Professional Development
VREC provides a wide array of professional development opportunities for educators in person and online in the NEK. Our goal is to be responsive to the field as such offerings spring from needs and interests expressed by superintendents, curriculum directors, principals and teachers directly.
If you have questions about any of our professional learning offerings, contact VREC’s Professional Learning Consultant Jenn Barone at vrecprofdevelopment@gmail.com.
If you are interested in becoming an educator, check out Northeast Kingdom “Grow Your Own” (NEK GYO) Pathways.
Fall 2024 Book Study Offerings
Course window for fall courses - September 30, 2024 - January 3, 2025
Cost - $550 per course
Practical Writing Strategies II
Text - The Writing Revolution
Extend your knowledge and understanding of strategies from The Writing Revolution* (Hochman and Wexler), by creating resources you can use with students (or colleagues).
Format: Online and asynchronous
Audience: Helpful for educators who have previously participated in a course, workshop, or book study of The Writing Revolution, however prior participation is NOT a prerequisite.
Certificate: 36 reclicensing credits
Science of Reading K-2
Text - Shifting the Balance K-2
Learn how six fairly simple shifts can help to improve student outcomes in literacy.
Format: Hybrid - participants will meet every other week (online) and on the alternate weeks work on plans for implementation
Audience: K-6 literacy teachers, interventionists, special educators, administrators
Certificate: 24 reclicensing credits
Vocabulary Instruction
Text - Bringing Words to Life
Learn how to select words for instruction, introduce their meanings, and create engaging learning activities that promote both word knowledge and reading comprehension.
Format: Online and asynchronous
Audience: K-12 teachers, interventionists, and special educators
Certificate: 36 reclicensing credits
Winter 2025 Book Study Offerings
Course window for Winter courses - January 6, 2025 - April 25, 2025
Cost - $550 per course
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Text - The Shift to Student-Led
Learn how UDL and blended learning can place students at the center of their learning.
Format: Online and asynchronous
Audience: K-12 educators
Certificate: 36 reclicensing credits
Science of Reading - Knowledge Matters
Text - Know Better, Do Better - Comprehension
This text provides instructional ideas and ready-to-use tools to help teachers strengthen their instruction in vocabulary, knowledge building, and language structures.
Format: Online and asynchronous
Audience: K-12 educators
Certificate: 36 reclicensing credits
Practical Writing Strategies
Text - The Writing Revolution
During this discussion-based course, learn about a clear, practical approach to teaching writing that includes strategies that can be implemented in all classrooms.
Format: Online and asynchronous
Audience: Teachers, Interventionists, Special Educators grades 2-12
Certificate: 36 reclicensing credits
Northeast Kingdom Heritage Education
The Vermont Rural Education Collaborative provides a range of professional learning opportunities to teachers and administrators across our region. We also provide mini grants to schools that support place-based learning. We are establishing an initiative we are referring to as Northeast Kingdom Heritage Education that will promote place-based learning focused on the region’s rich history and cultural composition.
Heritage education celebrates the diversity of the NEK’s past and present. It honors the past and present Abenaki people and the impact of immigrant groups such as French Canadians to the culture of the region. Likewise, we will embrace the stories and impact of ‘back to the landers,’ working people, new Americans, and BIPoC and LGBTQ people who contribute to the fabric of our communities.