VDOE TeacherDirect January 10, 2024

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Virginia Department of Education

TeacherDirect
January 10, 2024

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Did You Know? 
To honor Virginia teachers who represent the best in teaching in the Commonwealth and across the nation, all public and accredited nonpublic schools are invited to participate in the 2025 Mary V. Bicouvaris Virginia Teacher of the Year Program. The program is open to all exceptionally skilled and dedicated teachers in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 who hold a current renewable Virginia teaching license in the assigned teaching area. Additional educators and criteria apply. See the Educator Recognition webpage for complete details and to download the division application. Completed division applications packet are due by Feb. 8, 2024 at 4 p.m. to TeacheroftheYear@doe.virginia.gov.  For more information, see #2023-18 Virginia Education Update 2 November 2023.


HEADLINES

Jamestown-York Foundation Director's Series: Secretary of Education for Virginia- Jan. 17
Classroom teachers and administrators are invited to join the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation for a special reception at Jamestown Settlement. This reception is followed by a conversation with Aimee R. Guidera, Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia.  The reception and program are free, but registration is required.

New Virginia Licensure Online System
VDOE has launched its Virginia Licensure Online system (VALO) to help modernize the teacher licensure process and make the application and renewal experience more user-friendly for perspective and current teachers. The system is designed to assist applicants as they move through the licensure process. VALO will make it easier for prospective teachers to submit complete and accurate applications, keep track of their application status, and timely correct any needed information. Read more from VDOE!

Creative and Critical Thinking with Art
This a self-paced, innovative and free online course was developed through a partnership of Virtual Virginia and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and uses the museum's collections to explore creative thinking across different content areas. During this course, participants will explore how inquiry-based engagement with art objects might serve as a laboratory for honing the creative and critical thinking skills crucial to the discipline they teach.  Participants who successfully complete this course earn a certificate worth twelve hours of professional learning.        

2024 Power of Coaching Conference
VASCD and VSTE are teaming up to bring Virginia educators a coaching conference to unpack the power of coaching! In this two-day conference, participants will gain knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to effectively serve in the role of instructional coach. As more and more schools bring coaches as part of their staff and as the role of ITRT shifts from resource teacher to coach, this is a much-needed conference for building capacity and for developing strong networks of coaches, instructional leaders, and coach supervisors across the Commonwealth. Find out more information and register today. 

Strategies to Support EL Students in the Secondary Classroom
This workshop provides strategies to support EL students in the secondary classroom sponsored by VaSCL. The target audience is Teachers Grades 6-12, Novice Teachers, ELL Teachers,  Special Educators, School Administrators and Coaches. The sessions will be held on March 11, March 14  &  March 18, 2024 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (virtual) Find out more information or register.
Session 1: Reading and Listening (receptive modes) with English Learners
Session 2: Writing and Speaking (productive modes) with English Learners
Session 3: Assessing English Learners Participants will also have an opportunity to explore the WIDA language expectations for their content area.

Virginia Statewide LMS Credentials  
Four free credential opportunities are available with two tracks for teachers and education personnel and two tracks for technology/infrastructure personnel. Each track includes a series of webinars and a brief online course. Participants who successfully complete a track will earn a certificate and digital badge worth five hours of professional learning. Register for the spring webinars beginning on Feb. 5.

Bring The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts into Your Classroom!
VMFA museum educators can virtually join your classrooms to help students make connections and expand their understanding of topics being explored in Grades 3-12. Sessions are designed to help students hone creative, critical, and reflective thinking skills as they engage with and interpret works of art. Emphasis is placed on an interactive experience that is inquiry-based and student-centered. Visit the VMFA for more information.

Blueprints for Better Blending Conference-February 17  
Virtual Virginia and VSTE are gearing up for our fourth annual free, one-day Blended Learning Conference for public school educators nationwide. With topics in both synchronous and asynchronous instruction, “Blueprints for Better Blending” will highlight some of the amazing things teachers and leaders are doing to improve instruction.  Presentation proposals are currently being accepted for the conference. Visit the website for more details about the conference and to submit a presentation proposal.           

Virginia Statewide LMS Credentials for Educators & Technology/Infrastructure Personnel
Four credential opportunities are available, with two tracks for teachers and other education personnel and two tracks for technology/infrastructure personnel. Each will include a series of webinars and a brief online course. Participants who successfully complete a track will earn a certificate and digital badge worth five hours of professional learning. Register for the webinar series from February-March. 

Summer Language Institute
The Summer Language Institute at the University of Virginia offers a wide range of options for learners. Students can choose from Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Latin, Spanish, and Russian. The program is open to rising high school juniors and seniors, college/graduate students, and non-traditional students. During the last part of the program, students in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Russian, and Spanish will take the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPIc) to assess their language proficiency. Students learning Latin will be evaluated through the Avant (1 skill-reading). The deadline for applications is March 28. For more information, please visit the website.        

VaSCL Behavior Management and Intervention Workshops
Virginia School Consortium for Learning is sponsoring two workshops to support behavior management and intervention. These workshops are for general educators, special educators, novice teachers, coaches and school administrators. Dates and times include: 

  • Fostering Positive Learning Environments Through Effective Behavior Management on February 8, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. In this day-long workshop you will learn about trauma-informed practices and why/how trauma can drive behaviors and what you can do to promote the academic and social/emotional growth of your students.  Participants will come away with practical solutions and strategies that can be implemented in the classroom to improve the connections between yourself and all students, not just those that struggle.
  • Behavior Intervention Starts with Prevention: Fostering a Safe Classroom Learning Community on February 2, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. This day-long workshop is designed to address the diverse needs of students with challenging behavior while emphasizing the importance of building a strong community.  Participants will delve into strategies that span from general education responses to tiered Tier 3 extensive special education support.

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VIRGINIA COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS


Education Administration and Professional Studies Certificate in Administration & Supervision Shenandoah University now offers a synchronous (via Zoom) Master of Science in Education Administration and Professional Studies Certificate in Administration and Supervision program. Take the next step in your educational career! Register for the January 25, 6 p.m. virtual info session.

Interested in becoming a Reading Specialist or Literacy Coach?
You can earn your Master’s Degree in Literacy Education or obtain your Reading Specialist Certificate (K-12) with Radford University. Engage in advanced graduate study in literacy and related fields, improve your classroom teaching, Reading Specialist expertise, Literacy Coaching, and more! Join RU for one of the upcoming information session to learn about cohort opportunities!        

Spanish Language and Culture for Educators
The Dual Master’s Degree is an accelerated 18-month program where students earn a M.Ed. from James Madison University and a European Master’s degree from the University of Salamanca, while working full-time. Applications are due by March 15. Visit the website for additional details.

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