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Volume 13, Issue 12

March 20, 2019

Personalized Learning and Transition Planning Module Series

Audience: All Educators (general and special education), Principals, Special Ed Directors, Flexible Pathways Coordinators, Work-Based Learning Coordinators, Career and Technical Education Teachers, Special Needs Coordinators, Voc Rehab Transition Counselors, Developmental Services Supported Employment Staff
As a companion to the Vermont Agency of Education Case Study Learning Project, this five-module professional learning series presented by Lee Ann Jung and Lead Inclusion will have participants identify and explore the implications for students with disabilities accessing personalized learning plans and proficiency-based graduation requirements.
Contacts: John Spinney at john.spinney@vermont.gov

Funding Opportunity: Comprehensive Substance Use Disorder Prevention and Early Intervention Program

Principals, Superintendents, Health Educators, Student Assistance Professionals, School Nurses
The Vermont Department of Health is pleased to announce a one-year grant opportunity beginning the 2020 academic school year. The Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs is seeking proposals from eligible Vermont-based Local Educational Agencies (term LEA is used synonymously with supervisory unions and school districts) to implement a comprehensive substance use disorder prevention and early intervention program. An estimated 20 LEA proposals will be awarded. No more than one grant per LEA will be awarded. The selected LEAs will be eligible to receive up to $60,000 per year, for three years (July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2022), contingent upon performance and available funding. A 10% match in funds or in-kind services is required.
Contact: Kathy Griffin at kathy.griffin@vermont.gov

Multi-tiered System of Supports March Office Hour

Audience: Members of the SU/SD/School Leadership Teams, Administrators
Registration is now open for the Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) March Office Hour scheduled for March 28, 2019, from 3 to 4 p.m. In this online session, Anissa Seguin will present the MTSS focus at Bakersfield Elementary and Middle School. As principal at Bakersfield, Anissa is also ensuring the systemic work is developing to strengthen MTSS at the SU level. If attending as a team, please have each member register for the Office Hour. PreK-12 educators are welcome.
Contacts: Nancy Helen at nancy.hellen@vermont.gov or (802) 479-1399

Regional Licensing Training

Audience: Superintendents, Superintendent Designees for Licensing
Back by popular demand, the Agency of Education Education Quality Division will be offering regional licensing training sessions for superintendents and their designees. Northeast and Winooski Valley SU/SDs on March 26, 2019, in Lake Morey; Champlain Valley SU/SDs on March 29, 2019, in Burlington; and Southeast and Southwest SU/SDs on April 2, 2019, in Castleton. Online registration is open.
Contact: Amy Scalabrini at amy.scalabrini@vermont.gov or (802) 479-1052

Learn More: National Board Certification for School Nurses

Audience: Superintendents, Principals, School Nurses
The Vermont Department of Health supports the Agency of Education goal of educating all children by ensuring that all children have access to and use high quality health care. The Health Department’s work includes promoting a strong school nurse workforce. A strong school nurse workforce advocates for and provides safe care, emotional and behavioral support, referrals, care coordination, quality improvement and leadership with students, families and the school community. Nurses receiving National Board Certification for School Nurses demonstrate excellence in professionalism, clinical knowledge, experience and education, having met the highest national standards of practice. On worldwide Certified Nurses Day, Vermont is proud to announce that 20 school nurses are NBCSN certified. Learn more about seeking SN certification, because student health and safety counts, all day, every day.
Contact: Sharonlee Trefry at sharonlee.trefry@vermont.gov


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.

Save the Date: Vermont School Counselors Association Spring Conference

The VTSCA Spring Conference: Equity and Students’ Pathways will be held May 2-3, 2019, at the Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain. Expand your knowledge about Career Pathways and Career and Technical Education in Vermont to help support and guide career development and workforce planning for students; learn about equity, bias and micro-messaging in a workshop by the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity; and hear from our keynote speaker, 2017 School Counselor of the Year Terri Tchorzynski.
Contact: Cairsten Keese at cairstenkeese@gmail.com

NErDcampVT

The second annual nErDcampVT is scheduled for April 6, 2019, at Hiawatha School in Essex Junction. Educators will spend the day in workshop sessions related to literacy topics. As a part of this free literacy conference for Vermont educators, over 30 regional authors of children's and young adult books will be offering sessions and/or panel discussions. There is no charge for this event, but registration is required for planning purposes. A certificate of attendance will be available at the close of the day.
Contact: Donna Sullivan-Macdonald at dmacdonald@sbschools.net or (802) 652-7329

Course for Credit: Let's Go Fishing Instructor

Becoming a Let's Go Fishing Instructor is an opportunity to bring aquatic education into the classroom. Learn how to incorporate fish anatomy, habitat management and aquatic ecology into your curriculum. Castleton College and Vermont Fish and Wildlife have teamed up to offer the Let's Go Fishing Instructor Training Course as a 1-credit continuing education course for teachers.
Contact: Corey Hart at corey.hart@vermont.gov or (802) 828-1000

UVM Summer Professional Development Opportunities in Education and Social Services

Offered as online, hybrid, on campus or travel study, UVM’s convenient and flexible summer courses provide pathways to boost your career, enhance your credentials and improve your practice. Our professional development courses are built on collaboration, research-informed practices and real-world experience, offering exciting opportunities and promising strategies to help you make a difference for individuals, families, schools and communities. Summer tuition is discounted by 30%.
Contact: Katie Albee at learn@uvm.edu or (800) 639-3210

Applications Open: Shelburne Farms Climate Resiliency Fellowship

Shelburne Farms is now accepting applications from interdisciplinary teams of teachers working with grades 6-12 for the upcoming 2019-2020 cohort of the Climate Resiliency Fellowship. This school year-long professional learning opportunity focuses on incorporating climate change education and service learning into your school's curriculum. Providing a grounding in climate science, best practices in communicatio; and integration of the arts, youth voice and service learning this fellowship allows for choice to support a variety of disciplines and work time for teacher teams to plan for implementation back at school. The fellowship focuses on hope and resilience for both teachers and students.
Contact: Kerri McAllister at kmcallister@shelburnefarms.org

100% Scholarships Available: 2019 Teachers Financial Literacy Summer Institute at Champlain College

This free graduate course is being offered June 24-28, 2019, at Champlain College. Teachers who complete the training will have the confidence, skills and curriculum tools to successfully bring financial literacy topics into their classrooms. Learn how to implement VT's New Jump$tart Financial Literacy Standards. More than 165 Vermont educators have taken this course. Recognized by the Obama White House, FDIC, CFPB and US Dept. of Treasury.
Contact: John Pelletier at cfl@champlain.edu or (802) 860-2744

Zero Suicide Practice Institute

The Center for Health and Learning is offering a two-day Zero Suicide Practice Institute on May 16 and June 6, 2019, in Montpelier, VT. This two-day training aims to brings together mental health, health care, state and local teams to establish a common frame of reference, language and understanding of the use of tools for screening, assessment, treatment and follow-up.
Contact: Catherine Diduk at info@healthandlearning.org or (802) 254-6590

New England Head Start Association (NEHSA) Annual Conference

NEHSA, in collaboration with the Vermont Head Start Association (VHSA), invite you to their 2019 Conference: Reaching the Highest Peaks: Building Our Dynamic Workforce held April 9-11, 2019, at the Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain, 60 Battery Street, Burlington, Vermont. Registration is open to all Vermont early care and education providers. Topics include workforce development, leadership, child development, health and safety, family engagement, parenting and data and evaluation. Keynote speakers are Dr. Deborah Bergeron, Director of the National Office of Head Start; Marica Cox-Mitchell, Director of Early Learning at the Bainum Family Foundation; and Ross Thompson, co-author of Transforming the Workforce. This event is only held in Vermont once every six years so register today! Certificates of attendance are available for professional development documentation.
Contact: Marianne Miller at nesha.director@gmail.com

All Learners Conference 2019

The All Learners Network is hosting another conference for Vermont educators at The Inn at Essex on April 12, 2019, from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The conference is offered in response to overwhelming interest in the techniques and systems offered by the ALN to support ALL learners to understand mathematics. Workshops include approaches to Math Menu, ways to use Number Talks for instruction, Intervention support, Low Floor, High Ceiling Math Tasks and more. John Tapper, author of Solving for Why will also give a presentation on creating systems for school wide implementation of All Learners.
Contact: John Tapper at johntapper@alllearnersnetwork.com

Register by April 15, 2019 to Save 20% on Professional Development Courses

Registration is open for summer professional development courses in Literacy and Social Learning at the Stern Center for Language and Learning. Registrations received on or before April 15, 2019, qualify for a reduced tuition cost, thanks to a generous grant from the Cynthia K. Hoehl Institute for Excellence. This offer does not apply to workshops or Orton-Gillingham courses.
Contact: SJ White at swhite@sterncenter.org or (802) 878-2332 ext. 320


Subscribe Online

The field memo has time-sensitive and relevant information designed for students, teachers, and staff. The agency encourages principals, headmasters, and superintendents to share the memo with their education community. Additionally, individuals can subscribe or unsubscribe online.

Questions? Email Ted Fisher at ted.fisher@vermont.gov.