- COVID-19 Updates and Guidance for Schools
- Other Agency of Education and State of Vermont Updates
- 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: Strong and Healthy Start
Audience: All
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Agency of Education has, with the Vermont Department of Health, co-issued Safety and Health Guidance for Reopening Schools, Fall 2020 (6/17)
Contact: Ted Fisher at ted.fisher@vermont.gov
Guidance: Independent Schools
Audience: Superintendents, Independent School Heads
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Agency of E(Administer blocks, content types, menus, etc.)ducation has issued Extended School Year Services and Independent Schools (6/12)
Contact: Deb Ormsbee at deborah.ormsbee@vermont.gov
Guidance: Special Education
Audience: Superintendents, Special Education Administrators, Special Educators
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Agency of Education has issued Guidance for Special Educators for Providing Remote Counseling and Training to Parents of School-Aged Children (6/11).
Contact: Jacqui Kelleher at jacqui.kelleher@vermont.gov
Guidance: Operations
Audience: Superintendents
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Agency of Education has issued COVID-19 Guidance: End of Certain Emergency Directives (6/9).
Contact: Ted Fisher at ted.fisher@vermont.gov
Guidance: Perkins Program
Audience: CTE Centers/LEAs, Postsecondary Perkins Recipients
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Agency of Education has issued Perkins Program Guidance During COVID-19 (6/16).
Contact: Ruth Durkee at ruth.durkee@vermont.gov
Guidance: Adult Education and Literacy
Audience: Superintendents, Adult Education Programs
Since last week's Weekly Field Memo, the Agency of Education has issued Guidance for High School Completion Program and TABE 11/12 Assessments During the COVID-19 Response (Updated 6/16).
Contact: Robin Castle at robin.castle@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 22, 2020. You will notice that for the summer months the schedule is focused on two channels. 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: Schedule Change
Audience: Teachers PreK to Grade 6
On Friday, June 19 at 1 p.m., But Why Live will host a timely discussion about race and racism with the authors of the ABC's of Diversity, Y. Joy Harris-Smith and Carolyn Helsel. The following week, on Friday, June 26 at 1 p.m., enjoy music with Mister Chris. Children can 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.
Principal Directory Update
Audience: Superintendents
The Agency of Education is requesting the name, email address, and name of school for any new principals in your district for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year. Please send the information to Glenn Bouchard at glenn.bouchard@vermont.gov by July 10, 2020. We are not currently requesting assistant principals.
Contact: Glenn Bouchard at glenn.bouchard@vermont.gov
Announcing Launch of New Special Education Website
Audience: Special Educators
The Vermont Agency of Education is excited to announce its new Special Education Website! Some highlights include a technical assistance/professional development request form; dedicated widgets to the work of the State Systemic Improvement Plan; and to General Supervision & Monitoring System. We are looking for feedback and suggestions as we grow the site to better accommodate all users. Note: Users will need to re-bookmark any old links already saved; those links will not work. Please let us know your thoughts, ideas and of any difficulties navigating the new site by emailing AOE.SpecialEd@vermont.gov.
Contact: Sabine Baldwin at aoe.specialed@vermont.gov
VTmsss Framework Tools
Audience: K-12 Leadership Teams
The VTmtss Team is currently piloting the facilitated use of our VTmtss Framework Tools (System Screener, Reflection Tools, Driver Diagram, and VTmtss in Action Vignettes). When used in tandem with the VTmtss Field Guide (2019), these tools give SU/SD and school leadership teams a structure for assessing the strengths and areas of growth of their system and using that data to support the goals of their Continuous Improvement Plan. This suite of tools replaces the 2014 MTSS-RtII Self-Assessment. To request a facilitated use of the tools, complete the VTmtss team’s TA Request Form.
Contact: Tracy Watterson at Tracy.Watterson@vermont.gov
IDEA 101: Subgrantee Programmatic Consideration Training Video
Audience: Superintendents, Special Education Directors, Business Managers
This Vermont AOE pre-recorded webinar covers considerations for IDEA Subgrantee Applications, specifically programmatic activities, work plans, and requirements concerning IDEA Basic/PreK Budgets, Proportionate Share, Coordinated Early Intervention Services and Comprehensive Coordinated Early Intervention Services.
Contact: Jennifer Perry at jennifer.perry@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.
Castleton University Center for Schools: Summer 2020 Courses Starting through Mid-August
The Castleton Center for Schools has a wide variety of summer courses starting over the next nine weeks. Many courses are back by popular demand, plus there are 25 NEW courses designed to meet current, unique needs. Some of the content areas include Online Teaching & Learning, Self-care, MakerSpace, Mentoring, Ethics, Spanish, Brain Research & Learning, Social Emotional Learning, Math, Literacy, Science, Social Studies, and more. All summer courses will be offered synchronously and/or asynchronously online and/or outdoors. To review course descriptions and to register, visit the Castleton Continuing Education and Graduate Courses website
Contact: Tara Lidstone at tara.lidstone@castleton.edu or (802) 345-0092
Free Webinar: Pandemic Playbook for Parents & Teachers
Abby Roy, School Psychologist, shares practical strategies to help parents and teachers know what to say and do to help children manage frustration, think flexibly, and learn the self-regulation skills they need to be happy and healthy. Join Abby online on Thursday, June 25, 2020, at 1 p.m. for this free one-hour session. Bring your questions, leave with answers, and be well. Read more and register on the Stern Center website.
Contact: SJ Larkspur at slarkspur@sterncenter.org
Feedback Requested on New Online Hub for Career and Education Resources
Advance Vermont is developing an online "one-stop shop" to bring career and education resources to Vermonters in a user friendly and accessible way. This website will provide Vermonters of all ages and backgrounds with career exploration information they need to identify and access education and training opportunities across the state that will advance their careers, employable skills, income stability, and job readiness. Visit the Advance Vermont website to learn more. Advance Vermont invites you to take a 3-minute survey to lend your expertise on what content should be included and how it should be presented.
Contact: Tom Cheney at cheney@vsac.org or (802) 542-2217
NGSS Action, Application and Personalization
Join VEEP for NGSS Action, Application and Personalization (our advanced NGSS toolkit training). This free professional learning opportunity takes a deeper dive, following up from our in-person or virtual NGSS Instructional Toolkit trainings, and engages the participants with support to revise a current unit. The training consists of 2-3 online synchronous meetings plus supported asynchronous project work. Register for August and September dates.
Contact: Laura MacLachlan at laura@veep.org