Zoie Saunders, Secretary | Vermont Agency of Education
The Vermont Agency of Education has released its weekly update for educators and school staff, highlighting several upcoming events and opportunities.
A new resource called "Civics Made Easy" is now available for grades 6-12. Hosted by Ben Sheehan, the collection features short videos that explain topics such as political parties, campaign finance, and the Electoral College. Each video includes classroom materials to help students understand government functions.
Educators and those interested in children's literature are invited to the virtual Vermont Youth Book Awards Conference on October 16, 2025. The event will feature keynotes from award-winning authors and presentations about book awards including the Red Clover Award, Vermont Golden Dome Award, and Green Mountain Award. Students across Vermont are encouraged to watch the keynote sessions in libraries or classrooms.
A webinar organized by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum will focus on teaching Holocaust literature in middle and high school English classes. The session aims to provide strategies for incorporating historical context into lessons using resources from the museum’s primary source collection.
The Agency is also launching its Family Engagement Networking Series for the 2025-2026 school year. The first session will take place on September 11 and will center on building relationships among schools, families, and community partners through informal virtual meetings.
On October 7 and 8, Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) Team workshops will be held in partnership with the Vermont School Safety Center. These workshops are designed to support teams working under Act 29 (2023), although they are separate from required annual BTA training.
Applications for BEST/Act230 grants must be submitted by September 15. These funds support professional development for teachers and staff working with students who need additional academic or behavioral support within a multi-tiered system.
The annual VTPBIS Forum is scheduled for October 14 at Killington Grand Resort Hotel. The event focuses on social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health supports within the PBIS framework. Registration closes September 30.
Additionally, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training sessions will take place at Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee on October 10. Both full certification and refresher courses are offered to help school teams respond appropriately during crises while ensuring safety for all participants.
Contact information is provided for each event or opportunity listed in this update.
Alerts Sign-up