VDOE TeacherDirect February 21, 2024

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Virginia Department of Education

TeacherDirect
February 21, 2024

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Did You Know?
VDOE’s Literacy Network Implementation Series
is designed to support Division leaders in developing and implementing effective strategies to achieve the goals of the Virginia Literacy Act. Superintendents or designee may register a division team of up to seven people including the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction or CAO/Director of Instruction, Division Level Literacy Lead, and Principal(s) who can help carry the message back to the Division. Teams should invite a Director of Special Education, Director of Multilingual Learning/ESL or special populations, or Reading Specialist(s). See the upcoming session dates.


HEADLINES

Virginia Board of Education Advisory Board Nominations
The Virginia Board of Education is seeking nominations for several vacancies on the Advisory Board on Teacher Education and Licensure ("ABTEL"), the Early Childhood Advisory Committee ("ECAC"), the State Special Advisory Committee on Advanced Learning ("SEAC"), and the Virginia Advisory Committee on Advanced Learning ("VACAL"). Educators, parents, administrators, and other individuals are invited to apply by completing the nomination form before 5 p.m. on March 1, 2024.

Application Window open for the Science Standards of Learning Revision Committees
The VDOE is seeking nominations for individuals who are qualified and available to serve on the Science Standards Revision Committee to review the K-12 Science Standards of Learning during the summer of 2024. Nominees should be teachers, principals, administrators, content specialists, reading specialists, or other educators who have expertise with the content area and current standards. The Committee will meet between June 25-June 27, 2024, at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, to review and revise the standards. Individuals who wish to serve on a committee to review the K-12 Science Standards of Learning must submit an application using the SOL Teacher Committee Application Form by March 29.

Virginia Holocaust Museum Alexander Lebenstein Teacher Education Institute
The Virginia Holocaust Museum and Longwood University are offering a two-part institute for middle and high school educators focused on blending the museum's historical framework with pedagogy.  Part I will be held June 24-26 and Part II from July 15-17. Earn up to 45 recertification points (or 90 for both sessions) as you hear historian-led lectures and interact with museum resources aligned with Virginia SOL. Upon successful completion of all requirements, teachers will be reimbursed the registration fee and receive a stipend. Register today or contact Megan Ferenczy, Director of Education, for more details.

VGA Data Center Virtual Educator Academy
Applications are now being accepted for six licensed Virginia public high school educators for the inaugural pilot cohort. Selected applicants will earn a $750 stipend to create a 5Es Inquiry-based classroom-ready learning resource related to energy consumption and the environmental impact of data centers in the Commonwealth. Working alongside faculty, staff, and interns at the University of Richmond, participants in the Energy Academy will produce free, open-access educational materials for use by Virginia educators. Applications due are due by March 1 and cohort members notified by March 6.  Find out all the details, requirements, and application process from VGA

The VKRP Teacher Feedback Survey closes 2/23!
All teachers who participated in the Fall 2023 VKRP assessments or Mid-Year Pilot have the opportunity to provide feedback to the VKRP team. Teachers received a unique link for the survey via their division and program emails on Tuesday, 01/16. All teachers who complete the survey will be entered into a drawing in early March to win a $50 gift card. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. If there are any questions regarding the survey, please contact the VKRP team.

Summer Teacher Institute with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
Applications are open for two 2024 Summer Teacher Institute sessions that are free for Virginia teachers. June 24-26: Secondary teachers will focus on African and Indigenous peoples of 17th- and 18th-century Virginia at both Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. July 22-25: Elementary teachers will explore the 18th century and the American Revolution at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Both institutes are designed with an eye to the 2023 Virginia History and Social Studies SOLs and feature activities, lectures and collaboration with fellow Virginia teachers and museum staff.

Virginia School Division Advanced Placement Winter Conference-March 1
The focus of this meeting is Expanding Access to Advanced Placement with English 10: AP Seminar. Registration is limited to two representatives per division. This workshop, held at Randoph Macon College, supports division and school leaders involved in curriculum decisions and supporting instruction. Topics will be most suitable for the division English content specialist, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Director of Instruction or Secondary Education. If the decision to offer this course will be made at the high school level, it would be beneficial for HS leadership and English department representatives.  Meeting details will be shared approximately one week before the event. Register online by February 22.

Aviation College Scholarships-Due March 1
The Virginia Department of Aviation is offering three college scholarships for the Commonwealth's twelfth grade students. The Plentl, Lillard, and Scott scholarships are awarded to students who are planning on entering an aviation-related program at a higher education institution. Students may apply to all three scholarships if they are eligible. Contact anthony.sotelo@doav.virginia.gov for more information.

National Security Language Initiative - Critical Languages Grant
The application period is now open for the VDOE National Security Language Initiative competitive grants. VDOE will award these grants to public school divisions to add or expand offerings in one or more world language courses currently identified as critical by the NSLI for Youth Scholarship Program.  School divisions may apply for this competitive grant program using the NSLI2024 online application. The deadline for divisions to submit completed applications is February 29.  More information about the grant is available on the VDOE NSLI Grant website.

2024 Virginia Junior Academy of Science Symposium
Students and teachers are invited to this free virtual symposium to hear about STEM research projects by students in grades 7 through 12. This is an excellent opportunity for students who are considering entering into the competition next year with their research. Additionally, VJAS is looking for judges to review student research projects. The 2024 VJAS Symposium will be held on May 4.

VASCL Professional Development Opportunities
See the Virginia School Consortium (VaSCL) site for full details on each workshop.
Driving Virginia Literacy Outcomes: Newsela Division Partnership Spotlight Webinar  on February 27 4:30-5 p.m.  During this free virtual webinar, hear from a leader in Harrisonburg City who is leveraging Newsela to drive All in Virginia literacy outcomes with engaging, skills-based content. Strategies to Support ELL Students in the Secondary Classroom virtual workshop series with ESL specialist Barbara Eye on March 4, 11, & 18 at 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Session topics include: 1) Reading and Listening with EL, 2) Writing and Speaking with EL, 3) Assessing English Learners.
Social Studies-Building Bridges Through Inquiry and Data Literacy for High School with presenters Annie Evans and Terrell Fleming on March 19 at 4:30– 6 p.m. This free virtual workshop will explore the power of historical inquiry and data literacy to align the newly adopted HSS SOL featuring an array of OER digital humanities tools and resources.
Unmistakable Impact: Scaffolding Learning for Gains and Growth with presenter Dr. John Almarode, JMU, on March 22 at 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at PD Space at Center One 1180 Seminole Place, Suite 225 Charlottesville. Pk-12 Educators will unpack how to design and implement instructional scaffolding that accelerates student learning.

Summer History Professional Development
The Virginia Museum of History and Culture has just posted two summer professional development opportunities. Both are a week-long in July and offer stipends and travel scholarships. Register for Story of Virginia, week of July 8 and/or Our Commonwealth, week of  July 22.

Eclipse Guides and Resources from the NSTA
The National Science Teaching Association has a variety of free resources for teachers, administrators, and families for the upcoming solar eclipse. The resources are designed to make learning about solar eclipses both engaging and safe. The next solar eclipse will occur on April 8, 2024, between about 2-4:30 p.m. Virginia will experience a partial eclipse between about 80-90% totality, depending on which part of the state you live. 

57th Annual Conference of the Virginia State Literacy Association
This Conference will be held March 18-20 in Norfolk with the theme, "Every Page Tells a Story." Authors, researchers, and classroom practitioners will share expertise on the science of reading, writing instruction, assessment, and the current needs of educators.  Register today!

National Youth Science Camp-June 29 to July 20 
This in-person Camp is a free residential honors program for two high school graduates from each state.  Applicants must graduate from high school between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2025. Selected delegates must commit to attending the full camp.  Applications are due by February 29 at 11:59 p.m. Contact Gregory MacDougall with questions.       


VIRGINIA COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS


Health and Physical Education Master's Degree Program
Join George Mason University's Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning information session to learn more about the Online Master’s degree for licensed Health and Physical Education Teachers. This degree is designed to expand knowledge and become more effective teachers. Visit our website to learn more about the program and to register for one of our upcoming virtual information sessions. Application fees will be waived for those who attend a session!

M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction Program
The 100% online and asynchronous M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction program at the University of Virginia provides flexible opportunities for you to pursue graduate studies, licensure requirements, or professional development to enhance your instructional practice. Choose one of the following areas of emphasis or customize your coursework with courses from among the various areas of emphasis: Educational Innovation, ESL, Gifted Ed., Instructional Tech., Literacy, Professional Studies, SEL, and Social Foundations. Attend the information session on Feb. 27 from 7-7:30 p.m. 

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