- Join the New MTSS Listserv
- Visual Art Learning Target Work Session
- Music Learning Target Work Session
- School Safety: What if Wednesday
- AOE Proficiency-Based Learning Briefs
- Courtesy Posts
Join the new Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Listserv
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Leadership Team Members
The MTSS team has created a new MTSS email listserv to share updates about MTSS guidelines, professional learning and technical assistance. Administrators can also use the listserv to problem-solve with colleagues and share resources about individual MTSS.
Contact: Tracy Watterson at tracy.watterson@vermont.gov
Visual Art Learning Target Work Session
Audience: Visual Art Teachers
Registration is open for the Visual Art Learning Target Work Session on September 14, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Agency of Education in Barre. In this work session, visual art teachers will receive a brief overview of the National Core Arts Standards (NCAS). Topics to be addressed include standards and proficiency-based learning, the use of learning targets, aligning units with NCAS and practical ways to implement these aspects in the art room. Educators will be put into working groups to write learning targets that can be used across classrooms and contexts. Educators will unpack the standards to create a deeper understanding, share what they are doing in the classroom, and work alongside one another. PreK-12 art teachers welcome. Space is limited.
Contact: Emily Titterton at emily.titterton@vermont.gov
Music Learning Target Work Session
Audience: Music Teachers
Registration is open for the Music Learning Target Work Session on September 10, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Springfield High School. In this work session music teachers will receive a brief overview of the National Core Arts Standards (NCAS). Topics to be addressed include standards and proficiency-based learning, the use of learning targets, aligning your units with NCAS, and practical ways to implement these aspects in the art room. Educators will be put into working groups to write learning targets that can be used across classrooms and contexts. Educators will unpack the standards to create a deeper understanding, share what they are doing in the classroom, and work alongside one another. PreK-12 music teachers welcome. Space is limited.
Contact: Emily Titterton at emily.titterton@vermont.gov
School Safety: What if Wednesday
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, School Crisis Planning Team Members
This week's What if Wednesday for August 15th, 2018 will provide an opportunity to remind school leadership teams about the importance of their school emergency preparedness initiatives. Please share this easy to use school safety training opportunity with all appropriate faculty, staff and school crisis planning team members.
Contact: Rob Evans, School Safety Liaison Officer, at revans@margolishealy.com
Vermont Agency of Education Proficiency-Based Learning Briefs
Audience: All Educators
The Proficiency-Based Learning (PBL) Team at the VT Agency of Education has worked with educators in the field to construct a variety of briefs related to the implementation of PBL. These briefs - Proficiency-Based Learning Glossary, What is Proficiency-Based Learning?, Why is Proficiency-Based Learning Important?, Key Characteristics of a Proficiency-Based Learning System of Education, and Proficiency-Based Grading Practices - can be used to provoke important conversations among educators. Questions to consider might include: How do these documents align with our thinking? How are they different? How can these documents be used to focus work in the coming school year?
Contact: Pat Fitzsimmons at pat.fitzsimmons@vermont.gov or (802) 479-1425
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.
Registration Open for VT-HEC Fall Professional Development Courses
The Vermont Higher Education Collaborative is pleased to announce registration is open for its Fall Professional Development Workshops and Courses. Offerings include: David Melnick's "Transforming Trauma," September 26 and 27, 2018, in Lake Morey, Lyn Lyons' "Interrupting the Worry Cycle: Advanced Strategies for Managing Anxious Students" in Stowe on October 10 and 11, 2018, Carol Ann Tomlinson and Bill Rich kicking off a 3 part series, "Strategies for Sustaining the Student-Centered Classroom," October 18, 2018, in Montpelier, Art Cernosia's "Special Education Legal Update" on October 25, 2018, Paul Gorski's 2 day workshop "The Equity Literacy Approach," November 1 and 2, 2018 in Montpelier, plus many more.
Contact: Julie Medose at info@vthec.org, or (802) 498-3350
Vermont PBS to Air “Stories on the Road to Proficiency”
Vermont PBS will air “Stories on the Road to Proficiency” August 30, 2018, at 7 p.m. and September 2, 2018, at 2 p.m. “Stories on the Road to Proficiency” captures the journey of four classroom teachers from four Vermont high schools as they implement proficiency-based learning in their classrooms. Students and teachers from BFA St. Albans, Champlain Valley Union High School, Harwood Union High School, and Peoples Academy contributed to this resource. Teachers from the social studies, math, science and English content areas offer varied experiences and insights. The video and guide were designed as a catalyst for dialogue among students, teachers and community members as all of us in Vermont work to understand the purpose of proficiency-based learning, and the promising practices that are emerging to guide this change process. UP for Learning, in partnership with the Vermont Folklife Center, developed the tools as part of the Communicating School Redesign Initiative.
Contact: Karen Scott at karen@upforlearning.org or (802) 355-2145
Professional Learning Webinar: Equity, Change and Leadership
Registration is now open for "Equity, Change and Leadership – A follow-up,” on August 27, 2018, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Join Snowy Owl Tutoring, PLC, Dr. Pedro Noguera and colleagues for a 60-minute follow-up to his keynote address and workshops during this year’s annual VPA Conference. There is no charge for the webinar, but donations are welcome.
Contact: Thomas Loudon at tom@snowyowltutoring.com or (802) 299-9642
CVEDC to Host George Couros
National presenter George Couros is coming to Vermont on September 26, 2018, at Trader Duke's Hotel in South Burlington for a dynamic one-day workshop: The Innovator's Mindset for principals, educational leaders and others who want to not only accept change but embrace it. He will discuss the idea and characteristics of his best-selling book: The Innovator's Mindset (included in registration), and share powerful examples of why this is so crucial for all educators. Learn why this event is filling up quickly and start your year off inspired. This workshop is a collaborative effort of CVEDC, VPA and VTASCD.
Contact: Lauren Wooden at lauren@cvedcvt.org or (802) 497-1642
Education Professionals and Students Invited: Vermont Community Leadership Summit
Registration is now open for “Making It Happen: Local Leadership for the Future of Vermont Communities” on October 1, 2018, at Castleton University. The Summit will provide skills workshops and leadership strategies, share success stories, and engage participants of all ages, expertise, and backgrounds in a facilitated dialogue on the future of community leadership in Vermont. Sessions include dialogues and panels on “youth driving change” and “engaging the public in K-12 education.” The youth voice is critical - student scholarships are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
Contact: Jenna Koloski at jenna@vtrural.org or (802) 225-6091
Vermont Curriculum Leaders Association Meetings
The theme for 2018-19 Vermont Curriculum Leaders Association (VTCLA) Meetings will be: "How equity drives instructional shifts within our systems of proficiency and personalization." Meetings will take place on September 7, 2018, November 2, 2018, February 1, 2019, April 5, 2019, and May 3, 2019 (1st Friday of the month). They will start at 9 a.m. with food and drinks available at 8:30 a.m. The first three meetings will be at the Capitol Plaza in Montpelier. The last two will be held in the Barre/Montpelier area.
Contact: Andy Kepes at akepes@rnesu.org or (802) 247-5757, ext. 14
Free Vermont BEST/PBIS Professional Development Opportunities
There are several free professional development opportunities coming up in September. Visit the VT BEST/PBIS Professional Development Calendar for more information, including registration materials. Topics include Navigating SWIS, VTPBIS Coordinators, Navigating SWIS-CICO, Rule 4500, and PBIS in 60 Minutes.
Contact: Sherry Schoenberg at sherry.schoenberg@uvm.edu or (802) 656-9656