Health Education

Program Timeline + Course Descriptions

The 18-credit sequence of graduate level courses can be completed in two years. Some students may not need to take the entire course sequence. For more information, see Program Requirements above.

Course Rotation, Spring 2026 – Fall 2027

Each course is 3 credits. VT-HEC partners with Vermont State University (VTSU) to offer graduate credit. In some instances, courses may be taken for undergraduate credit.

This course is designed for K-12 health educators, school health staff, consultants and community partners to provide a sufficient level of knowledge, skills and resources to teach and support a school’s health curriculum and Injury and Violence Prevention Education Program. The aim is to prevent negative consequences of intentional and unintentional injury, and to prepare educators and professionals to serve as resources for youth, families and school staff within the school’s comprehensive health education and school wellness program. The course content, activities, and project are designed to teach and apply concepts of mental health and injury prevention and address Vermont Health Education Standards to meet the endorsement competencies defined by the Vermont Rules Governing the Licensing of Health Educators. Participants apply the course teachings in a school-based project.

This course is a comprehensive study of personal health with emphasis on mental, social, and emotional health; stress management; self-esteem; communicable and degenerative diseases; health benefits of physical activity; consumer and community health; Whole School, Whole Community and Whole Child (WSCC); and how to advocate for health education.

As the need to address student nutrition has come into focus, a comprehensive approach to changing nutrition behaviors must include facilitating development of nutrition related health literacy among youth. This course is designed for professionals to learn how to teach nutrition education while working collaboratively across school and local communities to establish healthful, sustainable food systems for schools.

This participatory course will provide teachers with the knowledge and skills to deliver effective standards-based health education curriculum, instruction, and assessment. An examination of health education principles, theories, and practice will form the foundation of the course. Opportunities to review and analyze data to inform planning are integrated in the course, along with the use of strategies that support all learners and incorporate technology.

This participatory, project-based course will provide teachers with the knowledge and skills to deliver an effective standards-based sexuality education curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Vermont’s focus on proficiency-based learning and teaching in a health education classroom will be addressed. Coursework will allow students the opportunity to explore a broad perspective on sexuality education, including what research indicates is effective, adolescent brain development, cross-cultural sexual expression and behavior, attitudes and social norms, barriers to change, and communication skills all within the context of positive, healthy sexuality.

This course is designed for school health staff, consultants and community partners to provide a sufficient level of knowledge, skills and resources to teach in a school’s curriculum and substance misuse prevention and education program. The aim is to prevent negative consequences of substance misuse, and the development of substance use disorder with students at risk and to prepare professionals to serve as resources for youth, families and school staff within the school’s health education and school health program. The course content, activities and the course project are aligned to the Vermont Health Education Standards and the VT Rules Governing the Licensing of Health Educators. Participants apply the course teachings in a school-based project.

GUIDING YOU WITH EXPERTISE

Course Instructors

Melanie Laquerre

Melanie Laquerre

Melanie Laquerre is currently working as a Health Educator for the Colchester School District. She earned her BS in Physical Education, minoring in Health Education from UVM and her MS from the University of Southern New Hampshire. As a health teacher, Melanie strives to help students explore health information when making responsible choices concerning the physical, mental, emotional and social well-being for themselves and others. She teaches her students personal responsibility, choice and methods to obtain accurate health information that currently impacts teenagers today. She does this by designing equitable curriculum, instruction, and assessments based on standards, proficiencies, and health skills using backward design and considering individual student learning needs.
Lance Metayer, LMHC

Lance Metayer, LMHC

Lance has spent the last sixteen years working with youth and families who have been impacted by developmental trauma and chronic stress. Lance is currently the Team Leader of School Based Clinical Services at Northwestern Counseling and Support Services where he oversees a team of mental health clinicians providing therapy to children and adolescents in schools throughout Franklin and Grand Isle County. Previously, Lance worked as Statewide Project Coordinator for Community FIRST where he helped develop a statewide network of Teen/Youth/Adult Mental Health First Aid instructors to provide Y/MHFA which provided training to over 7,500 educators, foster parents, and community members across the state. Lance is passionate about providing mental health education to reduce mental health sigma, increase early intervention, and improve social conditions for individuals impacted by mental illness.
Erin Randall, M.A.

Erin Randall, M.A.

Erin is an instructor for the VT-HEC Health Educator Licensing program. She teaches Nutrition and Food Education and serves on the Health Advisory Board. Erin teaches Health Education, Contemporary Health Issues in Fiction, and Independent Living at South Burlington High School. She is also an advisor for the Coalition for Community Service and the Gender Sexuality Alliance. Erin has a Master of Arts in Teaching from UVM and an undergraduate degree in Dietetics and Nutritional Education. In addition to working with teachers to incorporate nutrition education in their classrooms, Erin is passionate about incorporating mindfulness education into classrooms everywhere.
Krystina Comforto, M.S.T.

Krystina Comforto, M.S.T.

Krystina is currently the Assistant Principal at Mount Mansfield Union High School, in Jericho, Vermont. She received a BS in Health Science (2008) and an MST in K-12 Health Education (2011) from The State University of New York College at Cortland. In 2014, she earned a graduate certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University and in June of 2018, her Administration License for VT/NH from Upper Valley Educators Institute. As a school leader, Krystina strives to model the way for a collaborative team of educators that act as role models with a deep commitment to the whole child. She hopes to help create a world in which every child, regardless of background, becomes a successful, healthy and productive citizen.
Louise DeGuise M.Ed.

Louise DeGuise M.Ed.

Louise is an instructor for the VT-HEC Health Educator program and is currently a Health Educator in the South Burlington School District. Louise received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a Minor in Biology and Coaching at Norwich University. She completed her Master’s of Education from Southern New Hampshire University. Louise has had her teaching license in PreK-12 Health and Physical Education since 2000 and has taught in various Vermont schools. For the past five years she has served as a Peer Review Panelist for the Vermont Agency of Education for health and physical educators. She enjoys working with others, exploring new ideas, and being creative.
Tom Perry

Tom Perry

Tom is a Physical Education and Health teacher, and a Varsity Football and Baseball Coach in Colchester, Vermont. He has over 25 years of experience teaching and coaching at all levels. Tom has bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from UVM and a masters degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University. He has a wife, 3 children, and one crazy golden retriever. Tom loves to hike, bike, kayak and enjoy the outdoors.
Kathy Mulligan

Kathy Mulligan

Kathy has been a teacher in Vermont for over 35 years, the last 20 working with 9th graders in Health and Physical Education. She has also coached a variety of sports at the high school level. She has recently received her online teaching endorsement and is now teaching through VTHEC as well as working part time at Mt. Mansfield Union High School after retiring from full time teaching. Kathy enjoys backpacking, ice hockey, and playing the upright bass in a band.
Sunny Noelle Naughton

Sunny Noelle Naughton

Sunny Noelle Naughton is a northern Vermont native and a Communications and Mental Health Literacy Consultant. With a background in human services, journalism, and the entertainment business, Sunny uses collaboration, education, and facilitation to support individuals, communities, and organizations to further conversations into action surrounding Mental Health Literacy. Sunny has a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University and is finishing a second master’s in non-clinical psychology, working towards updating systems to serve all. Sunny was recently named Vermont’s top Mental Health First Aid Trainer for the 5th year and works as a Community Advisor to the National Mental Health Literacy Collaborative.
Susan Yesalonia, Ed.D.

Susan Yesalonia, Ed.D.

[email protected]

Susan has taught health education at all levels throughout her career. She is a graduate of SUNY Cortland (BS) and Ohio University (MS), and started her career as an Athletic Trainer in Woodbridge, NJ. When she moved to Vermont in 1983, she began teaching health and physical education for Northfield and Montpelier school districts. From 2005 and 2011, Susan taught in the Norwich University Physical Education Teacher Education Program, preparing new health and physical education teachers. In 2011 she moved her work to the Agency of Education, initially in Educator Quality and moving to the Proficiency-Based Learning Team in 2017, taking on the role of Health and Physical Education Specialist. Susan has served on the SHAPE VT boards for several years, as well as serving as the Vermont representative on SHAPE America’s Eastern District Association boards. Susan has taught courses for VT-HEC in the health education program and is the program’s coordinator.