The 802 Ed
What's going on in Vermont's education policy and practice
Welcome back!
This issue of the 802 Ed covers many topics that are immediately useful like what schools are doing past the end of federal pandemic aid, a Social Emotional Learning microcredential available at no cost, and word on a new teacher training program at Middlebury Language Schools. Be sure to check out the latest on phone-free schools!
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
Social Media And Overdose. Rolling Stone goes deep into allegations that Snapchat is to blame for a nationwide opioid epidemic among teenagers.
Should I Stay Or Should I Go? Higher Ed Jobs offers advice on weighing the decision to make a lateral move, whether it’s within a university or from one school leadership role to another.
Allegations of Commission’s “Hidden Agenda.” The Chester Telegraph reports on the start of newly formed Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont and community concern about what it may mean for closing schools. This was a popular item in last issue, so here it is again for readers who may have missed it.
Bus Drivers Get A Bump Up. The Other Paper covers a district’s response to their “greatest operational need” by significantly increasing wages for bus drivers, now starting at about $33/hour.
When The Well Runs Dry. Pew Trusts takes a look at what the end of federal pandemic aid means for schools, and examples of continued federal support for state initiatives that started up with this funding.
Recruiting Teachers Door to Door. Vermont Public highlights school leaders who pound the pavement around town looking for applicants for open positions.
“Results Came Back Not Great.” VT Digger profiles a high school that has spent millions to reduce PCBs, then moved classes into outside tents when testing results in some areas showed higher levels of the carcinogenic materials after mitigation.
Benefits of Group Chats. KFF Health News shines a light on arguments that banning social media may create barriers for youth to connect with mental health resources.
Surviving “Survival Mode.” Edweek highlights a school leader who turned around classroom culture by digging in deep with teachers.
Backlash for New Standards. Valley News reports on the reaction to changes in the New Hampshire education standards that may affect interstate school districts.
Do Phones And Schools Mix? The Williston Observer brings us up to date on a school district’s steps toward recommendations to the board about the mobile phone policy.
After November. The Hechinger Report offers predictions of what could happen to education in the United States if the Republicans or Democrats win the White House. Thanks for the tip, VPA!
“A Lie You’re Telling Yourselves.” VT Digger reports on harsh words shared at a recent school board meeting over further proposed cuts to the budget, which still has not been approved by the community vote.
It’s Okay to Peek. Higher Ed Jobs argues in favor of providing interview questions to candidates ahead of time, offering several benefits to those on both sides of the table.
Heads Up, Vermont. States are taking innovative steps to support their students and Vermont school leaders and lawmakers should take note:
The University of Utah is piloting a program that admits high school seniors before they have applied, to take the pressure out of the college admissions process.
School districts in Arkansas are receiving $7 million this year for lockers and pouches that support phone-free schools.
Florida has passed legislation for microschools to find space, though one researcher calls these private schools “food trucks of the new education industry.”
School Shootings in 2024. Education Week’s tracker has logged 22 school shootings in 2024. “On Aug. 19, a man was shot and injured in the Bossier High School football stadium parking lot during school spirit night in Bossier City, La.” 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 do you feel about the start of the new school year? More readers selected Mostly ignoring it for now, with the second-most selected response Anxious and concerned. The fewest number of readers selected Excited and full of energy.
This issue’s survey question: Should schools in Vermont be phone-free for students? Please indicate your response by clicking a check mark.
✅ Yes, phones don’t belong in schools
✅ No, students should have phones with them
✅ Sometimes yes, sometimes no, it depends
Thank you to the reader from Massachusetts 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 about 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 School for International Training is seeking a program director for its Death and Dying multiple-country study abroad program, which aims to increase students’ “death literacy” among other goals.
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
Late summer is a nearly a season of its own. The weather has finally cooled off to be comfortable and less like walking through a soup of humidity. The evenings can be downright chilly, a time to break out the light jackets from the back of the closet.
Many parents and caregivers are also attuned to this time of year as the start of school. I was at a klatch last weekend with a small circle of neighbors comparing notes on summer camping and trips, and whose child has which elementary school teacher this year.
We also talked about the first day of school. The parents that I talked with expressed nostalgia at the school year starting after Labor Day when they were kids. One pointed out that schools in some other states had already started in early August.
Meantime in Vermont, schools in Chittenden county have lined up calendars so that the first day of school is the same up and down the lake from Milton to Charlotte. In fact, this issue of the 802 Ed is published on that first day of school for many readers and their kids, including me and mine.
Aligning calendars makes sense for families that have children in different schools, not to mention teachers, staff, and school leaders who work in schools apart from their kids. Vacations can finally line up!
But there may be unintended consequences of so many families out of school at the same time during the school year. For example, school vacation camps may be even more oversubscribed than before as the demand for spaces increases beyond the supply of what’s available.
Maybe this explains the sudden jump in openings for afterschool staff in the past 30 days in the graph below, as programs anticipate the upcoming needs of families.
Eye on Data
The chart below tracks the number of open positions for afterschool staff in Vermont in the past month, presented as data points and no trend line this time. 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 these colleagues who received administrator licensure from AOE since the last issue of the 802 Ed! Data from AOE.
Katherine de Natale • Principal
Edith Fogarty • Principal
Jana Ford • Principal
Orly Hasbani • Principal
John Hilferty • Principal
Amanda Pugliese • Principal
Maryellen Schaefer • Principal
Julie Swanson • Principal
Do you know a colleague who has made a recent move? Let us know!
Grants & Opportunities
Clipping, Snipping, And Coloring. The state’s Department of Corrections published an RFP for a cosmetology and barbering instruction. Deadline is August 30.
Fall Pre-College Courses Still Available for High School Students! As the new academic year is about to kick into high gear, there is still time for your students to join UVM's Pre-College Program this fall! This awesome opportunity allows motivated 10th, 11th, and 12th graders to earn credits for both high school and college. With a variety of courses taught by esteemed UVM professors, students gain valuable experience alongside college peers and enjoy a 50% tuition reduction in-state, or if eligible two free courses through the Vermont Dual Enrollment voucher program. The deadline for Fall registration is August 19! Call 802-656-2085, email learn@uvm.edu or book a 15-minute call with a UVM Pre-College Advisor. Sponsored by the University of Vermont, Professional and Continuing Education
Better Reading. AOE recently published an RFP to build statewide capacity for literacy. Deadline is September 3.
Federal Grants Forecast. The U.S. Department of Education recently published its list of nearly all of its upcoming grant programs and will update the deadlines throughout this month.
Anxious Nation Has The Mic. The author of Anxious Nation is presenting a webinar on recent research on the youth mental health crisis and suggest action steps for school leaders to take in the new school year. CE certificate available. 3 - 4 pm, September 24.
Governor’s School Safety Conference. AOE, DPS, and the Vermont School Safety Center are holding an in-person conference in the Burlington area, with keynotes and breakout sessions presented by several of the country’s foremost school safety experts and advocates. September 30, details forthcoming.
SEL Microcredential. Vermont Afterschool is offering a no-cost five part hybrid course on “Foundations and Applications of SEL.”
Powering The Future. The U.S. Department of Education opened submissions for a CTE program competition, where student teams compete for $50,000 in prize money by submitting action plans that will advance the use of clean energy in their schools and communities. Deadline is November 19.
If You Missed It
Better Paths Forward. MyFutureVT has revamped its career resources website based on feedback from stakeholders and now offers an interactive pathfinder among other improvements.
Recovering from Disaster. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommendations on how to support kids’ mental health when relocating after a disaster. Thanks, Vermont 2-1-1!
Middlebury Teaches The Teachers. The VSBPE gave Middlebury Language Schools the green light to start a teacher training graduate degree program in nine languages.
Getting The Word Out. The Vermont Language Justice Project recently published an interactive PDF of its videos including a few on education and many more on mental health, available in more than a dozen languages.
Title IX Updates. VSBIT has published guidance for schools in light of recent changes to the federal Title IX regulations, with general advice to “maintain the current status quo.”
Feds Suggest Fewer Headaches. A recent White House initiative to reduce “excessive paperwork, hold times, and general aggravation” promises guidance to help schools improve family engagement and make school communications less time-consuming.
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, VSBIT Vermont School Boards Insurance Trust, VSBPE Vermont Standards Board for Professional Educators, VTCLA Vermont Curriculum Leaders Association, VTSU Vermont State University.
Special bonus for making it to the bottom: Just when you thought you’d seen it all, Tunbridge General Store has a candy shelf, a great breakfast menu, and an old-style pay phone outside that is just sittin’ there, free to all.