- Request for Proposal: Personalized Learning and Flexible Pathways
- Respect Workshop: Preventing Health Risks and Promoting Healthy Outcomes among LGBTQ Youth
- Smarter Balanced Newsletter, Issue 7
- Strengthening and Streamlining Local Comprehensive Assessment Systems: Guidelines and Support for Leadership Teams
- What if Wednesday: Intruder Awareness
- Courtesy Postings
Request for Proposal: Personalized Learning and Flexible Pathways
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Curriculum Coordinators, Work-Based Learning Coordinators, School Counselors, Teachers, Expanded Learning Providers
The Agency of Education is requesting applicants for a competitive grant process. Eligible applicants are supervisory union/district that will engage in the work and act as the fiscal agent for the project, in a potential partnership with other education organizations. Grants are focused on; 1) Integrating Expanded Learning Opportunities into Personalized Learning Plans and Flexible Pathways to Graduation; 2) Developing and Scaling Career Advisory: Career Pathways as Part of the Personalized Learning Planning Process; and 3) Developing Work-Based Learning at the Secondary Level: Creating Authentic and Diverse Career Experiences for All Students. Learn more about the grant opportunities.
Contact: Jess DeCarolis at (802) 479-1265 or jess.decarolis@vermont.gov
Respect Workshop: Preventing Health Risks and Promoting Healthy Outcomes among LGBTQ Youth
Audience: School Counselors, School Psychologists, Nurses, Social Workers, SAPs, Administrators
The Vermont Agency of Education and the Vermont School Counselor Association are partnering with the American Psychological Association (APA) to offer the APA Respect Workshop on March 31, 2017, in Burlington. The purpose of the course is to promote sexual health and responsibility and prevent HIV prevention, other sexually transmitted infections, and pregnancy among LGBTQ students. In the course, teams of school professionals learn how to provide direct services to LGBTQ students and how to utilize school-based practices such as establishing an LGBTQ-inclusive school climate, engaging families, facilitating access to supportive peers, and providing access to sexual health services and sexual health education. Register online.
Contact: Tom Aloisi at (802)479-1869 or thomas.aloisi@vermont.gov
Smarter Balanced Newsletter, Issue 7
Audience: All
Issue 7 of the Smarter Balanced Newsletter includes information centered on the theme of test preparation. The newsletter contains information on Expedited Reporting, a preparation checklist, new practice math performance tasks, and deciding between the Practice Test or the training Test. There is also a reminder about the TTS webinar and new Connections Playlists.
Contact: Linda Moreno at linda.moreno@vermont.gov
Strengthening and Streamlining Local Comprehensive Assessment Systems: Guidelines and Support for Leadership Teams
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Curriculum Directors and Teacher Leaders
The Strengthening and Streamlining Local Comprehensive Assessment Systems: Guidelines and Support for Leadership Teams provide guidelines and resources to help educators in supervisory unions and districts develop a streamlined balanced local comprehensive assessment system for all students. This document was produced following a thorough review of the literature and current practices in the field of student assessment by Agency of Education staff as well as educators in the field. It provides a synthesis of research and current policy, including the MTSS field guide and Education Quality Standards.
Contact: Pat Fitzsimmons at (802) 479-1425 or pat.fitzsimmons@vermont.gov
What if Wednesday: Intruder Awareness
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, School Crisis Planning Team Members
The “What if Wednesday” school safety initiative is designed to stimulate a conversation about school emergency preparedness. Participants should read the summary of the “fictional” school safety incident and then answer the multiple choice question with the appropriate response action to be taken for the specific emergency.
Contact: Rob Evans, Margolis Healy, at revans@margolishealy.com
Courtesy Postings
Substance Abuse Prevention Expansion Grant Request for Proposal
The Vermont Department of Health (VDH), Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs (ADAP) is seeking proposals to support the expansion of community-based substance abuse prevention strategies targeted to high need populations such as low socioeconomic status (SES), LGBTQ, military & their families, refugees etc. across the lifespan. The purpose of this grant is to further build on the expertise and momentum of alcohol and other drug prevention efforts in Vermont. Four to six awards of up to $40,000 each will be awarded. Proposals are due April 12, 2017. Learn more on the VDH website.
Contact: Liz Sanderson at lisabeth.sanderson@vermont.gov
EdCamp Vermont
In search of a boost to help propel you through the end of the school year? Edcamp Vermont is a free day of professional development for educators at all levels. The camp will be held April 1, 2017, in Winooski. The topics and sessions are designed by participants on the day of the event. Participants enjoy relevant, engaging conversation, free coffee, free lunch, and professional connections. Information and free registration are online.
Contact: Ali Shevrin at ashevrin@centerpointservices.org
Moving Toward Proficiency in Text-Based Argument Writing: Learning from Student Work
Looking at actual student work is a powerful lens through which to learn about what “proficiency” can look like in student text-based writing. This workshop will give educators an opportunity to look at authentic student text-based argument writing at a variety of grade levels. We will analyze that work through the lens of the standards – what makes the work proficient? Finally, we will look at some of the particular challenges of teaching argument writing to students, and how we can address them. This workshop will take place on March 29, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lake Morey. Learn more and register online through Vermont Writing Collaborative.
Contacts: Pat Fitzsimmons at (802)479-1425 or pat.fitzimmons@vermont.gov or Joey Hawkins at joeylornell@gmail.com
Vermont Women in Higher Education Annual Spring Conference - Strong Women, Strong World
Join us for one and one-half days of inspiration. Set in beautiful Killington, Vermont, on March 23 and 24, 2017, this year’s conference features a “strong women” speaker panel, engaging workshops, valuable networking, calming yoga, a professional clothing swap, volunteering, and a chance to speak to charitable organizations doing “good for girls” in Vermont. Price includes meals. Lodging not included. Register online at Vermont Women in Higher Ed Spring 2017 Conference.
Contact: Tracy Sherbrook, VWHE Executive Board, at (802) 626-6406 or tracy.sherbrook@lyndonstate.edu
Symposium Series: " Technology-Based Interventions for the Learner with Language and/or Executive Function Based Disabilities"
The Stern Center for Language and Learning continues their three-part Symposium Series at Burlington International Airport on March 24, 2017. This “Bring Your Own Device” workshop will highlight the low-tech to high-tech tools that are out there designed to support the struggling reader and writer. This workshop will feature a balance of demonstration, instruction, and exploration so that all attendees will leave with the knowledge of what is out there and how it can be implemented with the students we, as educators, work with the very next day. This workshop will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and cost is $125 per workshop. Register online.
Contact: Caitlin Niland, Intake Coordinator for Professional Learning, at (802) 878-2332 or proflearning@sterncenter.org
Vermont Foster/Adoptive Family Association/NFI Institute with Dr. Michael Unger
Join us at the Sheraton Hotel in South Burlington on March 31, 2017, for a Presentation by Dr. Michael Unger, “Enhancing Resilience: Nine Things Youth at Risk Need” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. How can we show children we are there to help them even when they push us away? How do we make children more resilient when they are angry, self-harming, anxious, abusive or delinquent? Learn strengths-based, resistance proof skills that professionals and non-professionals can use to nurture the resilience of those in their care, presented by an internationally recognized expert on resilience in at-risk youth and celebrated author. Register by March 26, 2017, or learn more online.
Contact: Kaitlyn Moore, Coordinator, at kaitlynmoore@nafi.com
Creating a Maker Space in Your School: A Two-Day Introductory Workshop with Lucie DeLaBruere
Innovative Teachers and Teams who are considering creating a Maker Space will learn design ideas, understand how Maker Spaces support instructional shifts and PBL while experimenting with cool Maker Space materials you get to keep. This workshop will be held June 20 and 21, 2017. Early Bird Special Pricing through March 31, 2017. Register online through the Champlain Valley Educator Development Center.
Contact: Lauren Wooden at lauren@cvedcvt.org
Dream Big 5K: Run, Walk and Roll
The EDD Memorial Fund is organizing an adaptive 5K and Fun Run for folks of all ages and abilities, in partnership with the Essex Town School District. Come run, walk or roll with us on April 1, 2017, at the Essex Middle School. The event is a fundraiser to support EDD Memorial Fund Adaptive Sports programs, like our free adaptive sports clinics with St. Michael’s College and Castleton University teams. Register online by March 30, 2017. Race day registration will be available.
Contact: Gretchen Owens at events@eddfund.org