The 802 Ed
What's going on in Vermont's education policy and practice
Welcome back! There is a lot to be thankful for during this holiday week, although I would imagine that many of us are just thankful enough for the time away from work to recharge our batteries.
This issue covers many topics that are immediately useful like innovative solutions to connecting students with mental health services, overseas summer study opportunities for school leaders, and effective ideas about reducing student test-taking anxiety. Be sure to check out the recent upswing in vacancies for paraprofessionals!
New to the lingo? At the suggestion of a reader we now include a guide to common abbreviations, just scroll down past the news.
- Steven Berbeco, Editor
School Leadership
Craft, School, or Cause. HigherEdJobs reviews a recent book on career development that argues for applying to jobs based on whether they help develop your skills, or because you believe strongly in the school or organization’s mission, or because the job opportunity is part of a larger personal cause.
Overcoming Trauma… About Math. Edweek offers five tips that teachers can use for helping students reduce anxiety about math, suggestions that are relevant to other subject areas as well. Bonus: a short writing exercise that reduces anxiety before an exam and boosts grades.
Stowe Votes No on Bond. A recent $39 million bond vote was defeated, sinking prospects for much needed school construction updates including “fire protection systems, which are all but nonexistent.”
Thinking “Outside the Building.” VT Digger’s Peter D’Auria highlights three different approaches that Vermont schools are taking to support student mental health, including a mobile therapy room: “We have bookmobiles… why can’t we have therapy on wheels?”
Getting Dyslexia Wrong. Scientific American goes deep on the history of misdiagnosing the most common reading disability, its connection to intelligence testing, and the disastrous effects on children including a Vermont student.
Better Results from Emergency Licenses. A recent study from Massachusetts suggests that emergency-licensed teachers are just about as effective as those with full licenses, plus they can significantly increase the teaching workforce with more diverse candidates.
Start with Yes. Edweek highlights a successful principal in Massachusetts with a mental health background among several others who come to their work with strong emotional intelligence.
Conservative Group Tries to Stop Affinity Group. Shelburne News describes an unsuccessful federal complaint against Champlain Valley School District alleging that an elementary school’s affinity group violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964, though missing the important detail that the affinity group didn’t actually exist.
“There isn’t any certainty right now.” VTDigger reviews the major systemic changes coming up to Vermont’s method of funding education and likely impacts to the budgets that boards have started building for next year. For more details, check out the legislative brief produced by the Joint Fiscal Office.
Controversial Videos Inch Closer to Vermont. Stateline explains the growing storm about PragerU learning materials recently approved for use in New Hampshire among other states.
Discipline That Works. A Vanderbilt University public policy professor reviewed more than 80 studies on school discipline and distilled them to four policy points: “Now is the time to listen to the research evidence on school discipline.” This was a popular item in last issue, so here it is again for readers who may have missed it.
Schools That Heal. A landscape architecture professor suggests several changes to high schools’ physical space to better support youth mental health in this Principal Leadership article.
A.P. for Everyone? The New York Times poses the question why funding for Advanced Placement tests is more readily available for low-income students, and suggests that there may be a profit motive behind this change. Gift link
Searching for The Next Secretary. The State Board of Education recently gave an update on the search process, which has yielded 19 applicants, seven interviews, and three finalists whose names have been forwarded to Governor Scott for consideration.
Vote of No Confidence. VTDigger covers the recent Statehouse press conference where VTSU student leaders laid out their many concerns about cuts to faculty, staff, and programs. Meantime, the university posted a new opening for an Associate Vice President of Communications, Alumni and External Affairs.
“Let Me Be Great” Campaign. The Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network has launched a statewide campaign to help schools develop anti-racist tools, in response to a survey of more than 700 students that detailed alarming experiences.
Heads Up, Vermont. Several states are taking innovative steps to support their students. Vermont school leaders and lawmakers should take note:
Students in Cedar Falls, Iowa can now expect to stay with their cohort from kindergarten to high school thanks to a new school model introduced recently.
California community college students can take classes in their native language without enrolling first in English as a Second Language classes.
School Shootings in 2023. Education Week’s tracker reports 36 school shootings in 2023. “On Nov. 9, two people were injured when a gun accidentally discharged during a school basketball game in Atmore, Ala.” Total school shootings in 2022: 51. 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: When do you anticipate the first snow day for your school, college, or program? The responses were equally in favor of December and January, with very few readers selecting November. We’ll see soon enough who was right!
This issue’s survey question: Would you be interested in a state-wide education conference that includes K-12, early childhood education, and higher education? Please indicate your response by clicking a check mark.
✅ Yes, it sounds exciting.
✅ It really depends on how it is structured.
✅ No, not for me.
Thank you to an education leader from AOE for 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
Superintendent. Two Rivers Supervisory Union is recruiting a visionary and forward-thinking leader with a successful record of building connections within the school community to improve student outcomes. We are looking for a proven leader with a strong background in public education and building administration. Closing date for applications is December 14. Sponsored by NESDEC
Superintendent Search. If your district will be experiencing a leadership transition this year, we invite you to connect with us. Human Capital Enterprises (HCE) is a Superintendent Search firm with a commitment to outstanding leadership quality and a track record of assisting School Boards to find the right superintendent who is committed to long-term success. Learn about our success in Winooski earlier this year and reach out to us if you would like to engage in a confidential no-obligation conversation. Sponsored by Human Capital Enterprises
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 2,100+ readers. Sponsored by 802 Ed
The Big List. Josh Czupryk compiles and publishes a monthly spreadsheet with about 300 job opportunities for remote work in K-12 education.
Looking for a Change? With so many open education positions, there are sometimes unusual opportunities. For example, Ohio is hiring a superintendent… for the entire state.
Thank the Team
Like what you are reading? Want a creative way to show your support? 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.
From the Editor
For many school leaders, there is so much to be thankful for during this holiday week. Colleagues that care, family that supports, and kids that keep coming to school excited to learn. It’s an especially rich feeling coming out of the pandemic years.
Yet as the temperature drops and the days get shorter and darker, schools may be seeing more staff absences due to colds, fevers, and the start of the ski season. Paraprofessionals are the glue of so many school communities, and sometimes their true value is felt more keenly when overall absences start to tick upwards and this group of educators plays a more central role in keeping school running smoothly.
It’s a concern, then, that the number of vacancies for paraprofessionals seems to be climbing swiftly in the past couple of weeks. This increased demand will put pressure on the limited state-wide supply of paraprofessionals, making it all the more challenging to fill the important positions at a time when they may be needed even more than usual.
The chart below tracks the number of openings for paraprofessionals in the 90 days prior to publication, presented as data points and a three-degree 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 these colleagues who have received administrator licensure from AOE since the last issue of the 802 Ed! Data from AOE’s Aithent Licensing System.
Michelle Basile • Principal
Storm Lavella-Schaudt • Principal
Tai Snell • Principal
Do you know a colleague who has made a recent move? Let us know!
Grants & Opportunities
Prepping for Turkey Day. The National Museum of the American Indian has published several culturally sensitive activities and resources for teaching about Thanksgiving.
Your Complete Communications Strategy, Executed. John Guilfoil Public Relations offers a multitude of services for your school community including crisis management, consulting, community surveys, construction project communications, copywriting, website design and development, video messaging, professional development and more. Sponsored by John Guilfoil Public Relations
Feedback Requested about MyFutureVT. Advance Vermont is looking for feedback on their career and education exploration site. Respondents will be eligible to win a $50 gift card.
Psycho/educational Professional Development. AOE has contracted with a former Vermont educator to provide six hours of hands-on training for educators to learn strategies for responding to dysregulation in themselves and students, at no cost for the first 12 schools that sign up. This was a popular item in last issue, so here it is again for readers who may have missed it.
Arts for Social Emotional Health. The Flynn Center in Burlington is hosting an in-person panel discussion on the the value of arts for young Vermonters. 4 - 5:30pm, November 30.
Moonshot Flight Crew. Million Girls Moonshot has opened applications for 13-18 year old girls or people outside of the identity of cis-gender male, to become a national ambassador for STEM learning in third space programs. Deadline is December 1.
A Decade of Student-Centered Learning. UP for Learning, AOE, and VPA are hosting a celebration of ten years of Act 77, the Flexible Pathways Initiative, for students, caregivers, community members, educators, and legislators, at the State House. 9:30am - 2:30pm, December 7.
Rural Education Summit. The National School Boards Association is hosting a virtual panel discussion on the unique challenges and opportunities in rural education. 1 - 4:30pm, December 13.
Summer Studies in Finland, Thailand, or Colombia. The U.S. Department of Education has opened applications for Fulbright Seminars Abroad for elementary and secondary teachers and administrators, as well as postsecondary faculty and administrators. Deadline is January 4.
If You Missed It
The Group No One Wants to Join. The National Association of Secondary School Principals hosts the Principal Recovery Network, a nationwide support group for principals whose schools have experienced gun violence.
Increased Federal Support for Youth Mental Health. The Department of Health and Human Services announced it is reorganizing to create a new division of Children and School Mental Health, in part because of the rapid increase in funding in this area with more than 2,600 grants going out the door recently.
Constitution Crib Sheet. A Burr and Burton Academy student developed and published a mobile app, Civicly, that makes it easier to learn about the Constitution and other civics topics, including hundreds of practice questions.
Vermont Vocale. The Vermont Foreign Language Association and Vermont Classical Language Association have merged to form the Vermont Organization of Classical and Language Educators (VOCALE).
Art Contest O-Fish-Ally Starts. The Agency of Natural Resource’s annual student fish art contest is underway, where students research and illustrate a Vermont fish like the stonecat, mooneye, or (snicker) white crappie.
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, CDD Child Development Division, 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, RFP Request for Proposals, NAEYC National Association for the Education of Young Children, NEASC New England Association of Schools and Colleges, PBIS Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, SBE State Board of Education, VEHI Vermont Education Health Initiative, VPA Vermont Principals Association, VSA Vermont Superintendents Association, VSBA Vermont School Board Association, VTSU Vermont State University.
Special bonus for making it to the bottom: Sperm whales sleep vertically.