Weekly Field Memo: Recent News and Items of Interest From the Agency

Content:

Vermont Graduation Requirements - Student Survey and Virtual Focus Group

Audience: High Schools

The Agency of Education has partnered with UP For Learning, a Vermont-based educational non-profit, to support students in sharing their insights and experiences to inform the AOE and the State Board of Education as they consider statewide graduation requirements. This work is a recognition that student input must be a central element in shaping this vision. This project seeks to ensure youth voice is meaningfully included in the conversation about how best to prepare students for life beyond K-12 education.

This project has three components:

1. In-person focus groups, which are currently scheduled throughout the state.
2. A virtual focus group, scheduled for 4/16 @ 1pm
3. A student survey, launching on 4/6

There was a high level of interest for hosting student focus groups. UP for Learning worked with the AOE to include CTEs and high schools of different sizes and from different parts of Vermont. We hope you will encourage representative groups of students in your district to engage in this conversation through the survey and the virtual focus group. Use the links above to find additional information about these opportunities, including relevant links.

Contact: Lori Dolezal at [email protected]

Northeast Positive Behavioral Interventions and SupportsLeadership Forum: May 14-15, 2026

Audience: School safety professionals

The 2026 NEPBIS Leadership Forum will be held on May 14th and 15th, 2026 in Mystic, CT. This conference aims to provide learning opportunities for supporting school safety with a MTSS framework to school resource officers, district or school safety coordinators, behavioral threat assessment team members, community providers, and other school safety professionals. A limited number of scholarships are available through the NEPBIS Conference Scholarship Application webpage. Please see the NEBPIS Conference webpage and the NEPBIS Conference informational flyer to learn more ([email protected]).

Contact : Taylor Goodwin at [email protected]

Available Now Pre-recorded BTA Webinars

Audience: School BTA team members

The Agency has made available two pre-recorded webinars about Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) for school BTA team members, presented by Dr. Melissa Reeves, national school threat assessment expert from the Raptor/SIGMA statewide BTA consultant team. These webinars provide useful supplemental information about specific topics related the BTA. Viewing these webinars does not count toward annual required BTA training. Please consider sharing with school BTA team members and school safety professionals.

Behavioral Threat Assessment (Pre-recorded) Webinar: Documentation

Behavioral Threat Assessment (Pre-recorded) Webinar: Considerations for BTA Team Defensibility and Information Sharing

Contact : Taylor Goodwin at [email protected]

VSAC 21st Annual Career and Transition Conference

Audience: All educators

Educators are warmly invited to attend the VSAC 21st Annual Career and Transition Conference on Friday, May 8, 2026, at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, Vermont. This year's conference will explore the evolving relationship between technology, education, and the workforce. Keynote speaker, Brian Michael Murphy, will present "Life with Machines: Adapting to Technological Change," offering timely insights into how we can navigate and thrive in an increasingly tech-driven world. The day will feature a variety of engaging breakout sessions that will challenge you to think deeply about the balance between technological advancement and authentic human connection in learning, career development, and beyond. Register for the event online.

Contact: Amy Dodge at [email protected]

Educate Innovate Award Deadline Extended

Audience: Teachers and administrators at Vermont public K12 schools

Due to limited applications received, we are extending the submission deadline for the 2026 Educate Innovate Lottery Partnership Educational Technology Award. This is a $15,000 opportunity awarded to four schools to support innovative uses of technology for student learning and engagement. Revised Submission Deadline - April 17, 2026, by close of business. Revised Award Announcement - May 8, 2026. Please complete the application and submit by email.

Contact: Josh Blumberg at [email protected]

BEST Summer Institute Registration is open

Audience: School teams, including educators, caregivers/family members, students, and community partners

The 30th BEST Summer Institute (June 22-25), funded with support from the Agency of Education, offers an immersive experience for school teams, including educators, caregivers/family members, students, and community partners. This experience is thoughtfully designed to enhance your skills and to rejuvenate your approach to supporting the social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs of all students. This four-day experience brings acclaimed, inspirational presenters from across the state, region, and nation to facilitate content on relevant topics, including restorative approaches, equity, inclusion, classroom-level supports, trauma-informed approaches, mental health collaboration, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and more! Building on our collective knowledge, we will learn together and action plan around the most current evidence-based strategies for promoting well-being for all. This year's keynotes include Dr. Shelley Moore, Cornelius Minor, and Dr. Deonna Smith. Please register here as soon as possible to make sure you get the strand you want. Registration acceptance will be on a first come, first served basis.

Contact: Anne Dubie at [email protected]

The VT Agency of Education is hiring

Audience: All Administrators, Educators and communities

The Vermont Agency of Education is hiring. To support our ongoing recruitment efforts and keep the field informed, all current open positions at the Agency will now be shared in the Weekly Field Memo (WFM). We encourage you to review, share, and distribute these opportunities throughout your schools, districts, and professional networks. View two current openings on the VT Careers website. Thank you for helping us spread the word and connect talented professionals with meaningful work in Vermont education!

The following positions have been posted: