VDOE TeacherDirect April 24, 2024

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April 24, 2024

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Congratulations! During the month of April, educators selected as the Regional Teacher of the Year had a surprise visit from Dr. Lisa Coons, Superintendent of Public Instruction. Congratulations to:  

  • Region 1 Hanover County: Avanti Yamamoto
  • Region 2 Newport News Chanda Latise Woods
  • Region 3 Spotsylvania Beth Marshall 
  • Region 4 Manassas Park: Darnell Greene
  • Region 5 Bedford County: Genevieve Weaver
  • Region 6 Montgomery County: Candace Carrier
  • Region 7 Smyth County: Samuel Holmes
  • Region 8 Cumberland County: Emily Overstreet

The final Virginia Teacher of the Year Award will be announced later this spring. Read more about these outstanding educators from VDOE!

Headlines

Summary and Takeaways from Accountability Listening Sessions
The Virginia Board of Education recently concluded a series of fifteen in-person and virtual Listening Sessions throughout the Commonwealth providing over 800 parents, educators, and community members an opportunity to comment on the development of Virginia’s school performance and support framework. The new framework is designed to provide greater transparency and awareness of school performance and student outcomes. Read more about the Virginia Board of Education discussion and actions on the accountability reform on the Board of Education Discussion and Actions on Accountability Reform webpage.

2024 English Standards of Learning 
The Virginia Board of Education approved the 2024 English Standards of Learning at their March 28, 2024 business meeting. We appreciate all the educators across the Commonwealth who shared their expertise and participated in the process which began in 2023. A clean copy of the Standards and a supporting crosswalk document is posted on the 2024 English Standards of Learning page. Additional resources will be posted as they become available.

Gilder Lehrman National Teacher of the Year
Any full-time K–12 educator who teaches American history (including state and local history) as either an individual subject or as part of other subjects, is eligible for the award. The award recognizes exceptional elementary and secondary school teachers. All nominations are made on the Gilder Lehrman website by completing a short form with the teacher’s contact information.  Nominations are due April 30.

VDOE Multilingual Learner Educator Support
K-12 educators and leaders are invited to register for the May EL Monthly Conversation from 4-5 p.m. on May 14. The topic of the conversation will be supporting dually identified English Learners. For questions or additional information, contact Jo-el.Cox@doe.virginia.gov.

Zearn Educator Training
School divisions that have opted into Zearn Math for Virginia ALL In Tutoring are invited to join live training sessions with the Zearn team this spring. In these sessions, facilitators will guide Virginia educators and leaders through their approach to math learning, materials to support tutoring sessions and how to navigate the Zearn platform. The next opportunities for educators are May 22 and June 14.

2024 Clarke Innovation Conference - Presentation Proposal
Have an amazing lesson, project, or concept that can help educators? Share it by presenting at the Clarke Innovation Conference! The event will take place on August 13 and feature amazing sessions from educators within CCPS and the greater Shenandoah Valley.  Think “outside of the box” including sessions not typically those you’d see at a conference. Proposals are due by June 7. Email  hausammannp@clarke.k12.va.us with any questions.

VAN School Recognition Program
Applications for the 2023-2024 Virginia Naturally Schools Recognition Program are now open. If your school is incorporating environmental education/literacy into the curricula, apply for VAN recognition today.  Applications close June 30.

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Marsh Cam  
Dates are available for the Marsh Cam Classroom Takeover from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources for April and May. Sign up to have your class participate in the maneuverable livestreaming Marsh Cam located in Surry County. A free workbook and teacher guide is available for secondary classrooms on the ecology of Hog Island.

Professional Panel: Using VALLSS Data to Drive Literacy Instruction
Join The Reading League-Virginia  on May 21 from 6-7 p.m.to hear from educators from across our Commonwealth who will share how they use VALLSS data. They will discuss using data to drive instructional grouping on targeted skills and monitor growth. Register today!             

Importance of Voting Student Contest
The League of Women Voters of Virginia invites middle and high school students who are Virginia residents to tell students and adults about the importance of voting in our democracy, the need to cast an informed vote, and more.  Contest entries are due by June 10.

Schoolyard Habitat
A schoolyard habitat is an outdoor classroom that can be used across all grade levels and subject areas. This Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources free resource is correlated to Virginia Science SOL and more. This document supports the creation of environmental literacy lessons and plans.

Poe and Place: Connecting Poe to Richmond, Virginia’s Physical Landscape
This free professional development workshop explores how the physical landscape of Richmond shaped Edgar Allan Poe’s life and literature. Join your peers at The Poe Museum and St. John’s Church on June 10 from 10a.m.-4p.m. for focused talks by Poe specialists, educator resources, and more! This event is limited to 50 attendees. RSVP required.

Keep Virginia Beautiful Student Ambassador Program
The Student Ambassadors for Virginia's Environment is an initiative that empowers high school students to address local litter and recycling issues. Participants need to be in their junior or senior year of high school. Applications are due June 15.


VIRGINIA COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS


Application Deadlines Extended!
Extended Application Deadlines at VCU's School of Education! May 15 extended deadline for our M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (all concentrations) and PMC in Educational Leadership admin/supervision online add-on endorsement program. M.Ed. and Certificate in Reading fully online programs have a June 15th extended deadline. Apply today to automatically be eligible for ANY of our 20% Educator Tuition discount programs

Reading Specialist Programs
William & Mary offers a MAED program and a post-professional online certificate for teachers who would like to add a reading specialist endorsement. Both programs are fully online, offered in 7-week terms during fall and spring semesters and 5-week terms over summers. New cohorts start in July.

Provisional Pathway Opportunities
The CTE Department at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise Center for Teaching Excellence   offers a Provisional Pathway of discounted online licensure coursework to provisionally licensed teachers in Virginia. Registration is now open for the Summer 2024 online semesters: Summer 1 online semester runs May 13 through June 21 with registration closing on May 6. The Summer 2 online semester runs June 24 through August 2 with registration closing on June 17. All courses are completed on a non-degree seeking basis and receive three undergraduate college credit hours. 

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