Secondary

• VVA offers no cost online professional learning opportunities for all Virginia public school educators.  All K–12 educators and administrators at Virginia public schools and divisions are invited to register for the 2025–2026 VVA Statewide Professional Learning Webinars, held on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. 

• These webinars highlight innovative and creative technologies, instructional strategies, and resources for school divisions.  

• The fall sessions include presenters from MagicSchool AI, VDOE content areas, Bark Parent Safe Monitoring, Project Write, and the Virginia250 Commission. 

• For more information, contact Morgan Occhuizzo. 

• FLAVA 2025–2026 Teacher Workshop Series Now Available

• The Foreign Language Association of Virginia (FLAVA) is offering a series of free, one-hour Zoom workshops for the 2025–2026 school year. 

• These sessions are open to FLAVA members and members of sister organizations in SCOLT and NECTFL. 

• Workshops are held monthly throughout the year with varying start times at 4:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. 

• Each session requires separate registration. 

• Visit the FLAVA website for more information. 

• Creating and implementing effective IEPs is an important responsibility for special education professionals—but even small missteps can lead to significant legal, educational, and emotional consequences for students, families, and schools. 

• Join us for our next quarterly IEP webinar to explore common IEP mistakes made by educators and administrators and how to avoid them. 

• Whether you're new to special education or a seasoned professional, this session will provide practical insights to strengthen your IEP practices and have the tools to ensure they are legally sound, actionable, and measurable.

• September 24

• 4:00 - 5:00 Webinar

• REGISTER TODAY

• SURN Exploring Artificial Intelligence Conference 

• The SURN Exploring Artificial Intelligence Conference will be held on November 17, at William & Mary’s School of Education. 

• Designed for K–12 educators, the event features an interactive keynote by Dr. Trenton Ford and breakout sessions on practical classroom applications of AI. 

• Attendees will build shared language, deepen understanding, and gain hands-on experience to confidently integrate AI into their teaching. 

• For details, costs, and registration, visit SURN’s conference page  

VATLL’s Annual Conference is the premier conference for teaching, learning, and leading in Virginia designed for all roles at all levels throughout the entire Commonwealth. At this conference, you will have the opportunity to attend educational sessions and participate in hands-on learning environments that will provide you with tangible resources and ready-to-use techniques that will help you learn new instructional strategies to further develop your practice. You will be exposed to the timeliest topics, the latest research, and the most current trends in education today. You will be able to share the information and resources gathered, preparing your school and division to guide educators to improve student learning outcomes.

• Conference Dates: Dec 9 and Dec 10-11, Williamsburg 

Here are some conference highlights:

• Featured keynote speakers include Jennifer Abrams, Jody Carrington, John Hodge, and Chris Emdin.

• Access to more than 70 educational sessions for all levels of instruction.

• Entry to an interactive exhibit hall featuring 27 companies and other learning and networking experiences.

• Opportunities to connect and network with more than 900 educators from Virginia and beyond.

• All conference materials available for 30 days in the conference app.

• Conference Theme: The Next Chapter

__________________________________

Pre-Conference with Jennifer Abrams:

There Is An “I” in Team: Bottom Line Skills For Creating a Healthy, Professional School Culture

It is critically important for a healthy, professional school culture, and for student growth that we strive to develop ourselves, not just as educators, but also as emotionally intelligent, psychologically mature systemically aware human beings. What can we do to be bigger and better versions of ourselves? This workshop, based on Jennifer’s new book, Stretching Your Learning Edges: Growing (Up) at Work, will introduce us to adult developmental theory and to five focused ways we can develop ourselves at work.

We will build our skills to:

• know ourselves and our identities

• better suspend our certainty and think with greater complexity and openness

• take increased responsibility for our language and communications

• engage with reciprocity and live ‘out loud’ our belief of mutual respect for all

• build our resiliency and work on our emotional hygiene

Pricing:

• Pre-Conference Workshop (December 9): $195

• Conference: $375

• Pre-Con + Conference: $525

 Register Today

Weekly in October, Zoom

VATLL and MGT are teaming up for a webinar series created specifically for administrators AND instructional coaches!

We are teaming up to make the necessary shifts to improve student learning outcomes through our instructional leadership. We are diving into those shifts with three connected strands: Culture, Systems, and Impact.

Culture: 

• • From Judgment to Support

  • From “why are you in my room?” to “when are you coming to visit my class?”

  • From isolated effort to embedded system

Systems:

• • From disconnected efforts to a united front for teacher support

  • From random acts of coaching to routine structures that drive growth

  • From sporadic support to scheduled and sustained coaching

Impact:

• • From one-and-done support to ongoing, intentional growth through cycles

  • From routine to refinement

  • From “we think it's working” to “here's how we know it is”

Choose the strand(s) that best meet your needs. Each strand is a series of three 30-minute webinars that will be recorded in the event you cannot attend live. The series is best when you join us for all NINE webinars - three for each strand.

Details:

• • Each webinar is from 11:30am-12:00pm and will be recorded for those who cannot attend the live sessions

  • Culture: October 7, 14, 21

  • Systems: October 8, 15, 22

  • Impact: October 9, 16, 23

  • Each strand is $60

 Register Today

• The Office of STEM is hosting monthly driver education webinars for teachers and supervisors on the second Tuesday of every month at 9 a.m. 

• These webinars provide a space to stay informed about best practices, emerging trends, and policy updates, while fostering professional growth and peer support. 

• The sessions aim to help teachers equip young drivers with the skills and knowledge to develop safe, collision-free habits for life. 

• All driver education teachers and supervisors are welcome to join. 

• Visit the VDOE Driver Education website for more information and to register. 

Solve Real-World Social Issues with Social Entrepreneurship in the Classroom

• September 16, 2025

• This workshop shows teachers how to engage students in social entrepreneurship by partnering virtually with underserved communities in eight countries. Students build leadership, entrepreneurship, workplace readiness, and global citizenship skills while addressing real-world challenges. Free, customizable resources make it easy to integrate into classes, clubs, or CTSOs with flexible time commitment.

•  Learn More and Register

From Capes to Capital A Journey Through Comic Book Economics

• September 17, 2025

• Join us for this fun journey through the economic forces behind your favorite comic book heroes! 

•  Learn More and Register

Reading Makes Cents (RMC): Problem Solving Through Economic Choices

• • The Reading Makes Cents Reading Challenge helps K–8 students understand and apply many History and Social Science SOL concepts, including the ideas of scarcity, decision-making, work, money, and saving. This engaging webinar will introduce the new book selections for this year, while also walking you through the accompanying lessons and materials. Whether you’re a returning teacher or new to the program, you’ll leave with ready-to-use strategies to integrate economics and personal finance into your literacy block or social studies lessons.

  • September 24, 2025

  •  Learn More and Register

Connecting the Dots: Economics, Virginia Standards…

• • 6 hours of free professional development
    $75 stipend upon completion | Lunch Provided
    Free classroom‐​ready resources
    Room 709

  • September 30, 2025

  •  Learn More and Register

Jump$tart Summit (VCEE Presenting)

• • An annual one-day conference for anyone interested in teaching personal finance. Teachers from all across Virginia come to connect with one another and get new resources.

  • Jump$tart is a coalition of statewide partners who come together to boost financial education in the Commonwealth.

  • October 03, 2025

  •  Learn More and Register

Developing Intrapreneurial Employees Across Career Clusters

• • This session equips CTE teachers with strategies to integrate entrepreneurial thinking, including creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration, into any career field. Participants will explore a flexible, field-tested curriculum, free e-textbook, and over 200 ready-to-use resources aligned with Virginia’s U.S. Entrepreneurship Certification Exam, all designed to boost student engagement and workplace readiness.

  • October 7, 2025

  •  Learn More and Register

Tracks, Trails, and Trade: Teaching Transportation’s Role in Expansion

• • All aboard—and buckle up—for a journey through history, geography, and economics! This interactive professional development session is designed to equip elementary teachers with engaging lessons and activities that help students explore how transportation systems like roads, canals, steamboats, and railroads changed life in America—and in Virginia.

  • October 8, 2025

  •  Learn More and Register

Online Economics Institute- Fall 2025

• • This online, asynchronous institute is designed for those teaching the economics portion of high school Economics and Personal Finance.  Over its six weeks, it covers detailed content instruction including economics decision making, market structures, supply and demand, the implications of economics indicators, and government policies and their effect on the economy.

  • October 9, 2025 – November 23, 2025

  •  Learn More and Register

Online Personal Finance Institute

• • This online, asynchronous institute is designed for those teaching the personal finance portion of high school Economics and Personal Finance.  Over its six weeks, it covers detailed content instruction including banking, credit, consumer rights and responsibilities, insurance, taxes, financial planning and planning for further education after high school.

  • October 9, 2025 – November 23, 2025

  •  Learn More and Register

Bluey-conomics: Using a Kids’ TV Show to Teach About Econ, Money, and Choices

• • Bluey is a smash hit TV show that depicts real-world family situations. Since all choices are economic choices, the show gives great opportunities to teach econ! In particular, the show depicts both “market” and “non-market” choices that kids face. The standards-aligned discussion questions and episode guide will give you what you need to get your kids excited to learn!

  • October 9, 2025 | 4:00pm – 5:00pm

  •  Learn More and Register

Civics and Economics Institute

• • This online, asynchronous institute is designed for those teaching the economics portion of middle school Civics and Economics.  Over its four weeks, it covers detailed content instruction including economics decision making, market structures, supply and demand, the implications of economics indicators, and government policies and their effect on the economy.

  • October 23, 2025 – November 23, 2025

  •  Learn More and Register

One Stop Shop: Elementary Day Camp

• • This pop-up “shop” is packed with ready-to-use lessons, activities, and materials that make teaching these important topics simple and engaging. Whether you’re brand new to economics or just looking for fresh ideas, we’ve got you covered.

  • November 7, 2025

  •  Learn More and Register

Teacher Stipend! Mini-grants for your classroom!

Apply for Cohort #2: 2026

The program An Experiential and Data-driven Approach to Agricultural Education (ADVANCE) is a face-to-face professional workforce development opportunity that provides educators with the knowledge, experience, curriculum resources, supplies/equipment, and mentoring to support the implementation of drones and precision agriculture concepts in the classroom.

This is primarily a hands-on, field-based professional development program. After completing the ADVANCE program (which includes both virtual and face-to-face instruction), participants will be FAA remote pilot certified, knowledgeable, and experienced in implementing a complete drone-based data collection workflow.

Educators will receive a stipend, a mini-grant, free virtual training (in preparation for the remote pilot test), paid registration for the FAA's remote pilot certificate, face-to-face instruction, & more!

All expenses are covered (except for travel to/from the workshop in Blacksburg).

Target Audience: Middle school/high school educators and/or 2-year college faculty teaching STEM-related courses (agriculture, forestry, biology, environmental science, robotics, or related topics). Applications from CTE teachers are encouraged. Applications from educators at the same school/school district are encouraged (separate applications are needed, though).

When (face-to-face workshop at Virginia Tech): June 1-4, 2026

(The virtual learning sessions will begin in late fall 2025/early 2026).

Topics: Precision Agriculture / Mapping with Drones / Data-Driven Decisions / Collecting data with sensors / Remote Sensing / Workflows

Additional information and online registration are available from: www.vtadvance.net

Application deadline: October 1, 2025. Applicants will be notified of acceptance shortly after the application deadline.

Feel free to contact John McGee (jmcg@vt.edu) or Daniel Cross (falkus@vt.edu) if you have any questions. We are looking forward to learning with you all in Blacksburg!

The Office of STEM is pleased to announce ongoing professional learning to support the implementation of the 2018 Science Standards of Learning. Registration is required in advance for all webinars. 

Science Teacher Support Series 

Webinars offered monthly to support science teachers. Webinar dates, topics, and registration links for the fall are below. More details about each topic can be found at the registration link.  

• September 16, 2025 | 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
  Topic: Foundations: Building Science Literacy

• October 21, 2025 | 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
  Topic: 2025 Expanded High School Science Standards of Learning

• November 18, 2025 | 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
  Topic: Foundations: Building Science Vocabulary

• December 16, 2025 | 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
  Topic: Using the SEPs to Improve Science Learning: Asking Questions and Defining Problems

An AI Experience Built For You! Tools, Strategies, and Innovation

November 4, 2025 via Zoom

3 Virtual Workshops

$75 for each or $150 for all 3

The AI workshops you've been looking for are finally here. These are the solutions for AI most coveted by educators in 2025. If you are a division leader looking to schedule high-quality professional learning for your Election Day PD, we have your solution!

The Elect AI Virtual Workshop Series is unlike any other with the quality content and premier facilitators you seek.

AI + Differentiation with Eric Carbaugh (9:00-10:30am)

DI Meets AI: Using Generative Tools to Differentiate for Student Needs. One of the biggest roadblocks teachers face when differentiating instruction is finding time to plan. However, generative AI (GenAI) tools can significantly expedite this process by creating differentiated resources in seconds. This session will provide practical guidance on effectively using GenAI to adapt instructional activities, tier content, and analyze assessments to support the diverse learning needs of students.

AI + Engagement with John Meehan (10:45am-12:15pm)

Bots, Brains, and Buy-In: Authentic Engagement in the Age of A.I. ChatGPT can write an essay. Midjourney can make art. But can either get a teenager to care about algebra at 8am? In this fast-paced session, we'll explore hw to keep students plugged in (without zoning out) by blending smart tech with even smarter teaching. Come for the AI. Stay for the “ah-ha!” 

AI + Teacher Burnout with Monica Burns (12:30-2:00)

Explore how AI-powered tools can help lighten the load by automating repetitive tasks and streamlining your workflow. This session focuses on actionable strategies to reduce stress, free up planning time, and support work-life balance.

__________________________________________________________

Each Workshop is $75 OR all 3 workshops are just $150!!! Each workshop will be recorded (with the exception of Breakout Room collaboration) and available to registrants for a limited time following November 4.

REGISTER NOW!

New Web-Based Opportunities for AI and Career Advancement

The Virginia Has Jobs AI Career Launch Pad is a web-based platform, developed in partnership with Google, to help Virginians explore and train for high-demand careers in AI and technology. 

The platform offers a curated selection of free and low-cost courses and degree programs. 

Teachers are encouraged to take advantage of these resources—not only to upskill professionally, but also to bring AI literacy into their classrooms. 

Educators can apply for scholarships. 

Facilitators: Dr. John Almarode (JMU) and Dr. Kelley Aitken, VaSCL Assessment Coordinator and Science Supervisor  

Register Here: https://forms.gle/HrLfmmAPWEy3nLhT7  ($250 per participant for the year)

School staff collect and access mountains of data—but, do educators in your schools know how to use it to drive real learning?

In this high-impact cohort experience spread throughout the year, we will shift the way participants think about assessment and evaluation. Instead of learning as an endpoint, you’ll learn to use assessment and evaluation as powerful tools to deepen student learning, refine instruction, and promote mastery. Participants will leave each session with expertise to better support PLCs, Professional Development, and Data use in your own school or division. 

Intended Audience: K-12 teachers, teacher leaders, support specialists, data team members, building level administrators, coordinators, coaches, and central leaders  

Participants Will:

·         Master the Evaluator Mindset – How to assess learning in real-time and better adjust instruction effectively.

·         Make Data Work for You –Collect, analyze, and act on meaningful student data.

·         Use Scaffolding & Feedback with Purpose – Move beyond over-scaffolding and equip students with the tools to succeed independently.

·         Design Grade-Level Learning Tasks – Ensure every student engages in appropriately challenging, standards-aligned work.

This isn’t just about assessment—it’s about unlocking student potential and transforming learning. Join us to take control of the evaluation process and empower all students to thrive!

Onsite Meeting Location, Dates and Time:  9:00am- 3:00pm 

Meeting 1 onsite Oct 27 at JMU,

Meeting 2 onsite on February 9 at Madison High, Fairfax, 

Meeting 3 onsite June 16 at the Spotsylvania School Division PD Center. 

Virtual Meetings will be topic-based and scheduled with feedback from participants. 

Facilitators: Debora Collins, Tony Borash, Kristin Williams 

Register Here: https://forms.gle/FiXMtF99JE3v3hF39 

Participants will engage in iterative learning cycles over the course of a year to build knowledge and strengthen their coaching practices. Participants will work together as a cohort, in triads, and independently with a facilitator to transfer their learning into actionable practice within the context of their role. Cohort members will earn a VaSCL micro-credential in coaching.

Intended Audience 

The cohort is for teacher leaders, teachers, instructional coaches, PLC leads, principals, assistant principals, and central leaders who use informal and formal coaching strategies to build staff and also  student learning capacity. Great coaching skills matter as much with students in the classroom as well as with adult learners.

Participants Will  

• Develop and extend their capacity to use coaching skill sets that positively impact performance of students, teachers, and/or administrative leaders. 

• Become a member of a Professional Learning and Coaching Network. 

Meeting Locations, Dates and Time: 

• Either Sept 16 or 17 for a 60-90 virtual cohort launch kickoff  

•  9:00 am- 3:00 pm Sept 30 , Nov 13, April 23 Albemarle Schools PD Center 

• Sept 16 or 17, Feb 12 and End of Year (TBA) Virtual Sessions (link will be shared)   

Register up to three division staff members for each institute at links below:

Science 

Social Studies/History 

Mathematics  

Language Arts/English 

Our VaSCL SOL Content Institutes for math, science, language arts, and social studies are designed so that 3rd -12th grade educators deepen and expand knowledge of the current Virginia SOL revisions, including new VDOE Instructional Guides. The VaSCL SOL Institutes respond to emerging needs of educators in the field with up-to-date resources, continuous professional support and accessible content resources. Educators should bring data sources to use in analysis of current instructional and assessment practices and align real-time to levels of rigor in new standards and test formats. Our expert practitioner teams bring new and updated information and expanded expertise to elementary, middle, and high school participants. Register as soon as possible because spaces fill quickly! 

Meeting dates, locations, time 

• • Oct 6  8:30 -3:30 onsite science and social studies workshops Doubletree (Charlottesville) 

  • Oct 7  8:30 -3:30 onsite math and language arts workshops Doubletree (Charlottesville) 

Participants will:

• Unpack content and process skills

• Plan how to use balanced assessments to measure evidence of growth and proficiency of each standard.

• Leave with a range of resources that align with standards for all four SOL content areas. 

• Design sample learning activities for students using VDOE and other SOL-aligned resources.

• Finish the day with a renewed sense of confidence, deep understanding of revisions, and a toolbelt of adaptable approaches to assess content for learning in the classroom and to support fellow educators. 

Our top-notch institute staff will facilitate your 2-3 person teams by content area to extend their expertise and support of educators implementing new SOLS as they align assessments, instruction, and pacing. We encourage that your content teams include teachers, coaches, specialists, department or team leaders who have responsibility for implementing elementary, middle, and/or high school SOLs. Participants will leave the Institute ready to share information, strategies, and resources with educators in grades 3-12 in the division and/or schools.

THE STOCK MARKET GAME™: PROVEN EXPERIENCE-BASED LEARNING

Thinking of bringing the Stock Market Game™ to your 4th-12th grade class? This workshop helps make the most out of the experience – learning how to play the game as well as how to integrate this teaching tool into your existing classroom curriculum.

Aug 27, 2025 | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Registration Deadline: August 27, 2025

Grade Level: Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, High School, Middle School

Instructor: Lauren Shifflett, Associate Director | Center for Economic Education James Madison University

Learn to use The Stock Market Game™, as a valuable educational tool for both teachers and students! Students manage a virtual investment portfolio and compete with teams across the state. Students learn saving and investing, sharpen math and research skills, and experience market forces at work. After participating in the SMG, independent studies show an increase in math scores for elementary and middle school students. It is also a proven way to learn many of the SOL in the high school economics and personal finance course.

No prior knowledge of the stock market is necessary.

REGISTER NOW

Register for this FREE workshop and learn how to bring The Stock Market Game™ to your classroom. Zoom link will be sent one week prior. 

Welcome to the Council for Exceptional Children's Effective & High-Leverage Practices for Paraeducators program! We're thrilled you are here! Keep scrolling for all the info about the program.

In collaboration with the Paraprofessional Resource & Research Center and the CEEDAR Center, this completely online and on-demand program was designed to provide paraeducators with a learning opportunity focused on their unique role and how that aligns with specific high-leverage practices (HLPs). In this FREE program, you will be introduced to four areas of high-leverage practice: Collaboration, Assessment, Instruction, and Social/Emotional/Behavioral. The courses are broken down into phases created for each of these four areas. This program was curated so that each course builds on the next. Start with the Program Overview (it's only like 2 minutes, we swear) then move on to HLP Focus Area 1, then 2, etc.

*You will have access to this program and all its content for one year from the date of registration.

ACCESS THE TRAINING BY REGISTERING HERE

Secondary French Teacher Professional Learning Opportunity

The University of Virginia’s Department of French and the Center for the Liberal Arts will host a free professional development program for secondary French teachers titled “Freedom and Unfreedom” on September 27, from 10a.m.– 4p.m. at Shannon Library. 

Conducted primarily in French, the event will foster conversations around art, history, and culture in the global Francophone world. 

Attendees will receive a $100 stipend and a professional development certificate. 

Register or learn about this opportunity today. 

VAG Annual Conference: Diving into Differentiation

Join the Virginia Association for the Gifted at their annual conference on October 9-10 at Virginia Wesleyan University.  

Be inspired by the keynote speaker Dr. Tamra Stambaugh and learn from educators from around the state.  

Learn more or register today.   

VAST 2025 Professional Development Institute 

Registration Now Open

The Virginia Association of Science Teachers is excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2025 PDI, taking place November 13–15, in Alexandria. 

The event will kick off with a preconference session led by Dr. John Almarode, focusing on Leveraging High-Impact Strategies and Science Practices to Empower Learners. 

Join science educators from across the state for thoughtful sessions designed to support your practice and professional growth.     

• The RESPECT PROJECT focuses on improving student performance by helping teachers lawfully and appropriately support students of all faiths.

• Researcher Ilana Horwitz of Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education found that “being religious helps adolescents at the middle and high school level because they have learned the very habits that public schools are structured to reward: conscientiousness and cooperation.”

• Religious students are helped because the faith community and the school community both pour into students lives the characteristics that help social, emotional, and learning development. For example, both institutions want students to respect authority, be conscientious, cooperative, and kind. Both want students to have a sense of purpose in life. It is a benefit to students when they have others outside the school community helping them develop these traits.

• It is not the place of public schools to promote religious adherence. However, they can affirm its value for the many students who already attend religious services and for whom their religious faith is already an important part of their identity.

• RESPECT PROJECT 

  • • One-page flyer

• USDOE's Guidance & RESPECT PROJECT 

  • • 8-page, comprehensive overview

• RESPECT PROJECT 

  • • Webpage:  https://respectproject.net

• 5-minute (Teacher) & 3-minute (Student) Religious Expression in Public Schools 

  • • Videos—From Orange County Dept. of Education website  https://ocde.us/Superintendent/Pages/Religious-freedom-in-public-schools.aspx  (5-min video is embedded in the 30-Teacher Training Module-RESPECT PROJECT)

• Access to the 30-Minute Teacher Training Module:  

1. Visit www.edpoint.net/respect 

2. Scroll to and click on “Access Training Module.”

3. When prompted, enter this password: edpoint35

4. Enter your name and school district.

WIDA Self-Paced Workshops 

These interactive and engaging self-paced workshops offer Virginia K-12 educators the opportunity to work individually or with a professional learning community. Workshops are 1-4 hours beginning September 1, 2024, through August 31, 2025, with a variety of topics. Please share the WIDA Self-Paced Workshops flyer with all Pre-K-12 teachers and English Language Learning support personnel.  

Log in to the WIDA Secure Portal to access the workshops.  

THE EXPLORE ASD SEMINAR SERIES

The Explore ASD Series contains seminars that provide a narrow focus of information on topics important to educators, families, individuals with ASD, other professionals, and community members. These presentations are approximately 30-40 minutes long and are detailed enough to provide a quick overview or review of information. Current topics include information about diagnosis, characteristics of ASD, employment, and assessment.

Please select one of the following topical areas to see a listing of online seminars relevant to that area.

• Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Environmental Structure and Visual Supports

• Communication

• The Comprehensive Autism Planning System (CAPS)

• Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Reinforcement

• Autism Spectrum Disorder and Employment

• Teacher Evaluation

• Verbal Behavior-Milestones and Placement Program (VB-MAPP)

WEBSITE

CHOICE is expanding to 600+ additional teachers statewide and will now include PreK-12! As a reminder, CHOICE provides up to $2000 per teacher per year for self-selected professional learning opportunities and a supportive virtual professional learning community for all participants to learn, grow, and collaborate! 

While Cohort 1 continues into the 2024-2025 school year, we are adding Cohort 2 which is now open to PreK-12 teachers across Virginia who teach math, science, computer science, or CTE. Our goal is to enroll 600+ additional participants by early summer, each of whom will have access to $2000 for professional learning opportunities they choose. 

This online interest form allows teachers to indicate their interest to learn more about CHOICE and provides their contact information so we may reach out in the coming weeks with additional details. Please note that completing this form is NOT a commitment to enroll in the program.

Additionally, we are offering a few live information sessions for teachers and administrators to attend, learn more about CHOICE, and get questions answered. Please click on a link below to register for the session occuring on the date/time shown:

Tuesday, May 14, 4-5pm

Thursday, May 16, 2:30-3:30pm

Monday, May 20, 4-5pm

Tuesday, May 21, 3:30-4:30pm

About CHOICE

In its fourth year of implementation, CHOICE, a $10.8M initiative funded by the US Department of Education, is currently serving 400 math, science, computer science, and CTE high school teachers from 176 schools across the Commonwealth. With $2000 per year per teacher allocated for self-selected professional learning opportunities, these CHOICE Cohort 1 participants have attended state and national conferences; taken university courses for licensure, graduate degrees, and new endorsements; earned industry certifications; prepared for and taken Praxis assessments - and the list goes on. To date, over $2M has been allocated for Cohort 1 teachers to cover professional learning costs including registration/tuition, lodging, meals, airfare, mileage, and classroom materials for implementation. An additional $1.2M is set aside for Cohort 2 teachers participating during the 2024-2025 school year. All CHOICE participants receive direct support and assistance as needed from a team of dedicated Community of Practice Facilitators and Content Specialists, and there are ample opportunities offered for engaging and collaborating with peers statewide in our virtual professional learning community!

CHOICE Website: virginiaedstrategies.org

CHOICE Flier

NOTE: Please bear with us as we make updates to our website. Current information about CHOICE and our expansion to PreK-12 will show there soon!

• The Deeper Learning video series illustrates deeper learning across the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

• These segments were designed to provide real-life examples of teachers implementing deeper learning and how it looks in a variety of settings.

• This series was produced by WHRO Education in partnership with Jobs for the Future, Inc., the Virginia Department of Education, and with generous funding support from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. 

• LEARN MORE TODAY!

• Sampling of short videos in the playlist: (many more on the site)

  • Deeper Learning: Sounds Like a Plan!

    • Watch as Poquoson High School students apply the 5 C's to solve a real-world problem.

  • Deeper Learning: Senior Projects

    • Watch seniors from Cumberland High School present their culminating senior projects to a panel of evaluators and mentors.

  • Deeper Learning: Virginia STAR

    • Watch as students at Cumberland Middle School learn how to fix computers to give back to community members through the Virginia STAR program.

  • Deeper Learning: What are you thinking?

    • Watch how Whitney Beck, a third grade teacher from Henrico County Public Schools, engages students in her classroom to be thinkers.

  • Deeper Learning: Bari"STARS" in the Making

    • Watch as Poquoson Middle School students run a Cool Beans Cafe and learn real-life work skills.

  • Deeper Learning: Performance Assessment

    • Watch this video to learn about how Rockingham County Public Schools implemented some division-wide history and social science performance assessments.

  • Deeper Learning: What a great idea!

    • Watch Cumberland County elementary students become problem solvers and lead instruction.

• Sign up for this course in Unified Talent today!

  • If you need help signing up for a course in Unified Talent, please access these helpful resources.

• By reading, watching videos, and doing activities, you'll learn cutting-edge strategies for integrating Google in your classroom. 

• You can start and stop lessons at any time; we'll track your progress through the course. 

• At the end of this course, you'll be ready to take the exam to become a Google Certified Educator Level 2. 

Support your professional learning journey and hear from leading authors, researchers, and practitioners via our archived webinars. These recordings cover best practices in literacy instruction, family and community engagement, summer learning, and more. 

• The “Why Not?” Workshop: Let’s Talk About Race

• Creating Sustainable Culturally Responsive Teaching: Beyond Current Events

• Phonics-Powered Prevention and Intervention

• Many other topics available

Learn about what resources are available HERE.

• Self paced training modules

• Badges can be earned

• Variety of topics: 

  • Edpuzzle Level 1

  • Edpuzzle and Canvas Level 1

  • Edpuzzle Flipped

  • Gamification in Class 

  • Many more to choose from

• Learn more HERE

• Chalk It Up to Experience! Tips from Real Co-Teachers of Virginia was created by demonstration site teams to celebrate the first five years of the Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative. Teams share practical advice for effective co-teaching and practices they consider critical to establishing a strong collaborative relationship. This document will serve as an instructional resource for co-teaching teams and administrators to inform their co-teaching practices. 

• Real Co-Teachers of Virginia - Middle & High

  • This series of webshops showcases the products created by real co-teachers of Virginia, select teams of middle and high school co-teachers participating in the Virginia Department of Education’s Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative.

• Real Co-Teachers of Virginia Discuss High Leverage Practices (HLPs) - Middle/High

  • How are the “special” needs of students with disabilities met in a co-taught classroom? What drives the thinking of co-teachers as they co-plan, co-instruct and co-assess to meet the needs of all their students?

• Learn more HERE

• The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is pleased to announce the addition of newly developed resources into #GoOpenVA. #GoOpenVA is an open education resource that provides a platform for teachers to share openly-licensed digital learning resources with other educators. It also provides an online space to afford educators the opportunity to collaborate on the creation of resources in support of Virginia Standards of Learning and initiatives tied to the Virginia is for Learners campaign. 

• Two new Collections of resources from Virginia Schools divisions provide shared materials for fall 2020 return to school plans and for professional learning resources that can be used to help teachers move to virtual and hybrid learning: Fall 2020 Recover, Redesign, Restart 2020 School Division Plans and Moving to Virtual and Hybrid Learning: Professional Learning for Teachers.  We invite every division to continue to add to these resources so that we can all share the load that our new educational reality demands.

• Other recent additions to #GoOpenVA include resources generated by VDOE instructional teams, lessons produced by teachers in the Commonwealth through several grant opportunities, and state and nationally recognized resources from a variety of Virginia educational institutions.  One national non-profit has also provided some new resources for elementary mathematics and English.  

• These recent additions include:

  • Twenty-seven modules generated by the VCU OER Science Curriculum Project.  These can be found in the Collection VCU STEM Project;

  • Ten lessons (and growing) from the Virginia K-12 Computer Science Pipeline (a joint project between Loudoun and Chesapeake);

  • VDOE Science Instructional Plans generated in collaboration with Virginia teachers.  These plans and other science resources are being uploaded daily and can be found in the Science VDOE Collection;

  • Mathematics Instructional Plans, written by Mathematics Educators with the VDOE;

  • Documents and other educational resources to support the new Fine Arts Standards of Learning.  These are located in the VDOE Fine Arts Collection;

  • Science Inquiry from Home resources developed to support asynchronous elementary science instruction.  These can be found in the Science VDOE Collection;

  • Several sets of lesson plans contributed by the Virginia Geographic Alliance; 

  • Forty-eight lesson plans from New American History;

  • A continually-growing collection of resources from WHRO Education;

  • Twenty-five videos produced by Virginia Public Media for the Wildlife Center of Virginia; and

  • Elementary English, Mathematics, and cross-curricular resources provided through Match Fishtank.

• Teachers can access #GoOpenVA without having an account; however, logging in using their division network to access #GoOpenVA allows increased opportunities for teacher collaboration, as well as, for the sharing and revising of resources aligned to the Virginia Standard of Learning.  All educators in Virginia are learning new ways of teaching and learning at this time.  #GoOpenVA provides a great opportunity to leverage our collective experiences and knowledge through the sharing of creative solutions.

• If you have any further questions about technical support, please contact Jean Weller, Teaching and Learning Technology Integration Specialist at jean.weller@doe.virginia.gov, or (804) 225-2825.

• Edulastic is a technology-enhanced assessment solution for teachers and school/district administrators. It is easy enough for classroom formative assessments, yet sophisticated enough for common interim and benchmark assessments that mirror state tests.

• Edulastic empowers teachers with instant classroom data that shows who’s on track and who needs help so that they can take action and see growth.

• Explore this SITE that has been compiled by BCPS ITRTs to explore this tool

  • "How To" videos detailing how to create a class, create assessments, add students, and navigating the class board

• If you need additional support after exploring the site, please reach out to your building ITRT

• Virtual Virginia Strategic Services presents webinars on Canvas topics to smooth the transition for Virginia teachers

• Pre-Recorded Webinars on the following topics:

  • Discussions and Collaborations in Canvas

  • Assessment in Canvas

  • Asynchronous and Synchronous Learning in Canvas

  • Using Google and Canvas

  • Consistent and Simple Access to Learning with Canvas

• Access recordings on a variety of Canvas topics HERE

• A recording of the Evidenced Based Specially Designed Instruction in Mathematics Webinar is now available on the VDOE Learning Disabilities in Mathematics Webpage.  

• This webinar highlighted strategies found in the Students with Mathematics Disabilities:  Frequently Asked Questions and the Evidenced Based Specially Designed Instruction in Mathematics Resource Guide. 

• Professional Development Opportunities to Support Best Practices for English Learner Instruction for All Educators

  • Multiple professional development opportunities for division and school staff (including general educators, EL teachers, leaders, counselors) who support ELs will be offered from June through December 2022. 

  • TRAINING SCHEDULE provides session descriptions, recommended audiences, registration links, and registration deadlines for the professional development opportunities. 

    • All sessions will be delivered virtually using the Zoom platform. 

• Discover best practices for supporting virtual learning, find tips on lesson planning and assessment strategies, and access professional learning resources

• Virtual learning has become an integral part of our educational system. Virtual learning can aid in

• Increasing student engagement and choice,

• Supporting personalized learning experiences for students, and

• Increasing equity in access to high quality learning experiences.

• Virtual learning programs offer flexibility to students while providing instruction aligned with the Standards of Learning. A number of Virginia school divisions provide opportunities for their students to take online courses as a part of their regular course offerings.

• Access the virtual learning hub today!

• New Digital Content from NASA's eClips Series

  • Launchpad: Life Cycle of a Star

  • Launchpad: Engineering Design to Support Scientific Discovery 

  • Real World: Planetary Volcanoes 

  • Real World: The Carbon Cycle -- Essential for Life on Earth 

  • Real World: Computer Simulations -- Turning Complex Ideas Into Solvable Equations

  • Real World: From Idea to Physical Prototype

  • Real World: Close Encounters with An Asteroid 

  • Real World: Small Bodies Orbiting the Sun 

  • Real World: Earth's Energy Balance: Small Changes, Big Impact 

  • Real World: Earth's Energy Balance: Energy In and Energy Out 

  • LEARN MORE TODAY

• Support Building Social-Emotional Skills with Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum

  • Engage students with Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum, a PBS KIDS series based on the Ordinary People Change the World books by Brad Meltzer and Christopher Eliopoulos.

  • The show follows the adventures of Xavier Riddle, his sister Yadina, and their friend Brad as they travel back in time to meet real life historical figures when they were kids. Use these video clips, teaching tips, and historical figure biosketches to support students’ social-emotional, literacy, and social studies skills.

  • LEARN MORE TODAY

• The Commonwealth Learning Partnership works to advance, align and amplify high-quality professional learning opportunities and resources for Virginia’s education community. 

• The Commonwealth Learning Partnership aims to take the Profile of a Virginia Graduate from vision to practice by investing in aligned and high-quality professional learning and upskilling opportunities for educators and education leaders. 

• Goal is to assist with at home learning

• Resources include:

  • Writing Prompts for all Grade Levels

  • Google Teach From Home

  • Families Front and Center

  • Tools for Facilitating Online Learning 

  • Much More!

• LEARN MORE TODAY!