- Education Census Data Collection Now Available
- MTSS Component Focus of the Month
- Licensing Updates
- Teaching Strategies Gold Introductory Training
- NGSS Performance Assessments Workshop Series
- Survey on Personalized and Proficiency-Based Learning
- What If Wednesday
- Vermont Professional Learning Network Information Session
- Courtesy Postings
Education Census Data Collection Now Available
Audience: Superintendents, Educator Census Data Collection Contacts
The 2016-2017 Education Census Data Collection is now available on our Secure Server. Usernames, passwords, and the reporting instructions have been sent to census completers to access the collection. The Educator Census Reporting and Software Instructions are posted online.
Contact: Help Desk at (802) 479-1044 for application issues or Debi Price for data questions and issues.
MTSS Component Focus of the Month
Audience: All
The five-part series, starting in January 2017, provides useful information for effectively implementing a multi-tiered system of supports in Vermont schools. Each part will cover another section of the Vermont (MTSS-RtII) Field Guide. The Multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) team introduces the series with the central component, Systemic and Comprehensive Approach, which is incorporated throughout the other four components: Effective Collaboration, High-quality Instruction and Intervention, Comprehensive Assessment, and Professional Learning. A focus on these four components will follow, one per month, in the sequence. Learn more about A Systemic and Comprehensive Approach.
Contact: Emma Louie, Education Coordinator (MTSS), at (802) 479-1336 or emma.louie@vermont.gov
Licensing Updates
Audience: Vermont Educators
The AOE is revising the current transcript review process and will not be accepting new applications for adding an endorsement until the beginning of April 2017. If you submitted an application prior to January 17, 2017, the Agency will continue to process it.
Contact: AOE.LicensingInfo@vermont.gov
Teaching Strategies Gold Introductory Training
Audience: Birth-Kindergarten Educators and Providers
The Agency of Education is offering free Teaching Strategies Gold (TSG) Introductory training. TSG is the recommended formative assessment measure in Vermont. Prequalified prekindergarten programs are required to use TSG to document children’s progress. The 12-hour training is offered through the state’s Early Learning Challenge Grant. Participants are expected to attend both days of the training. Space is limited to 20 participants. Register online for Teaching Strategies Gold Introductory Training.
Contact: Shirley Rawson at shirley.rawson@vermont.gov
NGSS Performance Assessments Workshop Series
Audience: K-12 Science Coaches or Teacher Leaders
During this series of three workshops, participants will be introduced to the NGSS bundles of performance expectations, develop performance assessments within an instructional sequence, apply quality criteria to their performance assessment, and construct a proficiency-based single-point rubric. Our goals are to increase understanding of the expectations within NGSS and support collaboration among science teacher leaders/coaches from across the state. Meeting dates are February 17, 2017, March 9, 2017, and May 12, 2017, at the Agency of Education in Barre. This series is limited to 25 participants who commit to attending all three sessions. Register for the NGSS Performance Assessments Workshop Series.
Contacts: Kathy Renfrew at (802) 479-1448 or kathy.renfrew@vermont.gov and Pat Fitzsimmons at (802) 479-1425 or pat.fitzsimmons@vermont.gov
Survey on Personalized and Proficiency-Based Learning
Audience: Principals, Assistant Principals, Curriculum Directors, Directors of Special Education, Directors of Guidance
The AOE invites district and school leaders to complete the survey on implementation of Act 77 and the Education Quality Standards at their respective Schools. The data collected from this survey will direct AOE’s efforts in providing effective and efficient support to schools around Vermont. This survey will close on February 1, 2017. (The survey has been corrected and is available for your feedback.)
Contact: Jessica DeCarolis at (802) 595-9740 or jess.decarolis@vermont.gov
What If Wednesday
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, School Crisis Planning Team Members
The "What if Wednesday” for January 18, 2017, is a school safety initiative 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. All responses are anonymous but please click "submit" when finished.
Contact: Rob Evans, Margolis Healy, at revans@margolishealy.com
Vermont Professional Learning Network Information Session
Vermont Professional Learning Network is hosting a virtual, interactive information session from 3:30 p.m. until 4 p.m. on January 19, 2017. During the info session, we will share information and answer your questions about Collaborative Learning Groups, Vermont Stories, Self-Paced Courses, and the Digging Deep Series. Learn more and register through the Center for Collaborative Education.
Contact: Meaghan Foster at vtclg@ccebos.org
Courtesy Postings
Announcing Topic for Hildene Lincoln Essay Competition 2017
Every year, Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home runs the Lincoln Essay Competition for Eighth graders throughout Vermont. First place winners receive $1000, second place $750, third place $500, and honorable mentions $250. The deadline for submissions is Lincoln’s birthday, February 12, 2017. This year’s topic: Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time, requiring a myriad of responses. Describe one action the United States could implement to substantially curb greenhouse gas emissions, the key driver of rising global temperatures. Identify the likely positive and negative impacts such an action would have on one or more demographics. Given these impacts, is this something the United States should do? Why or why not? Complete application packets (including guidelines and tips) can be downloaded online.
Contact: Stephanie Moffett Hynds at stephanie@hildene.org
Flow of History: Connecting Literature to the Social Studies Classroom
In this day-long session, teachers investigate primary sources connected to picture books on Abenaki and early settlement history of the region. In the context of early settlement history, learn strategies for helping students investigate primary sources, and develop writing tasks directly connected to the Common Core. Teachers will leave with primary source packets connected to each picture book. January 24, 2017, 8:30 a,m. to 3 p.m. at the Vermont Learning Collaborative in Dummerston. Workshop cost is $115. Learn more and register online.
Contact: Susan Leuchter at susan@learningcollaborative.org
Solving for Why with John Tapper
Many Vermont educators have taken John's course and come away feeling totally supported in working with students who struggle with math. We created this one-day workshop to be held on March 29, 2017, so that teachers and paraprofessionals in Grades K-8 can benefit from his book and some of the key instructional techniques that have proven to be very successful. Learn more and register online.
Contact: Lauren Wooden at lauren@cvedcvt.org
Marijuana/Cannabis and Mental Health in the Year 2017
Whether you are a parent, a business owner, a teacher, counselor or community member you will need to know and be able to educate others, about the truth about marijuana/cannabis. This day-long training on March 9, 2017, will provide you with factual information about the drug. You will leave with a better understanding of the impact of cannabis addiction, have the chance to see the latest trends in products, see the impact on mental health, and have time to discuss the implications of medical marijuana & legalization. Come and hear about the “Other Side of Cannabis”. The presentation will be didactic and involve group discussions, videos, music and visuals. $125 includes all materials, breakfast and lunch. Learn more and register online.
Contact: Catherine Diduk at catherine@healthandlearning.org