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August 2023

A New Communication Medium from VDOE 

The Virginia Education Update Newsletter, a weekly newsletter from Dr. Coons, Superintendent of Public Instruction, replaces the use of Superintendent’s Memos and Emails with a comprehensive communication in newsletter format. This new format will improve accessing and disseminating news from VDOE each week with increased efficiency. Check out the most recent editions of the Virginia Education Update Newsletter on the Virginia Education Update Newsletter Archive.

VDOE Updates

VDOE Telephone System Upgrade in September

The VDOE is committed to connecting with stakeholders and wishes to inform everyone that our telephone system is being upgraded to a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system. As a result, VDOE staff will be issued a new telephone number that they will begin using effective September 1, 2023. 

New telephone numbers for World Languages

• World Languages Coordinator: (804) 750-8083
• World Languages Program Assistant: (804) 750-8611

The employee directory on the VDOE website will also be updated to reflect the new telephone numbers assigned to each staff member. The current legacy phone numbers will be active for several weeks before being disconnected, and each staff member’s greeting on the existing legacy voicemail system will be changed to include their new telephone number. 

License Certificates

On June 21, 2023, the Office of Licensure and School Leadership ceased the printing and mailing of paper licenses and evaluations. The Office of Licensure and School Leadership will make license certificates and evaluations available in the future on the eGOV portal. Applicants and license holders are encouraged to create an eGOV account to view pertinent licensure information. 

Become a Teacher Campaign Expands to Include Career Hub Resource

Human resources professionals at local school divisions are invited to use the new Virginia Educators Career Hub at Jobs.BecomeATeacher.Virginia.gov, to post job opportunities. The site allows job-seekers to search for positions across divisions and regions, administrative users to pull reports on candidates, visitors to sign up for job alerts, and more. School divisions can use the Career Hub at no cost for the next two years. Contact Dr. Meg Homer, Educator Engagement Specialist for more information.

Supervisors' Corner

Updating Contact Persons

With the new school year, it is time to review the list of contact persons for each program area.  If you have a new contact in your division for World Languages or the Governor's World Language Academies (GWLA), please be sure to ask the SSWS Account Manager for your division to update the name and application access in the SSWS system.  Private schools should email VDOE to advise of any updates to the World Languages or GWLA contacts.

World Language Supervisor Tuesdays

World Language supervisors and lead teachers are invited to participate in monthly discussions on topics related to world language leadership and supervision. Sessions will take place on the second Tuesday of each month (except  November) at 10a.m. Register in advance to receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting(s).  

• September 12, 2023: New World Language Supervisor Orientation
• October 10, 2023: Governor's World Language Academies

VOWLS Regional Roundtables

The Virginia Organization of World Language Supervisors (VOWLS) will host a series of regional round table meetings to kick off the new school year.  World Language supervisors or World Language representatives (for divisions without a dedicated supervisor) are invited to join in the regional meetings that will take place between August 23 - 30, 2023.  Contact VOWLS President Jeremy Aldrich for more information.  Divisions without a current VOWLS member can contact Dr. Aldrich about how to appoint a local representative to serve as the division liaison.

Dual Language/ Immersion (DL/I)

Submit your program information for the DL/I directory

VDOE is creating a directory of dual language and immersion programs from around the state and we are asking all program administrators to please submit this short information form with details of your program(s).  Please complete the survey by September 30, 2023, if you have not yet submitted information for your program this year.

New Online Dual Language Methods Course

The University of Virginia will offer a new, asynchronous online course, EDIS 5481: Dual Language Methods from August 22, 2023 through December 5, 2023. This course focuses on dual-language curriculum and instructional methods. Students will learn to serve multilingual students/families in culturally responsive ways aligned with SLA principles. It includes exploration of WIDA, and Virginia's SOLs and Early Learning & Development Standards. PreK-12 educators may be eligible for a reduced tuition rate. For more information, please contact Courtney Sullivan.

News and Notes

World Languages in the News

Virginia Beach middle schoolers learn Chinese, Arabic, and Russian through summer program

About 100 middle-schoolers from Virginia Beach City Public Schools in Virginia have been attending STARTALK, a federally funded intensive summer language program that locally offered a choice of learning Arabic, Mandarin Chinese or Russian. The students recently showcased their skills during the closing ceremony of the program, which exposed students to immersive activities as well as cultural songs, dances and poetry. Full story: The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk) (tiered subscription model) (7/21) 

FLAVA 2023 Fall Workshops  

The Foreign Language Association of Virginia (FLAVA) offers a series of one-hour workshops throughout the school year.  You must register individually for each session. A Zoom link will be sent a day or two before the workshop.

• Thursday, August 24 at 4:30 p.m. The Compound Effect of the Calendar Routine in the World Language Class. REGISTER HERE
• Wednesday, September 20 at 4:30 p.m. Input-First & Meaning-Based: Rethinking our Approach to Grammar. REGISTER HERE
• Tuesday, October 24 at 5:30 p.m. Inclusion in Our World Language Classrooms and Curricula REGISTER HERE
• Thursday, November 9 at 5:30 p.m. Calendar Routine in The World Language Class Collaborative. REGISTER HERE
• Tuesday, December 5 at 5:30 p.m. Self-care is not selfish! Incorporating SEL in your life & your WL class. REGISTER HERE

Note: The inclusion of any professional development opportunity on this list from other entities does NOT constitute endorsement or verification by the Virginia Department of Education.