Welcome back!
This issue of the 802 Ed covers many topics that are immediately useful like the final outcome of the education reform bill saga, summertime bowling passes for school-aged youth, and a new Kid Governor program for schools. Be sure to check out an international education leadership opportunity with a tight deadline!
Do you have a superintendent or principal license? Don’t forget to renew! There are about 500 school leader licenses set to expire at the end of the month.
New to the lingo? At the suggestion of a reader we include a guide to common abbreviations, just scroll down past the news.
With this issue we are taking a break for the summer. See you again in August!
- Steven Berbeco, Editor
School Leadership
What’s Not Said. School Administrator highlights several topics that superintendents may want to bring up with board members but, for whatever reason, feel they can’t.
More Stick, Less Carrot. Stateline reviews how states are responding to the recent federal guidance on student discipline. This was a popular item in last issue, so here it is again for readers who may have missed it
Off-Loading CTE. Politico reports on the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to quietly move career and technical education grant programs to another federal agency.
Motivating Students. Education Week offers suggestions on how to get students interested in science and math by breaking down the learning concepts.
If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Run Against ‘Em. Rutland Herald breaks the news that the state’s teachers’ union (and Vermont’s largest union) will start training educators to run for office in the new Vermont-NEA Educator Candidate School launching in the fall.
“Well, That’s Unfortunate.” The VPO’s pundit pokes at the final education reform bill, suggesting that its “escape hatches” mean that there will be opportunities to take a few steps back and try again in the coming years.
Splitsville. The Herald covers the recent decision of a supervisory union to withdraw from the school boards advocacy organization: “When an association is working against your core needs and values, then you question it.”
“Coming Soon!” The Hechinger Report raises the alarm about late and missing Congressionally-mandated reports from the U.S. Department of Education.
Unifying Curriculum. Seven Days VT introduces us to “The America I Want Is…”, a new civics initiative to teach high school students about shared values.
Pay It Forward for College. The Hechinger Report follows up on a new finance model for higher education, where philanthropies support zero-interest loans for students.
Heads Up, Vermont. States are taking innovative steps to support their students and Vermont school leaders and lawmakers should take note:
Indiana is taking steps to establish a new school accountability system, moving away from grading schools A-F.
Arizona legislators are considering a bill that would require school board members to resign if their schools did not meet state standards.
Missouri teachers now can retire and continue working as substitute teachers without losing their benefits, as a way to respond to a teacher shortage.
School Shootings in 2025. Education Week’s tracker has logged seven school shootings in 2025: “On May 7, a 15-year-old student accidentally shot another 15-year-old student on a school bus outside Thurston High School in Redford, Mich.” Total school shootings in 2024: 39. 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 Sunni Erikson.
Buzz On The Street
This sections highlights recent op-eds and letters to the editor about education. Send a note and tell us what you think!
Jim Lengel suggests a framework and timeline for education reform: “It’s too late now to hash out a useful solution, but that’s no reason to give up.”
Jack Hoffman warns about rushing to pass an education reform bill that will come as a surprise to Vermonters: “The first signs of reform will be reorganization of their school districts, which they didn’t ask for.”
Tim Maciel calls out the narrative on larger school districts: “Let’s stop repeating false claims of consolidation.”
Bryce Sammel takes the long view of proposed changes to Vermont’s education system: “Closing schools and cutting programs doesn’t automatically lower your property taxes. It can raise them.”
Nicole Mace advocates for the House’s education bill as opposed to other legislative approaches: “Changing public school governance and finance at the same time significantly increases the complexity of the task and the risk of doing damage to our public schools.”
Wendi Dowst-McNaughton lists concerns about cost drivers that the legislature may not be taking into consideration: “Please don’t increase my taxes to decrease my children’s educational quality and decrease my supports as a teacher.”
Richard Monterosso raises an alarm about the “power grab” of the current version of the education reform bill.
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: Should the legislature push through an education reform bill before adjourning until January? Responses were definitely strongest for No, clearly this needs more discussion with a few readers selecting Yes, we need decisions to be made now, and no readers selecting I’m a legislator and I just want my summer to start (they’re so politic).
There isn’t a survey question this issue since we’ll be taking a break for the summer. Got something on your mind? Suggest a survey question to find out how your colleagues respond in an upcoming issue of the 802 Ed!
How Ya Doin’?
The end of school year and summer can be challenging for many reasons. It may be helpful to look for support around personal and professional issues. If you would like to schedule a time to talk with a rostered psychotherapist and VPA mentor, we can work on making small but significant steps that promote self-care, communication, and control. Sponsored by 802 Ed
Listen Up
Check out the 802 Ed’s conversation-style podcast! Generated by Notebook LM
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
School Leader Vacancies. Latest report from VPA counts 65 school leader positions, like principal and assistant principal, that are turning over for next school year.
The Big List. Josh Czupryk compiles and publishes a monthly spreadsheet with more than 600 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 federal government is looking to hire a superintendent for overseas schools, based in Brussels. Hurry up, application deadline is today!
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
The school year follows predictable ebbs and flows of excitement, dread, and relief, almost like a calendar layered on top of the one that the school board approves.
Ask anyone who works in a school about the days leading up to a vacation week and you are likely to get a roll of the eyes, if not a tensed-up brow. Students get squirrelly, it’s like an axiom of education.
The grown-ups can get a little out of sorts, too. Is it a coincidence that one school’s union got all fired up about their principal, and another put their superintendent on blast, just as the school year is wrapping up?
Sure, things are more tense this year than usual. The U.S. Department of Education has all but imploded. In Vermont, there is an education reform bill up for vote today that no one seems to like. Feels like you can’t even get a rally going these days without getting rammed by a car or detained by the Marines or someone ruining your cake.
We, the adults, can get so caught up in fights over consolidated districts and foundation formulas that we lose track of the kids that we’re fighting over.
Maybe that’s why it was so moving when a principal stood up in front of his students at graduation last week, and earnestly told them how proud he was of them. And I swear this is true, he started crying.
And so I’m using this megaphone to say to my kids and your kids and all of our students: I’m proud of you, too. What you are doing is important; we believe in you; and we won’t give up on you. Hopefully the summer will help the grown-ups cool off and get back to the important work of giving you the best schools, the best education, and the best future.
Have a great summer, everyone, and see you again in August.
Yours in education,
Eye on Data
The chart below tracks open positions for superintendents, principals, and other school leaders since the start of the school year, 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 this colleague who received administrator licensure from AOE since the last issue of the 802 Ed! Data from AOE.
Chad Simpson • Principal
Do you know a colleague who has made a recent move? Let us know!
Grants & Opportunities
Mental Health First Aid. Virtual, no-cost workshops are available to educators and others who want to learn skills in identifying and responding to symptoms of mental illness and substance use disorder. May and June.
Discover UVM Summer U Professional Development Courses for Educators and Social Services. Summer U at the University of Vermont is the perfect opportunity for educators and social service professionals to grow their skills. Explore flexible professional development courses designed specifically for teachers and educators, including curriculum development, innovative teaching methods, and the latest in educational technology. Plus, enjoy a 30% tuition discount compared to standard academic year rates. With June and July summer sessions to choose from, you can enhance your expertise without sacrificing your well-deserved summer break. Discover courses and enroll today! Sponsored by the University of Vermont, Professional and Continuing Education
National Park Passes. The National Park Services and other agencies offer a free year-long pass for fourth graders to all federal parks, lands, and waters.
Summer Bowling Pass. Three bowling alleys in Vermont are offering two free games a day for school-aged youth.
Board Excellence. The VSBA has launched an award competition to honor a Vermont school board that exemplifies outstanding governance and demonstrates a measurable, positive impact on both students and the community it serves. Nominations deadline is June 30.
Summer Pre-College Courses Open for Registration! Deadline July 7. High school students can start earning college credit today through UVM’s Pre-College Program! Designed for motivated 10th, 11th, and 12th graders, this program allows students to take engaging courses taught by UVM professors, earning credits for both high school and college. Vermont students can even take advantage of the Dual Enrollment Voucher Program for two free courses or enjoy a 50% tuition reduction. Don’t miss your chance to join the Summer U session—we’re accepting registrations until July 7! 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.
Training for Early Childhood. CDD recently announced on-demand workshops available in topics like Trauma Informed Classroom Practices and more.
Contracted Services. Barre Unified Union School District has recently posted an RFP for professional learning groups, coaching, consultation, and professional development in trauma-informed schools, virtual educational services, and more. Deadline is June 30.
Student Summer STEM Conference. University of Vermont is inviting 25 high school students to participate in the annual Stem Cells, Cell Therapies, and Bioengineering in Lung Biology and Diseases conference on July 7. Subsidized housing and transportation may be available.
Afterschool Professional of The Year. Vermont Afterschool has opened nominations for those whose work exemplifies afterschool best practices. Deadline is July 7.
If You Missed It
One Bill to Rule Them All. The legislature’s conference committee reached a compromise on the education reform bills out of the House and Senate. For those concerned about how it turned out, The VPO predicts that “this bill is never going to take effect in its present form - even if it does pass the Legislature on Monday.”
Fare Thee Well, Alis! AOE recently announced a summer upgrade in its licensing software from the Aithent Licensing System (ALiS) to a new platform, with a two-week blackout period in early July. This was a popular item in last issue, so here it is again for readers who may have missed it
Growing Our Own. VREC gives an update on its programs to support the pipeline of teachers and paraprofessionals in the Northeast Kingdom.
Superintendent of The Year. Congratulations to Bill Olsen of Rutland City Schools for this statewide recognition!
Kid Governor. Vermont’s Secretary of State announced a program for fifth-grade students that teaches about state government, voting, and the importance of civic engagement, with its first “election” in November.
Since 2021 the biweekly 802 Ed has brought together the latest from Vermont's associations for principals, superintendents, and school board members, as well as state and national education agencies and many other news sources. 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, AOE Agency of Education, DCF Department for Children and Families, DMH Department of Mental Health, DPS Department of Public Safety, FERPA Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act, NAEP National Assessment of Education Progress, NEASC New England Association of Schools and Colleges, RFP Request for Proposals, SBE State Board of Education, SEL Social Emotional Learning, UVEI Upper Valley Educators Institute, VEHI Vermont Education Health Initiative, VPA Vermont Principals Association, VPO Vermont Political Observer, 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: Sugar gliders are possibly the cutest pet on the planet and currently available for adoption in South Burlington. Pro parenting tip, don’t make the same mistake that I did and share this information with your first grader.