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Montpelier Office: (Nancy) 802-828-2876 [email protected]
Springfield Office: (Maureen) 802-885-8374 [email protected]
WINTER | JANUARY 2013 NEWSLETTER Volume 6, Number 1
The Northern Lights Atlas Early Childhood and Afterschool Professional Development News
Focus on the Northern Lights Website: www.northernlightscdc.org • WHAT’S NEW? Courses, conferences and more… Look on the
bottom of the home page, or the side bar of all the other pages to
find WHAT’s NEW.
• DON’T FORGET: Many Financial Resources are listed on our
website: http://northernlightscdc.org/training/financial-assistance/
• NEW! Resources for Program Directors have been added to this
page: http://northernlightscdc.org/resources/program-director-resources/
• THE NEWEST…Always get applications, forms and fact sheets off of the website – these
are the most current versions http://northernlightscdc.org/resources/applications/
• NEW! Learn about new options for course equivalency for Steps 1 and 2 of the
Program Director Credential. http://northernlightscdc.org/career-pathways/credentials-
and-certificates/program-director-credential
• Instructor Registry Applications now include a checklist of Curricula and Training
Topics. Instructors can log in as an existing user to update their profile. http://
northernlightscdc.org/instructor-registry/application.php
• E-SCHOOL Quick Link! Use our quick link to the Northern Lights e-School classes on
Global Classroom http://northernlightscdc.org/training/online-training-and-coursework/
Press CTRL + click to follow any web or email sites in the
newsletter
Don’t forget: save the Northern Lights Career Development Center website to your Favorites
and LIKE US on FACEBOOK…
Always hit REFRESH when looking at the Northern Lights website to see the latest version.
Welcome to the newest edition of The Northern Lights Atlas! Please pass it on! (hint: cut-and-paste works too)
IN THIS ISSUE
Website updates Page 1
Frequently Asked Questions Page 2-3
Did you know? Page 2-3
Coming Soon Page 3
Scrapbook Page 4
Congratulations! Page 4-5
Do you
Facebook?
Every week we post new information on our Facebook
page. LIKE US and you can always get the latest update.
Many members of the
STARS oversight
committee.
Participants come from
all over the state to meet
in person or by phone,
every month.
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Did You Know?
Child Care Licensing Regulation Revision Process
continues: 2012-13 is the year to review and revise the child care licensing regulations. In January 2013 staff qualifications and professional development will be discussed again. Go to: www.dcf.vermont.gov/cdd and “regulation review project” to get the latest information about the process – and add your
comments.
MATCH (Mentoring, Advising, Teaching,
Coaching/Consulting/Helping) is moving forward! Many VT professionals who providie these services volunteered to begin the MATCH Pilot in January 2013. They will complete the MATCH competencies self-assessment, answer a survey and participate in other activities to help the committee design the MATCH Registry and identify training and
support needs of MATCH professionals.
Extension of Free modules! Better Kid Care online modules will continue to be free of charge for those working in regulated child care facilities through Dec. 2013! Note: only the two hour modules are accepted in VT . Find them on this page: http://northernlightscdc.org/training/online-training-and-
coursework/approved-sponsors-of-online-classes/
New Staff at Child Development Division - Statewide Systems and Community Collaborations unit! Cynthia Greene has joined as “Health and Early Childhood Systems Coordinator” She will work to link health information and resources to child care settings, and support Building Bright Futures State and Regional Councils. Lynne Robbins is the Early Childhood and Afterschool Systems Specialist. She will work to enhance the professional development system for early childhood and afterschool professionals and manage the many grants and
related activities. Congratulations Cynthia and Lynne!
Union Institute and University is closing its Montpelier office and will continue at its Brattleboro office. Courses will continue to be available online
and/or weekends in Brattleboro.
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When I looked at the core competencies booklet for the first time, and read the examples, I realized I already do this everyday. When I read more, I found things I forgot that I had wanted to learn about and do.
- participant at a training
Frequently Asked
Questions
QUESTION: “I am interested in pursuing a Master Degree related to education or leadership. Are there any VT options while I am working full time?”
ANSWER: Yes! Union Institute and University offers a Master Degree in Leadership, Goddard College offers a Master in Education, and the VT Higher Education Collaborative through Lyndon State College offers a Master Degree in early childhood. The newest Master Degree programs in VT are the Leadership degree program at Springfield College in St. Johnsbury and the Champlain College Master degree in Early Childhood Education/Leadership. All of these programs hold classes online and/or during non-traditional hours. And remember, if you work in a regulated early childhood or afterschool program, you may be eligible for a professional development grant for college tuition - including graduate coursework, from the Child Development Division. (see website list on page 1 of this newsletter)
QUESTION: “Why do some people get a bonus when they get a level certificate and some don’t?”
ANSWER: Because the Level Certificate and the Recognition Bonus have two related but different purposes. A Northern Lights early childhood Level Certificate recognizes professionals who have achieved steps long their professional development pathway. It is based on education completed at any time, experience and a current plan for future development (Individual Professional Development Plan). The Child Development Division Recognition Bonus recognizes professionals who have recently met a milestone in their professional development. To earn this reward one must have completed the education requirement in the last 2 years and have a Level Certificate. All the requirements are on the Level Certificate application.
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More...Did You Know?
NEW! Hybrid Fundamentals Course. The St. Albans area is piloting a new format for the Fundamentals for Early Childhood Professionals course, starting January 19th. The course will be offered to those working in regulated early childhood programs, in a format combining 25 hours of face to face group sessions ( 2 Saturdays and 5 Monday evenings) and 20+ hours of online modules through Smart Horizons/Child Care Aware. To Register: Please call Michelle Trayah at 393-6599 or e-mail at [email protected] Note: You must have consistent access to computer, internet and time to take the course several times a week January – April. Tuition is $150.00 to purchase on-line classes with $100.00 reimbursement upon successful completion of the class
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The most user friendly website I’ve ever used is Northern Lights… so you are book-marked! - child care provider and VT Birth to Three Mentor
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Coming Soon! Legal and Financial Issues in Early Childhood and Afterschool Programs. Online January 14-April 7, 2013. For more information call Maureen Young-
McCarthy @802-885-8374.
First professionals to earn the VT Early Childhood Family Mental Health (ECFMH) Credential: Nine Children’s Integrated Services staff from the Lamoille Valley are in the process of submitting their portfolios to be reviewed, in order to earn the new ECFMH Credential. Professionals who earn this credential and connect to regulated child care, are also awarded a $500 Recognition Bonus from the Child Development Division. Look for ECFMH Credential names in the next Northern Lights newsletter – under Congratulations!
Frequently Asked
Questions
QUESTION: “As an Instructor in the Instructor Registry, can I count the training I provide as training hours for myself?”
ANSWER: YES. The first time you offer a training, you can also list
yourself on the attendance sheet.
QUESTION: “Once I am an approved instructor, should I be updating anything in my Profile?”
ANSWER: Absolutely! To keep your profile current, it is very important to update your contact information (especially your email address), and the training topics or curricula that you teach. If your goal is to move to another instructor level, you should also update recent hours of instruction given, as well as education completed. Guidance on how to update your instructor profile can be found on the Northern Lights website. http://northernlightscdc.org/your-role/adult-instructors/updating-your-
instructor-profile
NEW SPONSORS!
These organizations were oriented to work with Northern Lights and the BFIS system. Participants benefit because attendance is entered in their personal BFIS
Résumé!
Bennington Early Childhood Center
Camille Campanile
Mary Anna Abuzahra
Springfield School District
UCS Infant-Toddler Program
Vermont Higher Education
Collaborative Some “wealthy “ applicants in Lamoille valley ready to submit
their Early Childhood Family Mental Health portfolios !
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The Northern Lights Scrapbook
Affiliate I Craig Simpson Specialist II Anore Horton
Certified Claire Berry Adam Sollace Master Dee Smith
NEW Approved Instructors
Step 1
Sheila Bedi
MeriChristi Pixley Jennifer Tucker
Step 2
Vicki Covell
Laura Cramer Betsy Oulette
Program Director Credential
Amy Enos, Giggles Family Childcare, South Burlington
Angelia King, Home Away From Home, Man-chester Center
Ashley Graham, Carolyn’s Red Balloon Enrich-ment Center, Colchester
Bonnie Cicia, Champlain Islands Parent Child Center, South Hero
Erin Pasquale, Frog and Toad Child Care and Learning Center, Colchester
Hailey Livingstone, Appletree Learning Cen-ters, Stowe
Karin Pollard, Nadeau’s Playschool, Colches-ter
Sara Driscoll, Frog and Toad Child Care and Learning Center, Colchester
Recently Completed Child Care Apprentices
Renewed Instructors
Affiliate II Darlene Lockwood Master Laura Brines Erica Green
Certified Robin Castle Jodi Farashahi
Donna Pomroy Sonja Raymond Carolyn Riley Lynne Teker
Do you have a Master Degree and experience teaching adults? Northern Lights has 4 scholarships available for Master Level Instructors in the Instructor Registry, to take Introduction to Teaching Online, a one credit online course offered by the Community College of Vermont. It is offered several times each semester. Contact Nancy at Northern
Lights ([email protected]) if you are interested in applying.
Mary Johnson Children’s Center Afterschool Program Staff
Essex and South Burlington Afterschool Programs
Greater Burlington YMCA
Staff at the Afterschool Conference
Attendees at the 2012 Afterschool Conference...
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The following certificates have been awarded since
October 2012
LEVEL I
Lacey Amann - Bennington
Rebecca Chaplin - Saint Albans Jacob Chase - Windsor Wendy Chase - Bristol Samantha Collins-Sweeney - Burlington
Bridget Duhamel - Alburgh Jamie Lamb - Hyde Park Carin Messier - Bethel Karla Molina - Manchester Center
Melanie Parah - Colchester Stephanie Ricker - Post Mills Shelly Sanderson - White River Junction
Michele Sienicki - West Rutland Jacqueline Sweetser - Eden Mills Jeff Swift - Plainfield Debra Wilder - Montpelier
Jennifer Witham - East Burke
LEVEL II
Lacey Amann - Bennington Karen Blakely - Barre Amber Bollman - Lyndon Katelyn Brock - Milton
April Chadwick - Bennington Lisa Emerson - North Troy Liza Haviland - Middlesex Bobbie Lepine - St. Johnsbury
Katherine Lumbra - Fairfax Lizabeth Rodgers Merchant - Concord Megan Root - Swanton
Barbara Rousseau - Alburgh Shelly Sanderson - White River Junction Stacey Soutiere - Essex Junction Abigail Turcot - Essex Junction
Tammy Wilbur - Whiting
LEVEL IIIA
Rebecca Chaplin - Saint Albans Melanie Coddaire - Pittsford Gail Ducharme - Marshfield Amy Enos - South Burlington
Jessica Turner - Fairfax
LEVEL IIIB
Lisa Currier - Bristol
Melissa Rollo - St. Albans Sarah Rougier - Bristol Brittany Waytkus - Hoosick Falls
LEVEL IVA
Carrie Aldrich - Bradford
Laura Butler - Milton Rebecca Chaplin - St. Albans Jennifer Corrigan - Winooski Ellen Drolette - Burlington
Maribeth Fonda - Brattleboro Lindsay Hard - Brandon Jody Marquis - Newport Center Wendy Mercy - Montgomery
Helen Myhre - Middlebury Debbie Pratt - Fair Haven Theresa Stevens - St. Johnsbury
Michael Tavares - South Burlington Joelle Vosburgh - Bennington
LEVEL IVB
Carol Barbierri - Shaftsbury Jessica Getty - Springfield Jen Litch - South Burlington
Sara Mason - Castleton
LEVEL VA
Katelynn Bornt - Bennington
Lyndsay Bushey-Hesselback - Dummerston Alyson Grzyb - Sunderland Evelyn Trier - Townshend
LEVEL VB
Kathi Apgar - New Haven Aurina Schwartz - Burlington
AFTERSCHOOL FOUNDATIONS
Debbie Krug - Burlington
AFTERSCHOOL CREDENTIAL
Tonya Williams - North Concord Linda MacFarlane - Rutland
Cynthia Pike - Arlington
LEVEL CERTIFICATES AWARDED
VAEYC conference October 2012:
Professionals at the Northern Lights display