Agency of Education and State of Vermont Updates
This section of the Weekly Field Memo contains posts from the Agency of Education and other State of Vermont agencies that are not specifically related to the COVID-19 response.
Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST): 2020 Awardees Announced
Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
Established in 1983, PAEMST is the highest award kindergarten through 12th grade mathematics and science (including computer science) teachers can receive from the U.S. government. Each year, the award criteria alternates between kindergarten through 6th grade and 7th through 12th grade teachers. This year, Susan Koch from Union Elementary school was awarded and will receive the PAEMST for Science and Glenda Allen from Barre Town Middle and Elementary School was awarded and will receive the PAEMST for Mathematics. Nominees complete a rigorous application process that allows them to demonstrate deep content knowledge and the ability to adapt to a broad range of learners and teaching environments. For more information about the PAEMST, visit PAEMST.org. Consider nominating a deserving educator today!
Contact: Maggie Carrera-Bly at Margaret.Carrera-Bly@vermont.gov
Linking Health and Learning Newsletter, February 2022
Audience: Health Educators, Physical Educators, School Nurses, Guidance Counselors, Curriculum Directors, Principals, Superintendents, Higher Education
The February 2022 Linking Health and Learning newsletter is now posted on the Vermont Agency of Education Health and Physical Education (PE) webpages. This newsletter communicates pertinent information about Health and Physical Education as well as professional learning events and resources to support Vermont’s health and physical educators.
Contact: Susan Yesalonia at susan.yesalonia@vermont.gov or (802) 828-6553
Vermont Regional School Calendars for 2022-2023
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Headmasters, Regional Technical Center Directors, Curriculum Coordinators
Vermont statute, 16 V.S.A. §1071 (e), requires that superintendents of schools, regional public school principals and headmasters meet before April 1, 2022, and, by majority vote, establish a uniform calendar within that area for the following school year. The calendar needs to include student attendance days, periods of vacation, holidays and the requisite five teacher in-service education days. Please send approved, regional calendars to Allison Keating at the Agency of Education no later than April 1, 2022.
Contact: Allison Keating at (802) 828-4855 or allison.keating@vermont.gov
Vermont Special Education Procedures Manual
Audience: All
The Agency of Education has published the Vermont Special Education Procedures Manual to provide an off-the-shelf solution that local education agencies (LEAs) may adopt in order to meet the requirement to establish written policies and procedures for implementing federal special education laws, as set forth by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This requirement is currently satisfied during monitoring submissions by submitting policies for special education, special education evaluation and discipline. The manual offers LEAs and school boards the opportunity to adopt this document in lieu of submitting their own documents addressing the same requirements. Further details regarding adoption of this document, as well as requirements should an LEA choose to not adopt this document, are found in the preface.
Contact: Tristan McNamara at AOE.SpecialEdMonitoringGroup@vermont.gov
Vermont PBS: February Resources to Celebrate Black History Month
Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
The Vermont Agency of Education has updated our Vermont PBS webpage for February 2022. Celebrate Black History Month with resources from PBS Parents and PBS Learning Media. Other topics of interest include social emotional learning for students and teachers, being outside, current events and climate change. Plus, check out the research report about how Molly of Denali can help teach children to use and create informational text. We will continue to update this webpage monthly, so check back often to find new featured resources related to monthly themes and organized by grade band and subject area. Also, visit the Vermont PBS Kids and Education page to find more online and printable resources. To share resources and network with colleagues, join the Vermont PBS Educational Resources group on Edmodo. Activate your Edmodo account and join the VTED Learns community by filling out this form.
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.
Middle Grades Institute 2022: Equity Oriented Middle Grades Education June 27-July 1, 2022
This summer’s Middle Grades Institute prepares individuals, teams and schools to create and develop equitable learning environments that respond to students’ needs. The format allows for participants to select from two options: to convene regionally in in-person teams or to participate fully remotely. In both cases, participants will interact with others through remote workshops, book groups and small discussion groups. MGI facilitators will be both in-person and online. Participants will plan to address learners’ needs in relation to equity, antiracism, personalization, trauma-informed practice, social-emotional learning and more. Registration is currently open!
Contact: James Nagle at jnagle2@smcvt.edu
All Learners Network: Math Intervention for Interventionists and 5-8 Teachers
The workshop, Math Intervention for Interventionists and 5-8 Teachers, will be held virtually on Zoom on March 10, 2022, from 8-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. As the pandemic draws on, everyone is concerned about our most vulnerable students. Drawing on his 30 years in schools, education research and experience as a math leader in the U.S. and abroad, All Learners Network Founder John Tapper will facilitate an engaging virtual learning experience aimed at 5-8 intervention.
Contact: TJ Jemison at communicationsdirector@alllearnersnetwork.com
Workshop Series and Graduate Course Opportunity: A Focus on Self - Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators
VT-HEC brings Cathy Quinn back for this timely workshop series (with a graduate course option) to help educators keep up with the increasing demands of school life. Sometimes this demanding work leads to diminished energy, not being aware of the present moment, and an inability to thoughtfully plan and reflect. Participants will explore the science behind practices that positively impact neurological response systems, and how to routinely call on these practices for self-care. Cathy will integrate her own experiences with movement and mindfulness as tools to re-ignite enthusiasm, build emotional resilience and - ultimately - maximize support of students. Workshops begin on March 11, 2022.
Contact Julie Medose at info@vthec.org or (802) 498-3350
Professional Learning: Doug Fisher on Reading Instruction
Registration is open for Doug Fisher: Skill, Will, & Thrill: Making Sense of Reading Instruction, Recent Reports on Popular Programs, and Comprehensive Approaches for Student Success. March 10, 2022, 9 a.m. to noon virtual session with renowned expert, Doug Fisher, includes his book "Fisher, Frey, Law: Comprehension: The Skill, Will and Thrill of Reading". Doug proposes a new, comprehensive model of reading instruction that goes beyond teaching skills to fostering engagement and motivation. There will be time to discuss recent education reports on the efficacy of popular reading programs and a question and answer section.
Contact: Lauren Wooden at lauren@cvedcvt.org or (802) 497-1642
Professional Learning: Orton-Gillingham: Focus on Level II, Vowel Teams & Beyond
Registration is open for Orton-Gillingham: Focus on Level II, Vowel Teams, & Beyond offered on March 22, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This professional learning workshop is offered through the Stern Center for Language and Learning. This workshop is designed for Orton-Gillingham (OG) teachers with a basic understanding of the OG lesson plan and scope and sequence whose students are advancing in Level II of the OG Scope and Sequence. Visit the course page to register. Grant funding is available.
Contact: SJ Larkspur at slarkspur@sterncenter.org
Early Childhood Educators Institute: Call for Session/Course Proposals
Castleton University is looking for skilled instructors willing to teach at this year’s online Early Childhood Educators Institute. The institute, now in its 6th year, gathers close to 100 early childhood practitioners with the goal of advancing the knowledge, skills, dispositions and practices of early childhood providers in their efforts to educate young children and to support families. The institute will run online for three days (July 26 and28, and August 2 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.), and will offer a total of 8-10 strands/courses. For a list of suggested session/course topics, to learn more information, or to submit a proposal, please visit the Early Childhood Educators Institute website. Instructors-of-record are required to have a Master's Degree or comparable expertise and experience. Proposals are due by Feb. 22, 2022.
Contact: Tara Lidstone at tara.lidstone@castleton.edu or (802) 345-0092
Umatter for Youth and Young Adults
Umatter® for Youth and Young Adults (YYA) In response to increasing mental health needs of students and staff, CHL has adapted the Umatter Youth and Young Adult (Umatter YYA) program to include a virtual learning event designed to support the mental health of students and staff. And this year, for the first time, CHL is offering Umatter Youth and Young Adults components in an “a la carte” format. You can engage youth in the Umatter YYA program with flexible participation in the following: Youth Engagement Speaker (formerly “Kick off”) Event March 10, 2022, from noon to 1 p.m., Community Action Projects (CAP), Curriculum - Adult Advisors Can Lead Umatter YYA.
Contact: Catherine Diduk at info@healthandlearning.org.