January 2025

Here’s hoping that 2025 finds you well, warm, and safe. Many have experienced challenges with the weather and some with water supply since the beginning of this new year. Spring will come again! Meanwhile, Teaching & Learning is here for you. Reach out to any member of our team if we can be of assistance.

Melinda Bright, Director, mbright@veanea.org

Dr. Amber Brown, Specialist, abrown@veanea.org

Isabel Sullivan, Professional Learning/Grant Coordinator, isullivan@veanea.org

Donna Hamilton, Program Assistant, dhamilton@veanea.org

Updates from Teaching & Learning

VEA Learning Portal

NEW VEA Learning Portal Course Catalog!

This catalog is designed to serve as a guide to the courses* offered on the VEA Learning Portal. It allows members and potential members to view courses available for enrollment without the need to log into the Portal. Check out the VEA Learning Portal Course Catalog here!

*Note: All courses on the VEA Learning Portal are asynchronous, unless otherwise indicated.

Special Education

VEA shares partner resources surrounding the topic of Functional Behavioral Assessments

From our friends at TTAC, Using Functional Behavioral Assessments to Create Supportive Learning Environments

This document addresses:

What is a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)?
What are the Common Characteristics of an FBA and Behavioral Support or Intervention Plans (BSP/BIPs)?
How Can an FBA Be Used to Inform Instructional Strategies?
What Guiding Principles Support the Effective Development and Implementation of FBAs and BSP/BIPs?
How Can FBA’s Support Students with Disabilities?
And more…

Special Education Cont.

From our friends at the US Department of Education (DOE), guidance Using Functional Behavioral Assessments to Create Supportive Learning Environments

Resource: Using Functional Behavioral Assessments to Create Supportive Learning Environments
OSERS Blog: ED Releases Guidance to Better Support Students’ Behavioral Needs
Basic FBA to BIP Overview – Basic FBA to BIP
Webinar: Using Functional Behavioral Assessments to Create Supportive Learning Environments (December 3, 2024)

SVEA Aspiring Educators

Scholarship Application Open Now!

In honor of Rosa Lee Guard, an educator whose Last Will and Testament established the Rosa Lee Guard Fund to provide for VEA members who were unable to pay the fees to receive medical services at UVA. “I do this in memory of the days when I as a young girl taught in the Virginia Public Schools.” This need phased out when group health insurance became available to public school employees in 1969. The funds have been modified “to enable VEA to give the monies to students who need assistance paying college tuition, expenses, fees, and/or loans incurred to obtain an education related degree.”

The Rosa Lee Guard Scholarship Fund will award up to two $2000.00 scholarships to SVEA-Aspiring Educator members who have actively engaged in AE activities at the chapter, state, and/or national level. Deadline to apply at this link before midnight April 6, 2025.

SVEA Aspiring Educators Cont.

THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR AS A TEACHER MEMBER, IS THERE A REBATE?

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! More information can be found at www.nea.org/aerebate.

If you were a SVEA-AE member in Virginia, 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.

HAVE YOU RENEWED MEMBERSHIP FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR?

If you want to continue your student membership for the 2024-25 school year which began September 1, you may do so right online at www.veanea.org/svea/.

ALREADY TEACHING? WANT TO JOIN NEA AS A TEACHER?

For those of you who have graduated and secured employment as a teacher, congratulations! If you are unsure how to join VEA as a teacher member, visit www.veanea.org/join.

Upcoming Opportunities

ESP Input Needed about the ParaPro Assessment

Winter Events from William & Mary School of Education register now!

From the VDOE: STEM Teacher Leadership Academy

2025 VITAL Conference February 6 & 8, 2025 Register Today!

VEA Summit on Educators of Color

State Stipends for NBCTs

The state board of education voted in December to go ahead with distributing awards to classroom teachers (who’ve always been eligible) as soon as possible, and to come back at its February meeting to determine how to allocate remaining funding to newly-eligible school staff. Rest assured that VEA’s government relations team will be diligently advocating for the additional funding required for the program during the upcoming legislative session so award amounts are not reduced for any eligible school staff.

NBCT Legislation

VEA will initiate legislation and budget items to scale the initial and continuing state supplement for National Board Certification Incentive Awards and cover fees for educators seeking certification to encourage high-quality professional development.

If you would like to know how to support this bill, contact Melinda Bright, mbright@veanea.org.

To learn more about National Board Certification, visit our website or go to www.nbpts.org.

Career Switchers

Teaching and Learning received 29 responses to the survey conducted recently to assess needs of this group of members. 19 locals were represented in the responses, and 24 were from classroom teachers. While a variety of experiences were shared, some common requests included training on classroom management, improved mentor programs, and better guidance during the process to full licensure. TL is here to help!

This month, we are highlighting a stack of micro credentials available at veanea.org or click here. Please review the options available and indicate your interest to participate in a small group learning journey at this link. Each micro credential takes approximately 15 hours to complete, and a certificate is provided which may be approved for re-licensure points.

Contact Melinda Bright with questions – mbright@veanea.org.

Who's Who in Teaching and Learning

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

Name: Amy Brown

Local: VEA Retired (formerly York EA)

Role(s) that you have completed with VEA: SVEA Local Board Member (CNU), YEA member, VEA Professional Practice & Policy Teaching Fellow, IPD Committee Co-Chair

# of years in education: 26

# of years in VEA: 28

How has being a union member helped you?

The union has always been a source of educational resources and information for me, but it’s only through active engagement and taking on leadership roles that I have really come to appreciate all the union has to offer. My Teaching Fellow experience was transformational, and empowerment drawn from my union relationships and experiences have renewed my belief and confidence in the power of my voice to affect change.

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

Strive to find a balance between work and personal life. We care so much about our students and access to quality education. While working to serve our students and community, we must also give ourselves permission to prioritize, our own families and well-being. It took me many years to understand the importance of this and be intentional in my efforts.

The Latest from VEA

Teaching & Learning Today: January 2025