Professional Learning
Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
The SVSU Professional Learning Committee is committed to providing ongoing professional learning opportunities for all staff that support each school’s academic and behavioral goals.
“Educators engaged in professional learning will identify a need and then work to adjust their practice to meet student learning needs, increasing the likelihood of student achievement. Systemic support of this cycle of professional growth by using the standards to plan, facilitate, and evaluate professional learning in schools and district further ensures that improved learning for educators will lead to improved learning for students.” (April 2011 Vermont Department of Education - A Guide for Increasing the Effectiveness of Professional Development in Schools and Districts)
The SVSU Professional Learning Committee is committed to providing ongoing professional learning opportunities for all staff that support each school’s academic and behavioral goals.
“Educators engaged in professional learning will identify a need and then work to adjust their practice to meet student learning needs, increasing the likelihood of student achievement. Systemic support of this cycle of professional growth by using the standards to plan, facilitate, and evaluate professional learning in schools and district further ensures that improved learning for educators will lead to improved learning for students.” (April 2011 Vermont Department of Education - A Guide for Increasing the Effectiveness of Professional Development in Schools and Districts)
RESOURCES:
Form 101A - Conference Request Use this form for conferences.
Form 101B - College Course Request Use this form for prior approval of a course when you are requesting reimbursement.
Form 101C - Contract College Course Request Use this form for contract college courses, meaning courses where the SVSU is the fiscal agent.
Form 101D - College Course Request for Horizontal Movement Use this form for prior approval of a course when you are not requesting reimbursement.
Form 102 - Horizontal Movement Request Use this form only when all credits toward movement have been earned.
Form 107 - Professional Prior Approval Request Use this form for Professional Day requests not associated with reimbursement requests.
Note: The above forms must be submitted for approval at least 2 weeks prior to the course/event. In many cases, will also need to supply the course description or event itinerary at the time of submitting your request. Many of the forms also ask for you to reference your district/school improvement goals. Each's school's goals, as well as the SVSU's goals, can be found in the Curriculum Department pages of this website.
Other Professional Development Opportunities
STEAM Storytelling for a Sustainable Future - Professional Learning for K-6 Staff
This professional learning experience is co-presented by the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. The program provides educators with practical strategies to leverage storytelling as a transdisciplinary tool for teaching sustainability and civic problem-solving.
Core Objectives include localizing global issues, corss-disciplinary integration, and empowering youth agency. This experience is intended for elementary teachers.
You will be compensated for the non-contract time. Space is limited. There are NO forms to complete! For more details on the experience, including how to sign up, please view the flyer HERE. Registration will close on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, or until the course is filled.
Getting Started with Assessments: 3rd Edition Bridges 3 hours of Professional Learning
This training, provided by a Bridges Facilitator, is intended for K-5 teachers who would like information on implementing the new assessment components.
This training, provided by a Bridges Facilitator, is intended for K-5 teachers who would like information on implementing the new assessment components.
The training will be held in person at SVSU Central Office on November 4 (K teachers), November 5 (1st -2nd grade teachers), and November 6 (3rd-5th grade teachers). For registration details, please click HERE to view the flyer. The deadline for registration is October 26.
Getting Started with Differentiation: 3rd Edition Bridges 3 hours of Professional Learning
This training, provided by a Bridges Facilitator, is intended for K-5 teachers who would like information on how to apply Bridges components for differentiation in the classroom.
This training, provided by a Bridges Facilitator, is intended for K-5 teachers who would like information on how to apply Bridges components for differentiation in the classroom.
The training will be held in person at SVSU Central Office on February 1 (K-1st grade teachers), February 2 (2nd-3rd grade teachers), and February 3 (4th-5th grade teachers). For registration details, please click HERE to view the flyer. The deadline for registration is January 25.
Castleton's Center for Schools offers a wide range of continuing education and graduate courses to meet the needs of educators throughout the state. Registration for the course will go through Vermont State University. Please reference your educator’s contract for details about course reimbursement. One of the steps will be to complete Form 101B - College Course Request. Form should be submitted at least 2 weeks in advance to allow sufficient time for processing.
Up for Learning Social/Emotional Learning Opportunities
Up for Learning and the SVSU's portion of the Project Aware Grant are partnering to offer professional learning opportunities. All opportunities are FREE. Please open the link to view more information.
Up for Learning and the SVSU's portion of the Project Aware Grant are partnering to offer professional learning opportunities. All opportunities are FREE. Please open the link to view more information.
Self-Paced Workshops to learn more about English/Multilingual Learners- FREE
Vermont offers a WIDA professional learning option for all educators in our state interested in improving instruction and outcomes for English Learners: on-demand Self-paced Workshops. For full descriptions and intended audiences, visit WIDA's Self-Paced Workshop page. You can choose choose to complete as many of these workshops as you want, when you want, at your own pace in the WIDA Secure Portal.
- Developing Language for Learning in Mathematics
- Engaging Multilingual Learners in Science: Making Sense of Phenomena
- Exploring the WIDA PreK-3 Essential Actions
- Let’s Play! Multilingual Children’s Joyful Learning in PreK-3 (NEW!)
- Making Language Visible: Exploring the Key Language Uses
- Newcomers: Promoting Success through Strengthening Practice
- Reading Comprehension Across Content Areas with Multilingual Learners (NEW!)
- Reframing Education for Long-term English Learners
- Teaching Multilingual Learners Social Studies through Multiple Perspectives (UPDATED!)
- The WIDA ELD Standards Framework: A Collaborative Approach
- WIDA Español: Desarollando el español: Las expectativas del lenguaje (NEW!)
- WIDA Español: Evaluaciones del desarrollo del lenguaje a nivel de salón - Classroom assessment for language development (NEW!)
If you are a classroom teacher, specialist, instructional coach, or school leader who does not already have a WIDA Secure Portal account and you would like to participate or get more information, contact the WIDA Client Services Center to set up an account.
WIDA
Through collaboration with member state education agencies and local education agencies, WIDA has created many tools, studies, and training resources to help meet legal and program requirements for ELs, including: Kindergarten- Grade 12 WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards Framework; Can Do Descriptors; Assessments; Professional Learning and Research materials, which can be accessed online at WIDA with an authorized username and password. State-specific information about English language proficiency assessments, including important dates, materials and training, is posted on Vermont's WIDA webpage.
Through collaboration with member state education agencies and local education agencies, WIDA has created many tools, studies, and training resources to help meet legal and program requirements for ELs, including: Kindergarten- Grade 12 WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards Framework; Can Do Descriptors; Assessments; Professional Learning and Research materials, which can be accessed online at WIDA with an authorized username and password. State-specific information about English language proficiency assessments, including important dates, materials and training, is posted on Vermont's WIDA webpage.
Staff Resources
The Vermont WIDA webpage contains self-paced trainings free to all educators
The Vermont WIDA webpage contains self-paced trainings free to all educators
Please check back later for more opportunities.
The Vermont Higher Education Collaborative
Castleton University and Castleton's Center for Schools are proud to partner with the Vermont Higher Education Collaborative (VTHEC) in responding to the professional development needs of districts, schools, educators and administrators throughout Vermont. Please visit the VTHEC site for information on programs, courses, workshops and staff.Want to Become a Special Education Teacher for the 2026-2027 School Year?
- The Agency of Education is supporting alternate pathways to receiving a provisional teaching license with a special education, or early childhood special education (ECSE) endorsement. The VSBPE Provisional waiver will allow districts to expand the applicant pool to include any unlicensed educational professional who possesses a bachelor’s degree (in any subject). If you are interested in becoming a special educator, now is the time!
- If you are currently working in the school district, have your bachelor’s degree, and want to learn more about becoming a special educator for the 2026-2027 school year, please reach out to Nick Gault, Director of Human Resources, at [email protected]