Weekly Field Memo

February 16, 2023

Agency of Education, State of Vermont and Federal Updates
Courtesy Posts

Agency of Education, State of Vermont and Federal Updates

This section of the Weekly Field Memo contains posts from the Agency of Education (AOE), other State of Vermont agencies, federal agencies or Vermont's congressional delegation.

Independent Reviewers of Harassment Determinations

Audience: Superintendents, Administration
The AOE has posted an updated list of Independent Reviewers of Harassment Determinations. An Independent Reviewer is a neutral person who reviews a school's final determination as to whether harassment occurred and/or the adequacy of a school's response to correct the problem, pursuant to 16 V.S.A. 570a(b). Additional resources harassment, hazing and bullying prevention resources are available on the AOE School Climate webpage.
Contact: Nancy Hellen at nancy.hellen@vermont.gov 

Act 112 Mental Health and Well-being Service to Youth Grant Recipients

Audience: Schools, SU/SDs, and Relevant Community Partners
The Agency of Education and the Department of Mental Health would like to announce the thirteen Act 112 Mental Health and Well-being Service to Youth Grant Recipients. This competitive grant sought two-year programs utilizing a tiered-support approach to ensure continuous support to children and youth in a variety of settings to support the mental health and wellness needs of students, families and staff. Programs of the thirteen grant recipients include both expansion of existing programs as well as the creation of new ones.
Contact: Tracy Watterson at tracy.watterson@vermont.gov

Civic Literacy Grant Opportunity

Audience: Superintendents, Curriculum Directors, Social Studies, ELA and/or Interdisciplinary Educators
The Agency of Education has streamlined the competitive Civic Literacy Grant opportunity to Supervisory Unions/Supervisory Districts (SU/SDs) to complement and/or amplify their existing secondary school curricula. This grant will provide SU/SDs with funds for the purchase of the book "Our Unfinished March" by former United States Attorney General Eric Holder, and to support student participation in an event at The Flynn Center for Arts on May 16, 2023, where they will hear from and talk with Mr. Holder. The grant application is due March 8, 2023.
Contact: Martha Deiss at martha.deiss@vermont.gov

The Vermont Kindergarten Conference: The Power of Stories

Audience: Administrators and Early Educators
Come and celebrate the 30th year of the Vermont Kindergarten Conference. This conference is specifically designed for early childhood educators, principals and curriculum directors. Jane Lindholm, the host and creator of But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids, will be the keynote speaker. Jane will share her thoughts about the importance of nurturing curiosity in both children and adults, and how listening carefully can uncover children’s wonderful ideas. The conference will take place on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at the Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain. Registration will open on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. For more information, please see the Save the Date flyer.
Contact: Pat Fitzsimmons at pat.fitzsimmons@vermont.gov

State Personnel Development Grant Informational Office Hour Sessions

Audience: Children's Integrated Service and Early Interventions Providers and Pre-K-12 Educators and Administration
The AOE’s Student Support Services division is holding two office-hour sessions to provide information about the State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG). The office hour on Feb. 21, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. will provide information specific to educators for students in grades PreK-12. The office hour on Feb. 22, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. will provide information specific to Children’s Integrated Service and Early Intervention providers. For more information, please refer to the SPDG webpage or contact Meg Porcella at meg.porcella@vermont.gov.
Contact: Meg Porcella at meg.porcella@vermont.gov

Save the Date: Vermont BEST/VTmtss Summer Institute

Audience: Curriculum Directors, Principals, PreK-12 Teachers
Save the Date for the BEST/VTmtss Summer Institute is being held from June 26 - June 29, 2023. Registration materials will be posted online by March 8, 2023. This year’s theme is “Nourishing our Roots: Deepening and Strengthening our Systems of Support for the Well-being of All”. The Summer Institute provides opportunities to share and learn strategies for improving and strengthening the systems, data and practices within Vermont’s multi-tiered system of supports (VTmtss) to enhance the social, emotional and behavioral well-being of all.
Contact: Laura Greenwood at laura.greenwood@vermont.gov

Vermont Public: Curious George Exhibit at ECHO and Teenager Writing and Visual Art Contest

Audience: School Teams of Educators, Caregivers/Family Members, Students, and Community Stakeholders
Join Vermont Public and ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain for “Let’s Get Curious” on Jan. 28 – May 31, 2023. This interactive STEM exhibit is inspired by the classic children’s story character, Curious George. Incorporate Curious George into Your Classroom using the Agency of Education’s resources and episode-specific activities. For older students, the Young Writers Project invites young Vermonters, ages 12-18, to respond to the challenge: Who are you? What is your life like as a teenager in 2023? The deadline to enter Teenager: A Writing and Visual Art Contest for Vermont Youth is March 1, 2023. Cash prizes and publication.
Contacts: Emily Leute at emily.leute@vermont.gov or Heather Duhamel at hduhamel@vermontpublic.org

Agency of Education Open Positions

Audience: All
The Vermont Agency of Education has open positions that are available to both state employees and external applicants. Open positions are: Digital Communications Specialist - Contact: Ted Fisher at ted.fisher@vermont.gov and School Facilities Program Manager - Contact: Bill Bates at bill.bates@vermont.gov.
Contact: AOE Info at aoe.edinfo@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.

Teacher Teams Collaborate with Teaching Artists at the Project Design Lab

The Project Design Lab takes place July 10-14, 2023, at the University of Vermont and is open for registration. This year’s project themes will explore belonging and identity, climate action and relationship building. Educator teams from a school or district will collaborate with a teaching artist to design a project that uses creative engagement – making things we care about – to strengthen the well-being of your students and activate their creativity. Participation includes a seven-day teaching artist residency in your school next year to help implement your project. Educators earn three graduate credits of forty hours of recertification credit.
Contact: Paul Gambill at paul@communityengagementlab.org

Funded Clean Transportation Classroom Presentations Opportunity

For the spring and fall semesters of 2023, Green Driving America Inc. is implementing The Clean Transportation Path project. These are 45-minute, virtual presentations that are no-cost, given in classes throughout Vermont by trained college level interns. They are endorsed by Drive Electric Vermont. Presentations show students the environmental, energy, health and cost-savings benefits of low- to zero-emission vehicles, as Vermont confronts the highest percentage of their GHG emissions coming from transportation and with VTrans setting a goal of 126,000 EV registrations by 2030.
Contact: Wayne Michaud at info@greendrivingamerica.org

Governor’s Institutes of Vermont Presents the Engineering Institute this Summer

The Governor’s Institutes of Vermont will be hosting a series of Institutes for Vermont high school students this summer, including our Institute of Engineering, happening June 25 - July 1, 2023, at Norwich University. In the Engineering Institute, students help create a sustainable future developing their own projects in fields like energy, robotics and structural engineering, conceptualizing resilient solutions to the planet’s pressing problems. Using professional equipment and the guidance of renowned engineers, students build bridges to a better future. Students can attend for as little as $10.
Contact: Matthew Binginot at hello@giv.org

Professional Learning: Fundations Level 2 Workshop

Registration is now open for Fundations Level 2 Workshop offered this spring. This professional learning workshop is offered through the Stern Center for Language and Learning. Fundations makes learning to read fun while laying the groundwork for lifelong literacy. The program’s research-based approach and extensive materials allow K–3 teachers to confidently present a carefully structured reading, spelling and handwriting curriculum using engaging, multisensory techniques. Visit the course page to register. Grant funding is available.
Contact: Julia Caminiti at news@sterncenter.org

Healthy Relationships Project from Prevent Child Abuse Vermont

Looking for a great curriculum for students, parents, faculty and staff? Check out the number one utilized program in ’21-’22 in Vermont, the Healthy Relationships Project (HRP). This program offers social, emotional skills development, meets National Health Standards, fulfills your mandate, is fun for students and is easy to implement. Also, Prevent Child Abuse Vermont trains your personnel how to facilitate the program at no charge. Already have the HRP? We’ve been updating based on current research. Make sure your kit is the newest version.
Contact: Marcie Hambrick at mhambrick@pcavt.org

Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network Book Project

The Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network (VSARN) is a group of high school and college students from all counties in Vermont working to build anti-racist schools. Our biggest project is the book project, where we donate anti-racist books to elementary school classrooms and lead lessons with students. We wanted to let you know that our 2023 book project is getting ramped up with four new book selections, and we are almost ready to head into classrooms. Please fill out the VSARN Elementary School Survey form if you are interested in getting books or lessons (in person or virtual) this semester.
Contact: Addie Lentzner at amlentzner@gmail.com

All Learners Network Math Professional Development: Math Menu

Math Menu is a free six-hour workshop offered in person at the All Learners Network Learning Center in Burlington on March 2, 2023, from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. There will also be a virtual class offered on Zoom on March 7, 2023, from 8 - 11 a.m. and 1 - 4 p.m. This workshop focuses on building teacher pedagogical knowledge about effective practices for mathematics teaching and learning using the Math Menu framework as an effective practice for differentiating and enhancing mathematics instruction to meet the needs of all learners.
Contact: TJ Jemison at communicationsdirector@alllearnersnetwork.com

Online Course for Spanish Teachers

Spanish Conversation: Pre-Columbian Civilizations - Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas, with Dr. Ana Alfaro-Alexander is a graduate, online course designed specifically for practicing Spanish teachers. The course will start Feb. 20, 2023, and will be conducted entirely in Spanish. The focus of conversations will be the daily lives of the Inca, Aztec and Maya Civilizations. View the full course description and register on Castleton's Continuing Education and Graduate Courses webpage.
Contact: Tara Lidstone at cfs@castleton.edu or (802) 345-0092

Vermont NAACP Student and Teacher Black History Month Contest

The Vermont NAACP Black History Month Contest is for all Vermont High School students and educators. High school students can compete for a $500 cash prize by submitting an essay, visual art or audio/visual piece. Educators can enter an essay for a chance to win $500 in books for their classroom or school. Prompt: Tell the story of an individual or event in Black history that is little known, studied or taught, but has changed the course of history and has an impact on our lives and our world today. More information and submission instructions can be found on the Black History Month Contest webpage.
Contact: Julie Conason at education@naacprutland.org

Umatter Suicide Prevention Awareness and Skills March

Join the Center for Health and Learning's Umatter Suicide Prevention Awareness and Skills Training on March 7, 2023, at 10 a.m. for a 90-minute virtual live session. This session is structured to enhance knowledge, comfort and skills to identify those at risk for suicide in your organization or community, including resources to get help. Umatter Suicide Prevention Awareness and Skills Training provides the fundamental knowledge to build a suicide prevention-aware community or workplace. Visit the Umatter course registration page to register for free or low-cost training opportunities offered by the VT Suicide Prevention Center, a CHL program supported by Facing Suicide VT.
Contact: Karen Carreira at karen@healthandlearning.org

Ned Kirsch Innovative Leadership Award - Nominations Open

In honor/memory of former Franklin West Supervisory Union Superintendent Ned Kirsch's extraordinary innovative leadership in Vermont, the Champlain Valley Educator Development Center annually awards a Vermont leader who exemplifies the qualities that were part of Ned’s aspirational and forward-looking leadership with a plaque, a check and press release. Review the award information and nomination form and nominate a Vermont innovator who deserves this special recognition.
Contact: Lauren Wooden at lauren@cvedcvt.org

Weekly Field Memo - Volume 17, Issue 7