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Collaborating with experts to support schools and deliver professional development, ensuring the success of all students.



Equity Series II Continues Spring 2020

Equity Literacy begins with the willingness to see what we might be conditioned not to see and with the humility to consider our collective culpability

The Vermont Higher Education Collaborative (VT-HEC) is continuing its work with renowned educator, author, and speaker Paul Gorski to present a second series on reducing inequity in our schools. After providing access to three free webinars on Paul’s dynamic introduction to the Equity Literacy Framework and two themed workshops this fall, we have scheduled two additional days this spring focused on the themes of race/racism and poverty. In addition, there is a new free webinar available capturing an interview of Taharee Jackson by Paul on the Roles and Responsibilities of White Educators. All the webinars and workshops have been supported by VT-HEC’s Mission Investment Fund.

Equity means more than hosting multicultural arts-and-crafts fairs or diversity assemblies. It begins with a willingness to see what we might be conditioned not to see and the humility to consider our and our colleagues’ culpability. It involves real conversations about racism, economic inequality, sexism, homophobia and ableism.

While each of the two days this spring will focus on a particular theme they both will utilize the concepts of the Equity Literacy Framework to help participants become more aware and effective in dealing with inequity regardless of it form or source and to apply the principles found in the framework to their own setting.

Ridding Schools of Racism: From Equity Optics to Equity Action
Presented by Taharee Jackson and Paul Gorski
March 24, 2020: DoubleTree Hilton, South Burlington, VT

Taharee Jackson holds expertise in the areas of teacher education, inclusive schooling practices and policies, and urban education reform. She is particularly interested in how members of “privileged” groups become advocates and allies for others. Watch for her forthcoming book, A Different Way to be White: Becoming Antiracist Teachers and Teacher Educators.

An Economic Justice Approach to Eliminating Socioeconomic Inequities in Schools
Presented by Paul Gorski
April 15, 2020: DoubleTree Hilton, South Burlington, VT

Paul Gorski is the founder of the Equity Literacy Institute and EdChange. For nearly 25 years he has worked with schools and districts across the United States on equity and justice issues ranging from race and racism to poverty and economic injustice. He is the co-author of Reaching and Teaching Students in Poverty: Strategies for Erasing the Opportunity Gap and Case Studies on Diversity and Social Justice Education

The VT-HEC is one of Vermont’s largest statewide providers of professional development focused on the education, health and well-being of children and youth. The VT-HEC equity series is underwritten by the VT-HEC Mission Investment Fund.  For more information: vthec.org.

VT-HEC 20th Anniversary Celebration Events

Special Events Highlighting National Experts

The VT-HEC turns twenty this year as it was formed in 2000 in response to the passage of Act 117 which required the Commissioner of Education to work with institutions of higher education, school districts and other agencies to tackle personnel and professional development needs of the state.  VT-HEC started out as a collaboration among VT’s Department of Education, UVM and VT State Colleges. Its first program focused on addressing the shortage of licensed special educators.  Since then it has gone on to develop course sequences addressing early childhood, autism, health education and most recently, work-based learning.

The VT-HEC became an independent non-profit in 2010 and has been offering an annual array of workshops. workshop series and related courses in a wide variety of topics that have been identified as priority needs. Over the past few years its Mission Investment Fund has been utilized to increase accessibility of our offerings by providing scholarships to those without professional development resources, supporting the delivery of low-cost offerings in areas such as early childhood and equity as well as the development of new efforts in areas such as  trauma, STEM and early childhood administration.

To mark this milestone the VT-HEC has arranged a number of special events bringing in some noteworthy national experts.

Ridding Schools of Racism: From Equity Optics to Equity Action
Presented by Taharee Jackson and Paul Gorski
March 24, 2020: DoubleTree Hilton, South Burlington, VT
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From Intention to Action: Developing Independent Executive Function Skills in Learners
Presented by Sara Ward, MS, CCC/SLP
March 31, 2020: Capitol Plaza, Montpelier, VT
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An Economic Justice Approach to Eliminating Socioeconomic Inequities in Schools
Presented by Paul Gorski
April 15, 2020: DoubleTree Hilton, South Burlington, VT
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Putting Concepts into Practice for Students with Anxiety:
Combining Effective Plans with Real-Time Classroom Strategies
Presented by Lynn Lyons
May 15, 2020: Killington Grand Hotel, Killington, VT

For more information go to vthec.org. We hope you can take advantage of these very special events.