The 802 Ed
What's going on in Vermont's education policy and practice
Welcome back!
The 802 Ed is taking a break for the summer, we’ll be back again in August. Thank you for a great year: our number of subscribers has grown by 50% and, thanks to you forwarding issues to colleagues, we have even more readers than subscribers. Special shout-out to the many colleagues who have sent a coffee to say thanks!
This issue covers many topics that are immediately useful like recent federal guidance on prayer at graduation, the butterfly effect in filling school leadership positions, and the doubtful future of chocolate milk in schools. Be sure to check out the latest hiccup on the consolidation of Vermont’s state colleges.
New to the lingo? At the suggestion of a reader we now include a guide to common abbreviations after all the news.
- Steven Berbeco, Editor
School Leadership
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome. A recent Harvard Business Review article reviews research into leaders who feel they don’t fit in or belong and suggested ways to use moxie to succeed.
“The System Is Failing and Must Be fixed.” VT Digger’s Peter D’Auria calls out Vermont’s legislature for dropping the ball on youth mental health despite urging from superintendents: “We simply do not have enough services to even come close to meeting the need.”
Censoring Poetry. A parent’s complaint led to a Florida school’s decision to move Amanda Gorman’s inauguration poem, The Hill We Climb, from the elementary library to the middle school library, touching off national and international attention. The U.S. Secretary of Education weighs in, too: “This is getting silly.”
Publish or Perish. Pro Publica and the Chronicle of Higher Education dig into a new pay-to-play college admissions ploy: an industry that charges hefty fees to publish teenagers’ “dubious papers” in a bid to stand out when applying to college.
“Free Speech” Settlement at Randolph Union High School. Litigation was avoided, a soccer coach was reinstated, and $125k is set to change hands as part of the resolution of a lawsuit around allegations of comments made when a trans student on the volleyball team used the girls’ locker room.
More Building in Burlington? Burlington’s alternative high school programs have submitted a proposal and architectural plans to create a new campus at Rockpoint Commons, in addition to an upcoming renovation project at Integrated Arts Academy and constructing the new $190 million high school.
Books That Are “Just Plain Filthy.” The Association of Alaska School Boards recently published advice on what to do if a parent requests - or demands - the removal of a book from the school library.
The Four-Day School Week. Stateline dives into the debate playing out in several states between proponents of a reduced school week and lawmakers who are stepping into to push back. This was a popular item in last issue, so here it is again for readers who may have missed it.
Making Medicaid Easier. ED recently proposed a change in special education regulations removing a hurdle for schools to bill Medicaid for student services.
Keep the Doors Locked, Vermont. S.138, signed into law recently as Act 29, sets new school safety requirements including drills, locked doors, visitor logs, and behavioral threat assessment teams to prevent “threats related to weapons and mass casualties and bomb threats.”
Schools Ban Bible for “Vulgarity and Violence.” A school district north of Salt Lake City has banned the King James Bible, “one of the most sex-ridden books around,” from its elementary and middle schools, and is currently considering a ban on the Book of Mormon, too.
Should Schools Have a “Rubber Room?” VT Digger’s Alison Novak opens the can of worms that is physical restraint in schools, highlighting the experience of both students and the school leaders trying to keep the kids and their staff safe.
Vermont State’s Enrollments Drop. Seven Days brings us up to date on the “scarily bad” numbers from the new consolidated college system, with nearly 25% fewer students registering for fall classes.
Negotiating for the Good of All. Edsource maps out the recent history of “negotiating for the common good,” an approach that some teachers’ unions are taking to secure supports for unhoused students, increasing green spaces on campuses, and more.
Moments of Silence. ED recently updated federal guidance on constitutionally-protected prayer in school, including prayer at graduation.
Heads Up, Vermont. Several states are taking innovative steps to support their students. Vermont school leaders and lawmakers should take note:
Indiana’s “Career Scholarship Accounts” provide funding for internships and apprenticeships with local employers.
A home visit program in Connecticut has led to a significant drop in student absenteeism.
Round-the-clock mental health services will be available soon for free to most college students in New Jersey.
Arizona’s Board of Education approved the use of school safety funds to hire more than a hundred counselor and social workers, though prioritized armed officers.
New Mexico’s governor recently established a cabinet-level Office of Special Education by executive order.
School Shootings in 2023. Education Week’s tracker reports 24 school shootings in 2023. “On May 24, a student was shot and killed outside Oliver Citywide Academy in Pittsburgh, Pa.” 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: Where will you go for leadership development next school year? The responses were most strongly in favor of Higher education programs in Vermont and/or outside the state, with an even distribution between State-wide professional associations like VSA, VPA, VSBA, and others and Independent learning or through stand-alone programs.
No survey question this time, since we’re going off-line for the summer.
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 For School Leaders
State Director of Special Education. Come lead a strong team that oversees application of state and federal special education law and policy! Successful applicants will have demonstrated success in organizational and team leadership and significant experience in special education practice or policy. Sponsored by the Agency of Education
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 1,800+ readers. Sponsored by 802 Ed
Looking For a Change? With so many open positions across the country, there are sometimes unusual opportunities. For example, Vox recently highlighted the feelings of guilt, boredom, and “funemployment” of several jobs where workers clock only a few hours a week for a full-time job. Note: Contains mature language
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.
Update on the Education Market
The education job market in Vermont follows certain rhythms: superintendent openings show up in December or January, teacher openings usually spike mid- Spring when contracts are due, and other opportunities get filled into the summer as the game of musical chairs plays out and everyone finds their place for the coming school year.
There has been a recent trend nationally, however, that may affect the equilibrium in Vermont over the summer:
A school board in Massachusetts is looking for a new superintendent after rescinding an offer, alleging microaggressions by their selected finalist
Galveston, Texas is in the market for an interim superintendent after the incumbent resigned over a comment about “ladies” as “worker bees” on a project: “but we need a man to push this through”
The incoming superintendent in a California school district turned down the offer when she saw that the selection had been made on a 3-2 vote, as opposed to unanimous support
Schools in Vermont may be feeling a sense of instability in their leadership, too. For example, one school board opted to bring in a three-person team for its elementary school: “This level of leadership support is not sustainable long term but the search committee agreed it is needed for the next 3-5 years to help reestablish a sense of calm and stability.”
Like the butterfly flapping its wings in one place that creates a hurricane far away, one wonders what is influencing the recent shift in open positions in Vermont. Instead of continuing the drop in openings over the past 90 days, according to the chart below there is a sudden and unexpected increase by hundreds of positions in the past three weeks.
The chart below tracks the total number of education openings in the 90 days prior to publication, presented as data points and no trend line this time. Data from SchoolSpring.
Principal’s Office
Principal and Assistant Principal positions are opening up and getting filled around the state. Here is a graphic representation of the total number of positions that have opened (68) since the start of the calendar year, and the number of positions that have been filled (51) since then. Data from VPA.
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
Every issue we highlight school leaders who are making a change – congratulations!
Aaron Boynton, currently principal at Berlin Elementary School, will be principal at Bristol Elementary School this summer. He is taking over from John Bratko.
Rachel Hartman and Stephanie Ainslie, currently assistant principal and elementary school teacher respectively at Twinfield High School, will be co-principals this summer. They are taking over from Mark Mooney.
Lori Beland, currently special education teacher at the Ottauquechee School, will be assistant principal at Woodstock Elementary School this summer.
Lewis Thayne, previously president at Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania, will be interim president at Saint Michael’s College this summer. He is taking over from Lorraine Sterritt.
Bill Huggett and Anne McKinney, currently social emotional learning coach and literacy coach respectively for Bristol Elementary School, will be assistant principals this summer.
These colleagues received administrator licensure from AOE since the last issue of the 802 Ed. Data from AOE’s Aithent Licensing System.
John Gratto • Superintendent
Margaret Baker • Principal
Wendy Foran • Principal
Robert Myers • Principal
Do you know a colleague who has made a recent move? Let us know!
Grants & Opportunities
Mini-Grants from McClure. The McClure Foundation is offering small grants (up to $2,500) to schools and community organizations to help youth prepare for life after high school. Speedy review of applications and no reporting requirements.
Training Videos for Helping the Littles. DCF has released an RFP to develop online learning modules related to IDEA Part C and other Children’s Integrated Services.
Millions for School DEI Planning. ED has $10 million in funding to support schools looking to increase equity and improve student mental health and academic needs. Deadline is July 7.
Children and Youth Resilience Challenge. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the launch of a $1 million grant program for community-led solutions that advance mental health and well-being for youth. Deadline is July 7.
CIS Stabilization. DCF recently posted an RFP for contracted services to support professional development, recruitment, and other supports for Children’s Integrated Services (CIS), the state’s IDEA Part C provider. Deadline is August 4.
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Our biweekly newsletter about education policy and practice in Vermont is your go-to source for in-depth analysis, news, and insights on the education landscape in the Green Mountain State. We cover a wide range of topics that matter to you, from the latest legislation affecting Vermont schools to innovative teaching practices and successful student programs.
To continue to provide this invaluable resource, we depend on the support of our readers. By donating to our newsletter, you can help us to continue to provide high-quality, informative content that keeps educators, policymakers, and interested community members up to date on the latest developments in Vermont education. Thank you for your support!
In Case You Missed It
Turning Off The Ringers, and The Rest of The Phone, Too. An opinion piece in The New York Times (gift link, no paywall) proposes a standard course for first-year student where they are required to unplug, a “curated set of courses that ban glowing rectangles of any kind from the classroom.”
“We Are Becoming Protective Factors For Each Other.” 802 Ed editor Steven Berbeco highlights the value of Mental Health First Aid for school leaders and others in this recent VT Digger op-ed.
Riding the AI Wave. Washington University in St. Louis offers several suggestions of how to modify assignments to make the most of all that ChatGPT can offer.
In Defense of Chocolate Milk. WCAX gives a heads up about a proposed nationwide ban on chocolate milk in school lunch programs, and the New England nonprofit that is pushing back.
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: AOE Agency of Education, CDD Child Development Division, DAIL Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living, DCF Department for Children and Families, 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, VPA Vermont Principals Association, VSA Vermont Superintendents Association, VSBA Vermont School Board Association.
Special bonus for making it to the bottom: Looking for a summer home with a water view?