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

Content:

Audience: Arts (including CTE), Social Studies, Adult Education Learners, General Educators, Curriculum Coordinators, Principals, Arts Organizations

Commemorating Vermont's 1777 independence, the 2026-2027 Vermont 250th "Power of Place" Student Exhibition invites PreK-12, CTE, and Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) students across Vermont to explore the central question: "How does the land beneath our feet bridge the stories of the past with the community we are building for the future?" Students can express their unique voices and highlight local communities through dance, media arts, music, theatre, or visual arts, examining history through multi-disciplinary lenses like culture, environment, and history.

To support implementation, registration is now open for professional learning. Explore the discipline-specific, standards-aligned choice matrices to create art as your students would, collaborate across disciplines, and leave with a standards-aligned unit plan.

Three in-person sessions (9:00 AM - 3:00 PM):

One remote session (3:15 - 4:45 PM):

• December 17: Remote Option (Link provided with registration)

In-person sessions need a minimum of five participants by a week out from the event to run, so invite a colleague. Interdisciplinary teams make the richest student work.

Contact: Eric Howard at [email protected]

Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Counselors, Teachers, Students and Families

The U.S. Department of Education named 161 seniors as 2026 Presidential Scholars, recognizing achievement in academics, the arts, and career and technical education. Selection considered excellence, artistic or technical talent, essays, recommendations, leadership, and service. Over 6,700 students qualified from 3.9 million graduating seniors through SAT or ACT results or chief state school officer nominations.

The Vermont finalists are:

• Aya Elinor Addington, Dorset - Burr and Burton Seminary, VT

• Daniel Benedetto Mann, Thetford Center - Thetford Academy

A complete list of the 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars is available on the U.S. Department of Education's page.

Contact: Ryan Parkman at [email protected]

Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Assistant Principals, School Administrators, HHB Designated Employees, and Supervisory Union/School District Leadership

The Vermont Agency of Education has published the updated Harassment, Hazing, and Bullying (HHB) School Designated Employee List.

Superintendents and school administrators are encouraged to review their school's information to ensure all designated employees and contact information are accurate and up to date. Schools that missed the initial submission window or need to make corrections or updates may do so at any time by completing and submitting the HHB School Designated Employee Cognito Form.

Maintaining accurate designated employee information helps ensure students, families, and school communities know whom to contact regarding HHB concerns.

Contact: Ashley Riendeau at [email protected]

Audience: Eligible organizations to provide adult education and literacy services

Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Title II, the Vermont Agency of Education requests applications from eligible organizations and entities to implement Adult Education and Literacy Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education services in Vermont during the January 15, 2027 to June 30, 2028 grant period. Applicant workshops will be held October 29, 2026 and November 2, 2026. More information and materials may be found on the AOE's Adult Education and Literacy Funding Opportunities webpage. Deadline to submit applications is November 23, 2026.

Contact: Adult Education Division [email protected]

Audience: School Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) team members

Vermont state statute mandates all school BTA team members complete annual training that meets the requirements of Act 29 of 2023. The Vermont Agency of Education, in partnership with Safe and Sound Schools, offers training opportunities that meet all school safety regulatory requirements and are free of charge. Please see below for training dates:

• December 8, 2026 - Level 1

• December 9, 2026 - Level 2

Please register via the SY26-27 AOE Behavioral Threat Assessment Annual Training webpage, also available on the AOE BTA webpage.

Please consider sharing this information with relevant community partners also involved in school BTA work, such as local law enforcement officers and mental health professionals.

Please note: Training dates for this school year are limited; however, additional trainings will be made available for the next semester. Schools are welcome to pursue BTA training outside of the free training that the Agency provides, but schools must pay for their own training and ensure that training curriculum meets the statewide BTA training requirements of Act 29 of 2023.

Contact: Taylor Goodwin at [email protected]

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 are shared in the Weekly Field Memo. We encourage you to review, share, and distribute these opportunities throughout your schools, districts, and professional networks. View 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: