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Volume 13, Issue 16

April 17, 2019

Student Member Sought for the State Board of Education

Audience: Vermont secondary students graduating 2021 or later
The Governor’s Office is seeking a candidate to serve on the State Board of Education as one of its two student representatives. The State Board of Education usually meets on the third Wednesday of every month and establishes policies, regulations and rules related to education in Vermont and in keeping with statutes passed by the Legislature. Candidates may apply using the Application for Gubernatorial Appointment. The deadline for applications is May 10, 2019.
Contact: Maureen Gaidys at maureen.gaidys@vermont.gov

Special Education Initial and Triennial Evaluations Memo

Audience: Special Education Administrators, Special Educators
The Vermont Agency of Education Special Education team has issued a memo to clarify requirements on issues recently observed relevant to initial and triennial evaluations. This Special Education Initial and Triennial Evaluations Memo can also be found on the AOE website.
Contact: Tonya Rutkowski at tonya.rutkowski@vermont.gov or (802) 479-1245

Multi-tiered System of Supports April Office Hour - Annual MTSS Survey

Audience: Members of SU/SD/School Leadership Teams, Administrators
Registration is now open for the Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) April Office Hour scheduled for April 25, 2019, from 3 to 4 p.m. In this webinar participants will understand the history of the data collection, learn why the data is important, hear tips for making collecting the data more efficient, hear examples from your colleagues of how the data has been and will be used to support work in their schools, and learn about how VSA/VPA are in partnership to collect and share this data. Please register individually even if attending as a team so  the recorded webinar and additional materials can be shared with each of you.
Contact: Tracy Watterson at tracy.watterson@vermont.gov or (802) 479-1353


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.

Applications Open for Vermont Technical College’s Grade 7-12 STEM and Entrepreneurship Camps/Institutes

Applications for several camps at Vermont Technical College’s (VTC) Williston and Randolph Center Campus are open for middle and high school students: Rosie’s Girls STEM Leadership (residential) Camp; Coder (day) Camp for Girls; Advanced Coder (day) Camp; Governor’s Institutes of VT – Entrepreneurship (residential) program with option to earn college credits using dual enrollment vouchers; Advanced Coding (day) Camp; and a new Computer (day) Camp with VTC in White River at the Community College of Vermont Campus. All are very affordable with many partial scholarships available.
Contact: Laurel Butler at lbutler@vtsbdc.org or (802) 922-3692

Phoenix Burning: Case Study of a Lake Champlain Shipwreck

Take an in-depth look at the earliest steamboat shipwreck in North America, the steamboat Phoenix (1815-1819), on the 200th anniversary of its epic demise. Review first-hand accounts and archaeological data and artifacts collected from the wreck site and piece together the details. Do we have the full story? Does the archaeological evidence confirm the published conclusions? Would your students like to hear this story? Graduate credit available through Castleton University.
Contact: Chris Sabick at chriss@lcmm.org or (802) 475-2022 x110

Dynamic Landscape Conference

Dynamic Landscapes Annual Conference May 20-22, 2019: two days of thought-provoking sessions, hands-on learning opportunities, presentations by students, exhibitor, social and networking events and more. Themes include innovative learning spaces, pedagogical practices, technology tools, library workshops, blockchain, student privacy, Making Media, robots, makerspaces and more.
Contact: Lucie deLaBruere at ignite@vita-learn.org

Professional Development: Orton-Gillingham Associate Level Course and Practicum

Registration is open for the Stern Center for Language and Learning’s Orton-Gillingham Associate Level Course and practicum. The Orton-Gillingham (OG) Approach is the underlying foundation of all multi-sensory structured language instruction. Participants will learn both the structure of the English language and how to teach it sequentially and systemically to struggling readers. Teachers may choose to further their OG training with a 100-hour practicum, which is required for OG Associate Level certification. Registration due by July 1, 2019. Grant funding towards tuition is available.
Contact: SJ White at swhite@sterncenter.org or (802) 878-2332 x320

Arts for Equity Educator Institute at Clemmons Family Farm

The Clemmons Family Farm, Vermont Abenaki Artists Association and the Flynn Center are pleased to announce this year's Arts for Equity Educator Institute from August 12-16, 2019, at Clemmons Family Farm in Charlotte. Educators engage with nationally recognized leaders, including Harvard's Aysha Upchurch, and Vermont's artists and cultural bearers of the African diaspora and Abenaki communities in culturally inclusive curricula and arts integration. Highlights include live performances by guest artists, place-based inquiry and learning, and culturally responsive curriculum design sessions guided by national experts and local artists. Applications accepted now through May 17; priority given to schools applying for the AOE's Equity Literacy RFP; acceptance letters sent May 31, 2019.
Contact: Lauren Genta at lgenta@flynncenter.org or (802) 652-4508

Information Regarding Courses for Driver Education Teacher Endorsement

The Vermont Agency of Education has accepted the courses in the Keene (NH) State College Driver Education Instructor Preparation Program as meeting the competency requirements for individuals interested in obtaining a Vermont driver education endorsement. Program and cost information and an application for Vermonters can be obtained through the Keene State Driver Education Instructor Preparation Program website.
Contact: Gary Guzouskas at gguzouskas@keene.edu or (603) 903-9925

Professional Learning: Online 2 credit Courses in Calkins' Units of Study

Registration is open for Using the Units of Study for Teaching Reading K-5 and Using the Units of Study for Teaching Narrative, Informational, Opinion & Argument Writing K-5. Each self-paced, 2 credit course is taught by Beth Moore, a coauthor of two of the books within the Units of Study, and offers 2 graduate credits each. The courses run July 1, 2019 through Sept. 30, 2019, setting your own summer pace. Participants will need access to a grade level of Lucy Calkins' Units of Study boxed set.
Contact: Lauren Wooden at lauren@cvedcvt.org or (802) 497-1642


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.