- Professional Learning: Physical Security Education Program
- Training Opportunities: Interim Assessment, Digital Library and Air Ways
- Save the Date: Universal PreK Statewide Conference
- Professional Development for Sexual Health Special Educators
- Professional Learning: Work-Based Learning Collaborative Series
- Grant Opportunity: Computer Science Training with VCSA
- Nominations for Presidential Scholars
- Changes to the Vermont Step Ahead Recognition System
- Courtesy Posts
Professional Learning: Physical Security Education Program
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Facility Managers and School Crisis Planning Team Members
The National Center for Campus Public Safety is offering the first Physical Security Education Program, a five-module interactive course, designed in conjunction with subject-matter expert Dan Pascale, CPP, Managing Director of Margolis Healy. The program was developed for those working at the beginner level at schools, including campus law enforcement, emergency managers, facilities and building services personnel, and others responsible for managing the physical security of a campus. The five modules include: Introduction to Campus Physical Security, Reviewing the Best Practices in Physical Security, Defining Physical Security Goals, Conducting a Survey and Developing a Strategy, and Implementing Your Physical Security Plan. Participants will receive a certificate of completion following a successful post-test at the end of each course. Participants will have 30 days to complete a course once they have registered. More courses will be added to the list of opportunities as they become available. For a limited time, this program will be available to registrants at no cost.
Contact: Rob Evans, VT School Safety Liaison Officer, revans@margolishealy.com
Training Opportunities: Interim Assessment, Digital Library and Air Ways
Audience: Educators, Superintendents, Principals, Curriculum Coordinators, Instructional Coaches
Training is available to districts who may want to educate staff on how to use the Interim Math and ELA Assessments, Digital Library Connections Playlists and/or Air Ways reporting system. Training opportunities can be tailored to fit the specific needs and context of a given district.
Contact: Sarah Birgé at sarah.birge@vermont.gov
Save the Date: Universal PreK Statewide Conference
Audience: Public and Private PreK Professionals, Principals, Teachers, Early Education Coordinators, Directors
Please save the date of December 10, 2018, for the first annual Universal PreK Statewide Conference. This full-day event will be held at the Hilton Burlington. Registration for this event and the agenda will be coming soon.
Contact: Laura Greenwood at laura.greenwood@vermont.gov
Professional Development for Sexual Health Special Educators
Audience: Educators, nurses, and paraeducators
The Agency of Education has scheduled two days of professional development for those who provide human sexuality education to students receiving special education services in Vermont schools. The training dates are November 13 and 14, 2018, in Burlington. Day one is targeted to health educators and special educators and will focus on curriculum training. Day two is targeted to paraeducators who work one-on-one with students. Paraeducators must register as part of a district team. More information on each training day is provided on the registration page. The training is free, but lunch is not provided.
Contact: Tom Aloisi at thomas.aloisi@vermont.gov
Professional Learning: Work-Based Learning Collaborative Series
Audience: Work-Based Learning Coordinators and Educators
Registration for the SY18-19 Work-Based Learning (WBL) Coordinator’s professional learning series is now open. The goal of this collaborative is to ensure schools create equitable, accessible, robust work-based learning experiences for all Vermont students. This three-day series will focus on Alignment, Assessment, and Communication. We encourage WBL Coordinators and educators to attend each session with at least one team member. The first session of the series will take place on Thursday, November 1, 2018, at Vermont Technical College, Randolph. The cost for this three-day series is $125.00 per person and includes breakfast and lunch. Please register with payment by October 25, 2018
Contact: Carisa Corrow at ccorrow@ccebos.org or (603) 856-6496
Grant Opportunity: Computer Science Training with VCSA
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Science and Technology leads and Educators
The Vermont Computer Science Alliance (VCSA), a partnership between the University of Vermont, the Vermont Virtual Learning Collaborative, the Vermont Agency of Education and Code.org, is announcing a grant opportunity for schools' planning purposes. Consideration for all Vermont schools for next year's (FY20) budgets should include $2,750 for a school membership to become a qualified state partner. Membership includes (for 2 educators at each member school): 1) chapter membership in the Vermont Computer Science Alliance; 2) five summer 2019 training days for implementing CODE.org curriculum and four during the school year; 3) free registration to the VCSA annual state conference; 4) free annual training for school counselors and administrators; and 5) annual support for student programs by the VCSA State Program Managers. Schools who meet the requirements and partner by April 15, 2018, will be awarded $1,500 implementation grants toward the annual school membership toward the first year fees, and $1,000 toward year two fees.
Contact Jennifer Fribush at info@vermontcsa.org or (802) 885-8331
Nominations for Presidential Scholars
Audience: Students, Principals, Guidance Counselors, Academic and CTE Teachers, CTE Center Directors, Arts Educators
The Vermont Presidential Scholars Program is a statewide recognition of academic, service, and leadership excellence. Outstanding students are selected based on nominations from teachers and administrators, and students may also nominate themselves with the endorsement of a qualifying adult. High schools can nominate up to one student who identifies as female and one student who identifies as male in both the general and Fine Arts categories, and CTE centers can nominate up to two students. Nominate a high school senior. Nominate an Arts student. Nominate a CTE student. Only nominations submitted via the electronic system will be accepted. The deadline for nominations has been extended to 8 a.m. on November 7, 2018.
Contact: Sigrid Olson at sigrid.olson@vermont.gov
Changes to the Vermont Step Ahead Recognition System
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Early Childhood Coordinators, Pre-K Teachers
The Child Development Division of the Department of Children and families is evaluating the Vermont Step Ahead Recognition System (STARS). Achieving 4 STARS is a requirement of Act 166, Vermont’s Universal Pre-K law. Using information from the 2015-18 STARS Evaluation and Validation Study and working with the STARS Evolution and Oversight Committees, the Child Development Division is proposing changes to STARS in two phases. A summary of changes can be found on the Department of Children and Families website. DCF is hosting a range of STARS Evaluation Meetings in the fall of 2018 covering Phase I of the changes and the process for Phase II.
Contact: Melissa Riegel-Garrett at (802) 989-9685 or melissa.riegel-garrett@vermont.gov
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.
Youth Suicide Prevention Training for School Professionals
The Center for Health and Learning is hosting a series of Youth Suicide Prevention training opportunities. The training is created for Vermont middle and high schools to meet the requirements of Vermont state law. At the end of the training, participants will be prepared to identify and help youth who shows signs of suicide, provide parent and staff awareness sessions, develop prevention/postvention policies and protocols and to implement the Lifelines evidence-based curriculum for students.
Contact: Catherine Diduk at catherine@healthandlearning.org or (802) 254-6590
UVM Extension Youth Learning Opportunities
UVM Extension's 4-H Teen & Leadership Program has a lot of great programs for students in grades seven to12 this Fall and deadlines are fast approaching. Check out the following programs: the VTeen 4-H Science Pathways Cafe will have its next cafe on Nov 10, 2018, on GIS and mapping. The VTeen Leadership Weekend is an opportunity for teens to develop and improve important skills, build an action plan and have fun with other teens from around the State. The registration deadline for this program is Oct 30, 2018. Finally, the Teens Reaching Youth (TRY) for the Environment program trains students in grades seven through 12 to teach environmental lessons to younger students. Applications are due by Nov 9, 2018.
Contact: Lauren Traister at lauren.traister@uvm.edu or call (802) 888-4972, ext. 402
Professional Learning: Mindfulness
Registration is open for The Mindful Teacher: Developing Resilience and Compassion in Challenging Times. This one-day workshop facilitated by Annie O'Shaughnessy will explore the fundamentals of mindfulness, the power of the mindful pause, practice techniques to develop equanimity and compassionate curiosity and how these transform behavior management. Hosted at the Hampton Event Center in Colchester on December 5, 2018, this includes meals and a resource binder.
Contact: Lauren Wooden at lauren@cvedcvt.org or (802) 497-1642
Professional Learning: Enhancing Learning Through Effective Feedback
Registration is open for Enhancing Learning Through Effective Feedback on December 12, 2018, at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Montpelier. Effective feedback is one of the greatest challenges for teachers, and one of the most powerful predictors of learning. Join us as we explore current brain-based feedback strategies and how to build students' metacognitive understanding of their own learning, and to enhance their ability to be full partners in their education. This full-day workshop is with Vermont educator Bill Rich.
Contact: Bruce Perlow at bruce@upforlearning.org or (802) 552-8140
Professional Learning: Trauma, Poverty, and Adversity
Registration is open for Supporting Children through Trauma, Poverty and Adversity a professional development course by the Stern Center for Language and Learning. In this 45-hour course, participants will gain an understanding of poverty-related stress and its impact on brain function. Participants will establish a framework for developing social and emotional learning competencies in their students. Registration due by November 20, 2018.
Contact: SJ White at swhite@sterncenter.org or (802)-878-2332, ext. 320
Professional Learning: Flynn Center's Annual Teacher Conference
Registration is open for the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts' all-day teacher conference, Engaging Active Learners, at the Flynn Center on Thursday, December 13, 2018, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year's conference will embody themes of equity and access and will continue to focus on making authentic connections between arts integration and the transferable skills that students will be accountable for in order to graduate high school in our state starting in 2020. The centerpiece of the day will be the live performance by Parsons Dance Company, who bring a sensory-friendly dance performance to the Flynn for the first time. The conference fee is $70 per participant, PD credit is available.
Contact: Lauren Genta at lgenta@flynncenter.org or (802) 652-4508