July 2023

Happy Summer! Team TL would like to express our gratitude for all you do for your students and colleagues throughout the school year. Thank you for your commitment to this work. Please see this link for 5 ways to reset and renew this summer – use these practices to help “recharge your batteries”.

Updates from Teaching & Learning

VEA Learning Portal

Check out Member Created Course, Helping ELLs/ESOL Students Succeed: Researched-Backed Strategies for Educators. This course was developed by Prince William Education Association member Amy Verner.

It’s designed for educators who are familiar with ELLs (English Language Learners) and work with them but want to deepen their knowledge and understanding of strategies that work best. Helpful terminology, research about how these students can be successful, and strategies that educators can implement immediately in their classroom or worksite are covered. Articles and videos supplement the content, and educators will also be asked to reflect upon their own experiences and put their knowledge to use with scenarios and opportunities for personal reflection.

To see this course and more, check out the VEA Learning Portal! Access the VEA Learning Portal HERE. Feel free to bookmark this link.

If you have any trouble getting into the portal, please reach out to either Dr. Amber Brown, abrown@veanea.org, or Isabel Sullivan, isullivan@veanea.org.

SVEA Aspiring Educators

Aspiring Educators (SVEA-AE) to Active Professional Rebate

Former Aspiring Educators (AE) who join VEA/NEA during their first year of eligibility for Active Professional Membership are entitled to a special rebate. The rebate is $20 for each year of membership as an Aspiring Educator (Student Member), for up to 4 years. Someone who joined the AE program for one year can apply for a $20-dollar rebate. And an AE member for 4 years is entitled to apply for an $80 rebate! The rebate application must be submitted no later than May 1^st.

If you were an SVEA-AE member, you would also qualify for an additional $5 per year of student membership (up to 4 years). Use this form to submit your VEA rebate.

Upcoming Opportunities

Get Ready for EPIC!

Workshops! Workshops! Workshops!

Introducing National Board Homeroom

The National Board for Professional Standards Launched its newest tool for Candidates in June. National Board Homeroom is an online hub that provides a sequenced format to help candidates navigate the National Board journey. Structured into four phases, or “sessions,” Homeroom provides steps for candidates to follow, from selecting a certificate area to submitting their components. The four sessions are based on a one-year completion timeline, but candidates can choose the timeline that best suits their situation. This is not meant to be a substitute for other forms of candidate support but to supplement them and provide support for candidates that may not have access to other support.

Request Candidate Support for your National Board Journey

VEA offers trained NBCT Professional Learning Facilitators (PLFs) to support you through your National Board process. Whether you just getting started or are an NBCT working to maintain your certification, the VEA provides support through your choice of a one-on-one mentor, a candidate support cohort—or both! Simply complete this Request for Candidate Support form to get started. We will begin pairing candidates and PLFs in August.To learn more about National Board Certification, visit our website or go to www.nbpts.org.

From our friends at VDOE:

VDOE Office of Student Services: Learning Center

Recorded Webinars & Modules | Free

This online learning center offers on-demand access to a wide variety of video courses and conference presentations. Use the dropdown menus to navigate and locate the resources to meet your professional development needs and support your practice.

Who's Who in Teaching and Learning

The work of the Department of Teaching and Learning extends out of headquarters directly to members. This month, we will be featuring one of our member partners:

Name: Brad Hutchinson

Local: Bristol VA Education Association (BVEA)

Role(s) that you have completed with VEA: Co-president of local, Vice Chairman of the Fitz Turner Commission, member of the LGBTQIA+ ad hoc committee, content developer

# of years in education: 32

# of years in VEA: 25+

How has being a union member helped you?

Being a union member has helped me learn and improve skills throughout my years of membership. It has helped me focus my activism in a way that I feel that I’m contributing on a local and state level. VEA has also honed my skills in organizing, educating my peers, and teaching in general. Through departments such as Human and Civil Rights, Teaching and Learning, and Government Relations and Research, I continuously learn more about the education profession and the issues that matter to us all.

If you could give 1 piece of advice to someone in education, what would it be?

Keep learning! No teacher is “done” with their professional education.

The Latest from VEA

Teaching & Learning Today: July 2023