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Volume 13, Issue 27

July 3, 2019

New Resource:  Focused Interim Assessment Blocks from Smarter Balanced

Audience: All 
A reminder that the Smarter Balanced Interim Assessment Blocks (IABs), offered for free to Vermont schools and educators, and available on the Vermont Comprehensive Assessment Portal, have gotten an update for the 2019-2020 school year. The new Focused IABs “measure smaller bundles of content…and provide teachers with precise next steps for instruction.” You can learn more about them on the Smarter Balanced website, and also get training from the Agency of Education on the IABs.
Contact: Sarah Birgé at sarah.birge@vermont.gov

Updated and Improved VTmtss Website

Audience: Educators, Families, Communities
The VTmtss Team is excited to share with you the launch a new and improved VTmtss website. The new page contains content that reflects the VTmtss Field Guide 2019, and includes up-to-date information about what’s new for VTmtss; a detailed explanation of the VTmtss framework, field guide and self assessment; a resource-rich list of professional opportunities; the VTmtss data collection, including past surveys and summary reports; and AOE resources to support educational equity.
Contact: Emma Louie, Ed.D. at emma.louie@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.

August Summer Institute: Ambitious Instruction for Energy and Climate Action

There are still a few spots open in the Vermont Energy Education Program's five-day Summer Institute for K-12 science teachers, Aug. 12–16, 2019, at Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, VT. The institute, Ambitious Instruction for Energy and Climate Action, is a week-long dive for K-12 teachers into hands-on investigations, best instructional practices and student-driven action. Tuition includes lodging and meals, with optional graduate credits; scholarships available.
Contact: Deanna Bailey at deanna@veep.org

Nominate a Humanities Educator for the Swenson Award by July 31

The Vermont Humanities Council has extended the deadline to submit nominations for the Victor R. Swenson Humanities Educator Award. They are now due by July 31, 2019. The $1,000 award recognizes a Vermont educator in grades 6 through 12 who exemplifies excellence in the teaching of the humanities. Nominate an educator online.
Contact: Linda Wrazen at LWrazen@vermonthumanities.org or (802) 262-1357

The VPA welcomes applications for our Equity Practitioners Network

The Equity Practitioners Network will consist of educators passionate about true equity in public education and committed to implementing structural systems change in their school and/or district. The program involves two full school years (2019-2021), and there are 28 to 30 slots available in the first EPN cohort. Principals, Assistant Principals, CTE Directors and Equity/Diversity Coordinators will be given priority, as well as applicants from traditionally marginalized groups. Teams of up to four individuals with diverse roles from one school or district are encouraged to apply as well.
Contact: Linda Wheatley at lwheatley@vpaonline.org

VPA’s Leadership Academy is Coming Up

Ruha Benjamin, Kathleen Budge, Tara Trainor and Tony Sinanis, as well as our own Jon Kidde, Annie O’Shaugnessy, Jonathan Miller-Lane, Emma Louie and Nancy Hellen: Disrupting Poverty, Understanding Whiteness, Universal Designs for Learning, Trauma-informed Practices, Restorative Justice and more at the Stoweflake, July 30-31 and Aug. 1, 2019. The VPA Leadership Academy is an opportunity to immerse yourself in topics related to education leadership – with 250 colleagues! Don’t miss it.
Contact: Mallori LaPointe at mlapointe@vpaonline.org

Online Graduate Course: Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Education

The Center for Health and Learning is offering a 1-Credit Online Graduate Course on Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) Education beginning Oct. 6, 2019. This course is offered as one of a series of courses by the Vermont Higher Education Collaborative toward health education endorsement and developed so that teachers, 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’s alcohol and drug abuse prevention education program.
Contact: Catherine Diduk at info@healthandlearning.org or (802) 254-6590


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.