Many new special education teachers describe their first years of teaching as overwhelming, stressful, and isolating. The VT Higher Education Collaborative (VT-HEC) and the VT Council of Special Education Administrators (VCSEA) are working together to offer a program to support new special educators. The SE Academy will support special educators across the state to learn practical skills and content, and to form collaborative relationships that can be immediately applied to support student success in Vermont schools. We believe that new special education teachers who have strong support will feel that their roles are more manageable and will be more successful in assisting all students. Join us and your colleagues for support, ideas, and inspiration as you navigate the unfolding challenges and emergent issues in the daily life of a special educator.

The SE Academy will provide opportunities for beginning special education teachers to join a cohort of other new special educators as they share ongoing professional development. The cohort will allow special educators to make connections with others in the field and will provide a community experience that may continue long after the Academy has concluded.

The Academy will begin in late September at the VT-HEC’s 2 day “Orientation to Special Education” workshop in Montpelier, VT. The cohort will be seated together, getting to know each other, and sharing the breakout discussions throughout the day.

For the remainder of the school year, the cohort will meet online once a month, on the first Wednesday of the month from 3:30-5:30 (total of 8 sessions). Each session will be facilitated by Joy Wilcox (Director of Special Education, VT-HEC) and include a presentation from a Vermont educational leader with extensive expertise and experience in a content area that is current and critical for new special educators. The sessions will conclude with group discussions.