- Training of Trainers: School-Based Support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning
- Teacher Feature Returns
- Thanksgiving Message from Secretary Holcombe
- Mandated Reporting Memo
- Vermont Launches Initiative to Help Schools Test Drinking Water for Lead
- Courtesy Postings
Training of Trainers: School-Based Support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning
Audience: Teams of educators who are committed to providing training in their district
A Training of Trainers to provide support to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) youth will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on January 17, 2018 in Burlington, Vermont by the Vermont Agency of Education and Outright Vermont. If you want to help create meaningful change in your local school community, but need practice with the skills, this is the training for you. You will leave prepared to offer professional development to faculty and staff at your local school district. The training costs are being underwritten with federal funds, but lunch and parking are on your own. Learn more and register for LGBTQ Training of Trainers.
Contact: Tom Aloisi at thomas.aloisi@vermont.gov
Teacher Feature Returns
Audience: All
The Vermont Agency of Education today announced the return of the Teacher Feature on the Agency’s social media accounts. The Teacher Feature social media campaign, originally started in 2011, is a way to spotlight Vermont teachers doing great things in their school communities. All Vermonters are encouraged to nominate educators who deserve recognition for their hard work. Read the full Teacher Feature press release.
Contact: Haley Jones, Public Information Officer, at haley.jones@vermont.gov
Thanksgiving Message from Secretary Holcombe
Audience: All
Secretary Holcombe and her staff sent a memo to administrators, educators, and education partners this week. Please join us in taking a few moments today to reflect on all for which we can be grateful. For all our challenges, we are fortunate in so many ways. We wish you a peaceful and pleasant Thanksgiving holiday. Read the Thanksgiving Message memo.
Mandated Reporting Memo
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Headmasters, Education Staff
The Agency of Education and Department for Children and Families want to support and encourage strategic planning for staff training on the requirements of Act 1 of 2009 and Act 60 of 2015. You will recall that Act 1 required that all school employees, including non-teaching staff (bus drivers, custodians, food service staff), receive training on the dynamics of sexual abuse and sexual violence. Act 60 also made significant changes to the mandated reporting law. Both subject areas are addressed in the online training: Protecting Vermont's Children: Reporting Abuse & Neglect. Read the full Mandated Reporting memo.
Vermont Launches Initiative to Help Schools Test Drinking Water for Lead
Audience: All
The Vermont Department of Health, in partnership with the Agencies of Education and Natural Resources, is launching a pilot project designed to encourage schools to test drinking water for lead at each tap used for drinking or cooking, and take actions to lower lead levels. Read the full Vermont Launches Initiative to Help School Test Drinking Water for Lead press release.
Courtesy Postings
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.
Free 3SquaresVT Training
Hunger Free Vermont is facilitating free trainings across the state in November and December on 3SquaresVT, the largest federal nutrition program. Each training is approximately two and a half hours long and will provide information on program eligibility, deductions, benefits and the application process, and outreach strategies. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of 3SquaresVT and will be better prepared to support student and family food security through outreach and promotion of this program. Space is limited. Register for 3SquaresVT Training.
Contact: Phil Morin at pmorin@hungerfreevt.org
Determining Eligibility for Special Education: An In-Depth Look at Adverse Effect Webinar
The Determining Eligibility for Special Education: Adverse Effect webinar will be held from 10-11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 29, 2017. Adverse effect is one of three criteria (also called “gates”) used to determine a child’s eligibility for special education services. Join Ernie Wheeler, Special Education Program Coordinator from the Vermont Agency of Education, for an in-depth look at this criteria: What is adverse effect? What measures can be used to answer the adverse effect question? How do teams document adverse effect?
Contact: Janice Sabett at (800) 800-4005, x218 or janice.sabett@vtfn.org
Complex Trauma in Our Schools
This training is offered so that teachers and health and guidance personnel have a sufficient level of professional development to enable them to competently teach or provide other services required in the school for children and families impacted by trauma. Three options available: 1) Attend one-day Workshop only, 2) Attend three sessions for three graduate credits, 3) Attend three sessions without graduate credits. Training will occur in January, February, and March 2018. Register for Complex Trauma in our Schools.
Contact: Catherine Diduk at catherine@healthandlearning.org
Literacy Grant Available for Vermont Elementary Schools
Applications are open now through January 31, 2018 for the Children's Literacy Foundation's $25,000 Year of the Book literacy grant for Vermont elementary schools for the 2018-2019 school year. The grant provides literacy programming and new books, including author/illustrator visits and workshops, family events, new books for classrooms, the school and public libraries, and ten new books for each child.
Contact: Meredith Scott, Program Director, at (802) 244-0944 or meredith@clifonline.org
Universal Screening Webinar
This free webinar on December 13, 2017 will provide an overview of the benefits of Universal Screening in a PBIS school. We will explore how Universal Screening promotes early identification of children at risk, the systems needed to implement Universal Screening, and the process of matching results with proactive and preventative practices. We will explore a few screening tools and resources, as well as highlight Vermont school experiences. Register for the Universal Screening webinar.
Contact: Sherry Schoenberg at sherry.schoenberg@uvm.edu