups of students that don't add-on to the workday.
Contact: Champlain Valley Educator Development Center at info@cvedcvt.org
Castleton Center for Schools Summer Course Registration is Open
Registration is now open for summer professional development opportunities & graduate courses at the Castleton Center for Schools. Visit Castleton University's website for a complete listing and to register.
Contact: Tara Lidstone tara.lidstone@castleton.edu
Mix Mastering with DJ mITCHELL
Learn the art of club, rave, hip-hop, and drum and bass/breakbeat DJ'ing with internationally renowned performer DJ Craig mITCHELL. The class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 24 to May 10, 2018 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. and culminates in a dance party May 15, 2018. Appropriate for ages 16+, pre-registration is recommended. This course is free for teens, and 50 percent off for college students.
Contact: Sarah Caliendo at scaliendo@flynncenter.org