EST Process WORKshop

Dates: Mondays: Jan. 16, Jan 30, Feb. 13, Mar 6
Time: 3:30 – 5pm
Where: Virtually on Zoom
Cost: $100.00 per person, FREE for current and past NEXIS participants
** Earn 6 re-licensure hours **
Facilitator: Audrey Richardson

Educators and administrators know that to have a strong VTmtss system, districts need to have the proper process.  One of the most essential elements in the implementation of VTmtss is the Educational Support Team (EST) process. The EST process not only facilitates referrals but also provides helpful guidance to educators seeking support for their students. In our work with districts across the state, we see districts working hard to craft the most equitable and effective EST form that successfully communicates students’ needs and allows teachers to reflect and act on best intervention practices. Despite our best efforts, this task can often feel isolating and lack explicit guidance.  With those hurdles in mind, we have created an EST WORKshop that honors the progress districts have made with their EST process while encouraging collective efficacy and expertise across the state.

The goal of this process is to gain collective efficacy through the collaboration of VTmtss and EST expertise. In this workgroup participants will:

• Collaborate with teachers, interventionists, and EST/MTSS coordinators from other districts in Vermont
• Use an equity lens to align their own process with VTmtss components and principles
• Move through workshop protocols designed to tune EST process for clarity and comprehensiveness
• Review model EST forms from Vermont and beyond
• Give and receive feedback on the EST process
• Have the opportunity to share with other districts and contribute to VTmtss process and resources 

Participants can come with processes that are in various stages of development ranging from in progress to fully developed. In addition, it is important to note this is a WORKshop focused on leveraging the collaboration of many districts’ hard work, experience, and perspectives, so be prepared to roll up your sleeves! There is no one correct process, but we will all work together with the aim of creating the best-fitting tools and processes for your schools. Prepare to go in-depth on the reasons why we need to clearly articulate these processes (to support VTmtss) and for who (our students)!

Bio:
Audrey Richardson, MA., NEXIS Program Coordinator

Audrey has been an educator for over 15 years as a high school English Teacher, literacy interventionist and literacy coach in Woodstock, Vermont.  Currently, Audrey is a Ph.D candidate at UVM in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program hoping to graduate in the Spring of 2022.  Audrey’s central focus, in both her research and work with PLL, is the implementation of equitable systems that support literacy learning for ALL students. As PLL’s NEXIS coordinator Audrey is committed to bringing education stakeholders together from around the state to engage in actionable literacy change.  Audrey lives in Taftsville, Vermont with her dairy farmer husband and two daughters.