- COVID-19 Updates and Guidance for Schools
- Other Agency of Education and State of Vermont Updates
- Funding Opportunity for Diesel Emissions Reduction Projects
- Child Count Training
- 2021 Superintendents Assurances Survey – Reminder
- November Rule Changes: Parent Input, Definition of Special Education, Goal Writing
- Vermont PBS: November Resources to Celebrate Winter and National Native American Heritage Month
- 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 and other COVID-19-related updates. 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.
American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter Town Halls on COVID-19 Vaccines for Children
The AAP Vermont Chapter is inviting Vermont families to join them for a conversation about COVID-19 vaccines for children from 7-8 p.m. via Zoom. The sessions are being led by pediatricians practicing throughout the state. Please share this information with your school communities as appropriate. Check the AAP-VT website for dates when a pediatrician in your area is presenting.
Contact: AOE COVID-19 Response Team at AOE.vaccine@vermont.gov
Letter from Commissioner Levine and Secretary French on Vaccination for 5-11-year-olds
Please read and share this letter to Vermont parents from Department of Health Commissioner Mark Levine and Agency of Education Secretary Dan French. The letter notes that the best way to keep Vermont families safe and healthy and the best way to keep Vermont students in school is to make sure children age 5 and older are vaccinated against COVID-19. Additional information about vaccinations for this age group is available on the Health Department website.
Contact: AOE COVID-19 Response Team at AOE.vaccine@vermont.gov
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.
Funding Opportunity for Diesel Emissions Reduction Projects
Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Transportation Service Providers
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation is offering incentive funding through the Vermont Diesel Emissions Reduction Financial Assistance program for projects that reduce emissions from diesel-powered vehicles, engines and equipment. School districts, supervisory unions and their contracted transportation service providers are highly encouraged to apply. Replacing a diesel-powered school bus with an all-electric option may be funded up to 45% of the cost of the vehicle replacement and charging infrastructure. See the program website for additional information on this and other eligible projects. Application deadline is Dec. 6, 2021.
Contact: Jean Nicolai at jean.nicolai@vermont.gov or (802)585-4888
Child Count Training
Audience: Special Education Administrators, Special Education Data Personnel
The Federal Reporting Group will present a Child Count training for SU/SD staff involved in Child Count data submission on Nov. 16, 2021. The training and live Q&A session are scheduled to run from 1-2:30 p.m. The training will be recorded. We suggest that any new staff members who will be involved in submitting Child Count data, as well as those who have questions or would like a refresher, please register by Nov.12, 2021.
Contact: Cassidy Canzani at cassidy.canzani@vermont.gov
Reminder: 2021 Superintendents Assurances Survey
Audience: Superintendents
Districts that have not yet completed the 2021 Superintendents Assurances Survey to the Agency of Education should please submit their survey by Nov. 12, 2021. If you need a copy of the 2020 Survey Results, please contact Allison Keating.
Contact: Allison Keating at allison.keating@vermont.gov
November Rule Changes: Parent Input, Definition of Special Education, Goal Writing
Audience: Principals, Superintendents, Curriculum Coordinators, Everyone, Special Ed Administrators, Educators
To support the implementation of Act 173, the Special Education and Early Childhood Special Education staff will be continuing to provide ongoing PD in the months ahead around the specific rule changes, what they mean for school systems and how they will/should be supported at the state level and locally. Please see our website for resources and links for upcoming office hours. The office hours are scheduled for Parent Input on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021 from 9-11:30 a.m., Special Education Definition on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021 from 9-11:30 a.m. and Goal Writing on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021 from 9-11:30 a.m.
Contact: Chris Kane at christopher.kane@vermont.gov
Vermont PBS: November Resources to Celebrate Winter and National Native American Heritage Month
Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
The Vermont Agency of Education has updated our Vermont PBS webpage for November. This month, celebrate National Native American Heritage Month with resources about Abenaki history and culture. Other topics of interest include Poetry Out Loud, jazz, the human genome and more. We will be updating this webpage monthly, so check back often to find new featured resources related to monthly themes and organized by grade band and subject area. Also, visit the Vermont PBS Kids and Education page to find more online and printable resources. To share resources and network with colleagues, join the Vermont PBS Educational Resources group on Edmodo. Activate your Edmodo account and join the VTED Learns community by filling out this form.
Contacts: Emily Leute at emily.leute@vermont.gov or Heather Duhamel at hduhamel@vermontpbs.org
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.
Professional Education: Instructional Coaching Courses
Registration is open for both Instructional Coaching and Mentoring, and Coaching for Equity at the Upper Valley Educators Institute. In Instructional Coaching, educators will learn and practice how to observe instruction, structure coaching conversations and use effective language to help teachers reflect and improve. Coaching for Equity is designed for educators who put equity issues on the table: raising awareness in the minds of novice teachers, asking courageous questions and modeling continuous confrontation of the complex issues of difference that are central to our schools and society. Both courses begin in January of 2022. Learn more and register on our webpage.
Contact: Kristen Downey at kristendowney@uvei.org (603) 678-4888
Professional Education: Deeper Learning Course
Registration is open for Inquiry Into Deeper Learning at the Upper Valley Educators Institute. Deeper learning describes approaches to teaching and learning that seek to make learning both personally and cognitively engaging, with the goal of fostering in-depth understanding while increasing relevance, authenticity, engagement and intellectual rigor for students. In this 2-3 credit course educators will create and teach a backwards-designed, project-based unit, with an explicit focus on deeper learning of content and skills important to students. Begins in January of 2022.
Contact: Kristen Downey at kristendowney@uvei.org (603) 678-4888
Vermont Career Connect 2021
The recording of the virtual career panel, held on Oct. 20, 2021, is now available for viewing. There are several other career exploration resources for students on VSAC’s Vermont Career Connect page.
Contact: Anna Telensky at telensky@vsac.org
All Learners Network: Specialized Instruction for Secondary Students
The Specialized Instruction for Secondary Students course will be held from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Dec. 3, 2021. Hybrid in-person or virtual learning options are available. By the time students reach middle and high school, some have developed difficulties that range from misconceptions about new concepts (like proportions) to difficulties with previous math (like division). In this workshop, ALN Founder John Tapper and Thetford Academy Teacher Melissa Perry will address intervention and support for students at this level.
Contact: TJ Jemison at communicationsdirector@alllearnersnetwork.com
All Learners Network: Middle School Liquid Lounge (Gr 6-8)
Help, my middle schoolers are floundering with fractions! In the Middle School Liquid Lounge, we will talk about and share strategies for helping middle school students enter the world of fractions, with facilitator Fran Huntoon. Snacks and beverages will be provided for this event—21+. The course will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Nov. 29, 2021, at the ALN Learning Center in Burlington, VT.
Contact: TJ Jemison at communicationsdirector@alllearnersnetwork.com
Nominations for 2022 Vermont School Counselor Awards - Deadline is Nov. 19
Nominate an outstanding school counselor for a 2022 Vermont School Counselor Award. The James F. Cawley Award recognizes the Vermont School Counselor of the Year. The New School Counselor of the Year recognizes a Vermont School Counselor who has been working in the field for five years or less. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a school counselor who is retired or who has served in the field for over 20 years. Nominations are open until Friday, Nov. 19, 2021.
Contact: Jill Everett at jeverett@vermonschoolcounselor.org
Partnerships for Literacy and Learning - Reading Instruction: A Vital Balancing Act
Are you a teacher of literacy in grades K-6? Have you been concerned about how to "fit it all in"? Do you wonder what is most important for your students to become successful in literacy? The course, Reading Instruction: A Vital Balancing Act, will support you to determine how to teach and reach all of your students during your literacy time. Join us for this fully online, asynchronous, 3-credit graduate course through Saint Michael’s College. Registration and more details at the course web page.
Contact: Mary Grace at info@pllvt.org or (802) 828-0521
Professional Learning: Data Training- PLCs and RTI
We are offering additional slots for the series: Leading Vermont's PLCs and RTI at Work with Jack Baldermann and Jackie Tolman. This abridged version is for access to missed resources and two days at the Delta Conference Center (Dec. 3, 2021 and March 18, 2022), plus the book and virtual team consultations. Our work supports systemic change that has a positive impact on student achievement through RTI at Work. Registration open for one month.
Contact: Lauren Wooden at lauren@cvedcvt.org or (802) 497-1642
Holistic Restorative Education Graduate Certificate Program
Saint Michael’s College is currently accepting applications to the twelve-credit, yearlong certificate program in Holistic Restorative Education. Coordinated by Annie O’Shaughnessy, this four-course program is designed to support educators and educational leaders in creating more human-centered classrooms and schools by developing the core practices of mindfulness, restorative approaches, healing-centered engagement and culturally responsive teaching. Interested in learning more? Attend an on-campus or online information session, workshop or student panel on Nov. 16 or Nov. 18, 2021. For more information, please view our flyer or visit the course web page. To register for one of the events next week, visit our registration page.
Contact: Amy Saks Pavese at asakspavese@smcvt.edu or (802) 654-2826
Introduction to Orton-Gillingham for Upper Grades
Registration is open for Introduction to Orton-Gillingham for Upper Grades, beginning on Jan. 7, 2022, a professional development workshop by the Stern Center for Language and Learning. This course is designed for classroom teachers in third grade and up. In this five-and-a-half-day course, participants will gain a basic understanding of the OG Approach and how to design integrated reading and spelling lessons. Visit our webpage for more information.
Contact: SJ Larkspur at slarkspur@sterncenter.org
The Rowland Foundation is Accepting New Fellowship Applications
Are you a teacher working in a Vermont public secondary school? Are you interested in travel, research and innovative learning environments? Are you interested in leading a school improvement project? If so, we’d love to hear from you! The Rowland Foundation is accepting applications for the 2022 Rowland Fellowship Awards. Visit our website for application details and to browse past Rowland Fellowship projects.
Contact: Michael Martin at michael@therowlandfoundation.org