The 802 Ed
What's going on in Vermont's education policy and practice
Welcome back! It’s Mental Health Awareness month, so be on the lookout for more resources to support student and staff wellness.
This issue covers many topics that are immediately useful like the outcome of the Secretary of Education confirmation hearing, news of several colleagues’ career transitions, and information on accessing a virtual field trip that supports student mental health. Be sure to check out the latest on student protests in Vermont!
New to the lingo? At the suggestion of a reader we include a guide to common abbreviations, just scroll down past the news.
- Steven Berbeco, Editor
School Leadership
(Interim). Vermont’s Senate voted by a more than 2-to-1 margin against confirming Zoie Saunders as the state’s Secretary of Education, and the governor responded by calling the vote a “partisan political hit job” and naming Saunders to the post anyway, on an interim basis.
Politico John Walters pointed out wryly that the governor was “effectively flipping the bird at the Senate” in his interim appointment.
Seven Days VT pointed out that no one seems to have called any of the finalists’ professional references.
Seven Days VT also covered the state official who flatly denied an allegation of asking that an additional candidate be added to the list of Secretary of Education finalists back in 2018.
Meantime, Saunders released her 100 day plan, which encompasses 120 days.
What’s Your Spirit Animal? Higher Ed Jobs offers advice on how to respond to awkward, bizarre, or racist interview questions.
Retention Through Better On-Boarding. School Administrator offers advice on small changes to the recruitment process that can have great benefits to long-term retention of staff.
Protesters Dig In. VT Digger reports that Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield will no longer be a graduation speaker at the University of Vermont, in the context of on-going pro-Palestinian protests.
Walking Schoolbus. Education Week suggests the mentoring benefits of staff and older students walking younger students to school in communities that aren’t spread out.
Breaking The “Doom Loop.” The Chester Telegraph reports on the Green Mountain Unified School District’s unsuccessful budget votes and the penalty that the district would face if a third vote fails, under a proposed “three strikes” rule proposed in the Senate.
“Equity Is Not An Initiative.” VTDigger recently published an opinion piece co-written by a high school student and arguing for the effectiveness of embedded Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts.
Setbacks and Frustrations. The U.S. Secretary of Education owns up to problems with FAFSA implementation in a recent open letter to school leaders.
Lighten The Load. Education Week offers several suggestions to school leaders on how to take tasks off teachers’ plates and give them more time and brain space for preparation and classroom teaching. This was a popular item in last issue, so here it is again for readers who may have missed it.
Fewer Phones for Better Grades. A recent discussion paper from Norway points to the outsize effects on grade points average and bullying when schools prevent students from using smart phones during the school day. Also, Bill Schubart weighs in on the topic with a recent opinion piece in VT Digger.
Family-Powered Student Achievement. Education Week highlights a Detroit school that significantly improved by integrating family and community into its programs.
“Is Anyone in Montpelier Listening?” The Saint Albans Messenger breaks down the challenges of the recently passed yield bill and the pressure that voters are feeling: “People are struggling now. Why make it even harder?”
Heads Up, Vermont. States are taking innovative steps to support their students and Vermont school leaders and lawmakers should take note:
Fresno State now admits ninth graders automatically based on their academic performance and in anticipation of their future graduation, an example of “direct admission” programs across many states.
Mississippi is in the final steps of legislating acceptance of dyslexia therapy certification from other states.
Colby-Sawyer College is finding that revenues look to be up because of its decision to drop its tuition to represent the actual cost after financial aid.
West Virginia has recently published resources for educators on preventing student self-harm and responding to eating disorders.
School Shootings in 2024. Education Week’s tracker has logged 14 school shootings in 2024. “On May 3, a student was shot and injured at Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., when a stray bullet went through a school window.” Total school shootings in 2023: 38. As a reminder, DPS and AOE operate an anonymous school safety tip line for students, school staff, and their community: calling 1-844-SAFE4VT; texting SAFE4VT to 274637; or online at safe4vt.org. For questions about school safety training in Vermont, contact Rob Evans.
Reader Survey
In each issue we ask a survey question to get a sense of what is on our readers’ minds. Then, the following issue, we report back on what we learned.
Last issue we asked: How will the Senate vote on the Secretary of Education’s confirmation? More than twice as many readers predicted Definitely against confirmation as compared to Overwhelmingly in favor, but the strongest response of all was It’s going to be a nail-biter!
This issue’s survey question: How is the school year wrapping up? Please indicate your response by clicking a check mark.
✅ Better than anticipated
✅ More challenging than expected
✅ Ask me again in June
Thank you to the reader from the legislature who suggested that survey question. What’s on your mind? Suggest a survey question to find out how your colleagues respond in an upcoming issue of the 802 Ed!
Job Listings
Supercharge The Applicant Pool. The market for school staff in Vermont is fierce and it’s important to stand out when attracting quality candidates. Why get wedged in among thousands of open positions on SchoolSpring? Your opportunity can stand out in an upcoming issue of the 802 Ed, dropping into the Inbox of thousands of readers. Sponsored by 802 Ed
The Big List. Josh Czupryk compiles and publishes a monthly spreadsheet with close to 400 job opportunities for remote work in K-12 education.
Looking for a Change? With so many open positions in education, there are sometimes unusual opportunities. For example, the Tuba City Boarding School has posted an opening for an Education Specialist. Yes, there is a place called Tuba City and the fry bread there is uh-MAZ-ing.
Thank The Team
You read it, you love it, and now is a good time to say thanks. Cover our coffee budget! Writing, editing, researching… all of that is caffeine driven. Choose this option and the extra energy will go to finding a few more updates to share.
Note from The Editor
Whether it’s a graduation, a birthday, or a holiday like the Fourth of July, family gatherings can be a wonderful time to reconnect across the generations and catch up on all that we miss in the day-to-day.
They can also be fraught with peril. Coming together oftentimes means setting a place for the elephant in the room that eats noisily, inspires side eyes around the table, and doesn’t pick up after itself.
That elephant can look like a lot of different things, from differing political beliefs to unpopular life decisions around a career choice. One of the messiest elephants is the new relationship after a break up.
When the previous Secretary of Education went splitsville with Vermont more than a year ago, the governor took several months to get back into the market and ask the State Board of Education to work its matchmaking magic. The call went out, resumes were reviewed, interview dates set, and finally a finalist.
But introducing her to the family didn’t go so well. In fact, the Senate asked her to leave the table.
It is important to avoid surprises in cases like this. I’m not saying that one should avoid mixing the oil and water of differing views on the coming Presidential election, or in this case, the bogeyman of charter schools in a charter school-free Vermont. But at least have the coffee conversations ahead of time to smooth the dinnertime chitchat.
Instead, Vermont has a new Interim Secretary of Education, replacing the previous Interim Secretary of Education. I don’t know about you, but I would feel awkward going to visit my partner’s family and being introduced around as an Interim Boyfriend, replacing the last Interim Boyfriend, please pass the salt.
And if this is making you feel uncomfortable, then let’s engage in a well-worn tactic of many families and change the topic. Check out the ups and downs of the market for school leaders in Vermont in the chart below! That’s a graph we can look at together while the elephant eyes the door.
What happens next? Between you and me, perhaps it’s better to get to know this new voice in education instead of relegating her to the kids’ table. After all, our state’s education system needs all the help it can get.
The chart below tracks the total number of school leader openings in the 60 days prior to publication, presented as data points and a polynomial trend line. Data from SchoolSpring.
Pass It On
Like what you are reading? Hit the button below to send a copy to a colleague, friend, neighbor, your boss… whoever!
Colleagues on the Move
Congratulations to leaders who are making a change! There is a lot of movement among the 102 school leadership positions that have opened since January. Data from VPA.
Laurie Patton, currently president at Middlebury College, will be president at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences next January. She is taking over from David Oxtoby.
Lt. Gen. John Broadmeadow, previously board member at Norwich University, is now president. He is taking over from acting president Karen Gaines.
Meaghan Marsh, currently assistance principal at Rutland Middle School, will be principal this summer. She is taking over from Rob Becker.
Kerra Holden, currently director of student support services at Washington Central Unified Union School District, will be principal at Lyndon Town School this summer. She is taking over from Amy Patoine-Gale.
Tammy MacQueen, currently grade 5 teacher at St. Johnsbury School, will be principal at Lunenburg School this summer. She is taking over from Cheryl McVetty.
Sophie Branson Gill, currently assistant principal at Concord School, will be principal at Burke Town School this summer. She is taking over from Megan Jones.
Sarah Hisman, currently interim assistant principal at Hartford Memorial Middle School, will be associate principal this summer.
Cody TanCreti, currently assistant principal at Woodstock Union High School and Middle School, will be principal at Hartford Memorial Middle School this summer. He is taking over from Justin Bouvier.
Brian Boardman, currently principal at Hartford Memorial Middle School, will be assistant principal at Williamstown Middle and High School this summer. He is taking over from Gerry Hudak.
Congratulations also to these colleagues who received administrator licensure from AOE since the last issue of the 802 Ed! Data from AOE.
Adam Bunting • Superintendent
Amanda Isabelle • Superintendent, Principal
Michael Moriarty • Superintendent
Nadya Bech-Conger • Principal
Doreen Burke • Principal
Do you know a colleague who has made a recent move? Let us know!
Grants & Opportunities
UVM’s Summer U for Teachers And Educators. Summer U at the University of Vermont isn't just for current students – it's an ideal time for teachers and educators to grow professionally as well. With flexible education and social services professional development courses specifically tailored for educators, you can delve into new teaching methodologies, stay abreast with the latest educational technologies, or enrich your curriculum development skills. What's more, most courses are priced at 30% less than the standard academic-year tuition, making this an affordable opportunity for professional growth. Take advantage of our three summer sessions to enhance your expertise without compromising your summer rejuvenation time. Discover how you can inspire future generations more effectively through UVM’s Summer U professional development courses for educators. Sponsored by the University of Vermont, Professional and Continuing Education.
Telling The Story. The New England School Public Relations Association is holding its Spring conference in Springfield, Massachusetts. 8am - 4pm, May 10.
Experience College Life at UVM This Summer. UVM Summer Academy is an immersive, 4-week, for-credit academic program designed for high school students who have completed 10th, 11th, or 12th grade. Our program offers high school students the incredible opportunity to experience what it’s like to be in college during the summer, living on campus for two weeks while they learn. Participants will study alongside high school students from across the country, learn from renowned professors, and earn three transferable college credits. Students can choose from Health and Medicine courses taught by Larner College of Medicine faculty, as well as a new Intro to Forensics and Crime Scene Investigation course. A commuter option is also available for students who do not require on-campus housing. Applications are being accepted now. Sponsored by the University of Vermont, Professional and Continuing Education.
Leadership Conference Presenters. NEASC is seeking school leaders and thought leaders to present at the November conference in Boston. Proposal deadline is May 20.
New Spin on DEI. Vermont Afterschool is hosting an interactive webinar, facilitated by a member of the State of Vermont’s Office of Racial Equity, on how to short-circuit some biases. 10:30am - noon, May 23.
F-35 Photo Op. The Vermont Air National Guard announced its annual Educator Day, including lunch, for school staff to learn more about the facilities and mission. 9am - 1pm, May 31.
Night at The Ball Game. The Vermont Lake Monsters are offering two free tickets to educators who show identification at the box office for the June 8 game against the Starfires, followed by evening fireworks.
AI in Education Summit. AOE and partners is holding a conference for secondary educators to explore concerns and benefits of using artificial intelligence tools from both student and teacher perspectives. June 27 at Hula in Burlington.
More Kid Care in Rutland County. Pittsford Village Farm is seeking bids from child care programs looking to lease space in a redeveloped facility. Deadline is July 12.
If You Missed It
Making The Cut. The U.S. Department of Education recently announced semi-finalists for the Presidential Scholars Program, including six Vermont students from public and independent schools.
Breath, Stillness, and Movement. In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the National Museum of Asian Art is offering a virtual field trip for preK-5 students that promotes social and emotional learning skills and discovering mind-body connections.
Clap, Or Else. LA Times recently reported on a San Diego-area superintendent who was fired by her board after allegations from students that she threatened to prevent them from attending graduation for not applauding for her daughter at an event.
The 802 Ed brings together the latest from Vermont's associations for principals, superintendents, and school board members, as well as state and national education agencies. We hope that you'll find something useful in each issue and welcome comments or suggestions for upcoming issues: editor@802ed.com.
Abbreviation list: AASA School Superintendents Association, ADM Average Daily Membership, AHS Agency of Human Services, AOE Agency of Education, CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDD Child Development Division, CVTSE Coalition for Vermont Student Equity, DAIL Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living, DCF Department for Children and Families, DMH Department of Mental Health, DPS Department of Public Safety, ED U.S. Department of Education, FERPA Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act, NAEYC National Association for the Education of Young Children, NEASC New England Association of Schools and Colleges, PBIS Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, RFP Request for Proposals, SBE State Board of Education, SEL Social Emotional Learning, VEHI Vermont Education Health Initiative, VPA Vermont Principals Association, VREC Vermont Rural Education Collaborative, VSA Vermont Superintendents Association, VSBA Vermont School Board Association, VTCLA Vermont Curriculum Leaders Association, VTSU Vermont State University.
Special bonus for making it to the bottom: Cargo vessels, tankers, or (to quote The Princess Bride) some local fisherman, out for a pleasure cruise, at night, in eel-infested waters, all of this marine traffic is available on an easy to use dashboard designed to amaze, inform, and be a catalyst for hours of procrastination.