- COVID-19 Updates and Guidance for Schools
- Other Agency of Education and State of Vermont Updatesdates
- Courtesy Posts
COVID-19 Updates and Guidance for Schools
This section of the Weekly Field Memo contains updates to COVID-19 guidance from the Vermont Agency of Education released since the last Weekly Field Memo. For a complete list of AOE-issued guidance, please visit our COVID-19 Guidance for Vermont Schools and Continuity of Learning websites. For the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on the COVID-19 response in Vermont, visit the Health Department's Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) website.
Guidance: Reopening Update
Audience: Superintendents, Independent School Heads, Educators
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Agency of Education has issued Update on Planning to Reopen Vermont Schools for Fall 2020 (6/4).
Contact: Ted Fisher at ted.fisher@vermont.gov
Guidance: Early Education
Audience: Superintendents, Independent School Heads, Prequalified Prekindergarten Programs, Prekindergarten Teachers, Kindergarten Teachers
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Agency of E(Administer blocks, content types, menus, etc.)ducation has issued Considertaions on Transition to Kindergarten During the COVID-19 Response (6/5).
Contact: Kate Rogers at kate.rogers@vermont.gov
Guidance: Special Education
Audience: Superintendents, Special Education Administrators, Special Educators
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Agency of Education has updated Questions and Answers Regarding Addressing the Needs of Students with Disabilities During School Closure due to a Novel Coronavirus Outbreak (Updated 6/5) and issued Memo: Extended School Year Services and In-Person Services (6/8).
Contact: Jacqui Kelleher at jacqui.kelleher@vermont.gov
Guidance: Assessments
Audience: Superintendents
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Agency of Education has issued Universal Screening Assessments: Recommendations to Support a Strong and Health Start (6/9).
Contact: Linda Moreno at linda.moreno@vermont.gov
Agency of Education Announces Partnership with Edmodo
Audience: Administrators, Educator
The Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) announced today a partnership with global education network Edmodo to create a statewide network for Vermont educators to collaborate and access Continuity of Learning resources to enable continued support for all Vermont students. The Edmodo platform will also provide educators with a virtual ecosystem for peer learning and networking communities to share information and best practices. Each school district and supervisory union (SU/SD) and approved independent school will be provided with an independent space for localized development and online teaching. In the coming weeks, the AOE and Edmodo will be focused on developing the statewide framework, professional learning, and resources to support this ecosystem, and will continue to provide updates as this work unfolds.
Contact: Ted Fisher at ted.fisher@vermont.gov
Vermont PBS: Program Schedule and Educator Survey
Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
The Vermont AOE and PBS want to know how to improve programming and supplemental resources for the summer and fall. Please fill out a short survey and share your thoughts. Those who respond will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift certificate from Kiss the Cook!The results will be used to inform next steps. Additionally, this is the Vermont PBS Week-Ahead Program Schedule for the week of June 15, 2020. You will notice that for the summer months the schedule is focused on two channels. Since school will be ending soon, please pass the information along to families!
Contact: Pat Fitzsimmons at pat.fitzsimmons@vermont.org or Heather Duhamel at hduhamel@vermontpbs.org
But Why Live: Tree Communication and Music with Mister Chris
Audience: Teachers PreK to Grade 6
On Friday, June 12, 2020, at 1 p.m., But Why Live will focus on trees with scientists from the Simard Lab.They will be answering your questions about the fascinating life of trees and tree communication. The following week, on Friday, June 19, 2020, at 1 p.m., enjoy music with Mister Chris. You will explore music and write a song with Chris Dorman and other musicians. Get your instruments ready to play or sing along and send VPR your music! Kids can send their questions ahead of time to questions@vpr.org, or call in at 1-800-639-2211 while the program is live. Listen to VPR on-air in Vermont or listen to our live stream from anywhere in the world. Supplemental resources are also available on the AOE VPR webpage.
Contact: Pat Fitzsimmons at pat.fitzsimmons@vermont.gov
Other Agency of Education and State of Vermont Updates
This section of the Weekly Field Memo contains posts from the Agency of Education and other State of Vermont agencies that are not specifically related to the COVID-19 Response.
Peer Review Panelists Wanted
Audience: Licensed Level II Educators
The AOE’s Peer Review Program needs licensed, level II educators to serve as panelists in your endorsement area. Areas of greatest need: ELL, Theatre Arts, Design and Tech, CTE, and Middle Grades Science. Panelists receive $125 per interview. The work of a panelist involves evaluating a candidate’s portfolio (2-4 hours) and participating in the interview process (1-2 hours). Interviews are online and scheduled based on your convenience. Interested educators please complete the online Small Scale Education Contract Survey by June 15, 2020.
Contact: Andrew Prowten at andrew.prowten@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. Please refer to the Weekly Field Memo submission guidelines for additional information.
Until further notice, the Courtesy Posts will only include posts related to in-person training, events or meetings that affirmatively comply with current health guidance from the Vermont Department of Health, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and/or the Vermont Agency of Education.
Professional Learning for Administrators and Leaders: Creating Gender-Affirming School Environments
Vermont’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey data continues to paint a clear and alarming picture of the disproportionate rate at which transgender and gender-expansive youth are among our most vulnerable. Join in this virtual workshop on August 14, 2020, as we lean into the who, what, where, when, why and, most importantly, how of creating affirming environments for all of Vermont’s children and youth across a spectrum of gender. You will leave with a road map for how to bring your staff, students and families alongside you as you foster a climate and culture that remains current with an ever-changing gender landscape.
Contact: Julie Medose at info@vthec.org or (802) 498-3350
Reading Instruction: A Vital Balancing Act
Partnerships for Literacy and Learning presents a 3-credit online course: Reading Instruction: A Vital Balancing Act, K-6 from July 8 - August 19, 2020. Ellen A. Thompson, Ed. D., will be facilitating this class. As teachers, we balance what is needed to make each reader successful. Using the text, This is Balanced Literacy, K-6, written by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey and Nancy Akhavian, we will begin to develop the high impact learning experiences needed to push our readers into that deep thinking mode.
Contact: Mary Grace at info@pllvt.org or (802) 828-0521
Professional Learning: Mindfulness Course Online
Registration is open for Transforming Teaching & Learning through Mindfulness and Restorative Practices taught by Annie O'Shaughnessy. Three graduate credits and two books are included. July 1-29, 2020. This online course will examine and apply the basic principles of the restorative approach in your personal and professional life and help you to develop a trauma and equity informed lens through which to review teaching and living.
Contact: Lauren Wooden at lauren@cvedcvt.org or (802) 497-1642
Advancing Early Childhood Education as a Profession in Vermont: Session 1
You are invited to an online training to learn about VTAEYC (VT Association for the Education of Young Children) multi-year initiative to authentically engage the Early Childhood workforce in shaping a direction for the profession in the future. This session covers the work that has been happening both in Vermont and on a national level and breaks down the different components needed to advance our field as a fully recognized profession, Birth to - age 8. Register for the June 18 or June 24, 2020 session online.
Contact: Rachel Hunter at hunner1@gmail.com
Dyslexisa, Dysgraphia & Assessment: 90-minute Professional Development Webinars
Learning to read and write is complex! When difficulties arise, as they do for many children, effective intervention hinges on accurate, well-designed assessment. Join the Stern Center for a series of 90-minute webinars with Melissa Farrall, Ph.D, a renowned expert on reading, language and assessment. Dr. Farrall will unravel the complexity of reading and writing, unpack the components of an evaluation targeting these areas, and guide practitioners in assessing literacy and providing targeted recommendations for intervention. Register for two or more webinars and receive a discount. Recordings available.
Contact: SJ Larkspur at slarkspur@sterncenter.org
VCSEA New Leader Academy Registration is Now Open
The VCSEA New Leader Academy will involve two remote days this summer (July 21 and July 22, 2020), and remote morning sessions the second Tuesday of each month (September - May) through next year. The New Leader Academy is open to new Special Education Administrators and aspiring administrators in your SU/SD.
Contact: Traci Sawyers at tsawyers@vcsea.net