Northern Lights E-Newsletter
Spring 2017

Welcome to the fully online 
Northern Lights e-newsletter.


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What's New?
On the Northern Lights website
  • The Vermont Birth to Five Professional Development hot line and email can help you get the answers you need.  Find it on any page of our website after page 1 in the side bar under ESSENTIAL LINKS and HERE  
  • Is that college accredited?  The Northern Lights website has an updated link "Checking College and University Accreditation" in the sidebar under "resources" HERE
Summer course Registration is OPEN!  
Program directors find guidance on college courses that can be used to meet the current child care program licensing regulations.  

See the Program Director page of the Northern Lights website HERE . Looking for courses to meet the Program Director Credential?  Find the helpful list of summer 2017 courses with links to registration and financial aid information on the side bar of the Program Director Credential page HERE
Program Director survey results 
Thank you to the 36 directors who completed it.

The directors who completed the survey were primarily experienced administrators who worked in centers licensed for 13-59 children. They used a number of resources to guide their work as a director especially websites, face to face training and individual BFIS credential accounts for staff. They found these, as well as mentoring, peer support, online training and phone calls with resource people to be very effective in meeting their needs. They were most interested in learning more about building family and community relationships with their programs, and personnel and fiscal management. They found it somewhat difficult to find training and tended to take college courses or go to conferences. They reported that when they were first a director, they especially wanted support in personnel management, professional leadership and fiscal management. They also provided many useful comments and suggestions. Survey results will be shared with the Community College of Vermont and the evolving personnel development system to guide how to best support program directors. Congratulations to the three winners of the raffle survey.
Are you a mentor, coach, or consultant?  
Do you work with early childhood or afterschool professionals or programs?

You can still register for the training series just for you - and Vermont, created by the National Pyramid Model Consortium. A different module is offered each month, through December 2017, in Brattleboro, Lamoille and Chittenden - you pick. Learn more and register HERE.



Over 125 professionals earned Vermont Certificates and Credentials between 
January 1, 2017 and March 31, 2017
Congratulations to you and your colleagues all over Vermont 

  • Find those who earned a Program Director Certificate or Credential   HERE
  • Find those who earned Afterschool Certificates and Credentials HERE
  • Find those who joined the Instructor Registry - or renewed  
      HERE
  • Find those who earned early childhood Career Ladder Certificates  HERE
The NEW Vermont Core Knowledge and Subheadings  
for Early Childhood Professionals are posted on the side bar of the Early Childhood Core knowledge page HERE .   Also on that page find the NEW! Early Childhood Professional Dispositions to help inform behavior, values and attitudes for early childhood professionals.  
Welcome Becky Millard 
New CCV Director of the Early Childhood Professional Development System

CCV is pleased to announce that Becky Millard will serve as the director of the Northern Lights Early Childhood Professional Development System. Becky will provide leadership as CCV transitions from hosting a career development 'center' to hosting an entire professional development 'system', including regional professional development services beginning in January, 2018.
Becky has many years of experience working in early childhood and afterschool fields. Most recently, she has served as the Infant and Child Health Coordinator for the Vermont Department of Health and the regional coordinator for Central Vermont Building Bright Futures.
Becky will be working with CCV and current NLCDC staff to design, guide, and implement the newly expanded professional development system. Becky's core strengths include collaboration and relationship building - vital skills for this new positon. She currently serves on multiple early childhood professional committees in Vermont including Early Childhood Action Plan Leadership Committee, Professional Preparation and Development Leadership Team, Child Development Division Professional Development Task Force, and Help Me Grow National Evaluation Advisory Group. Becky is also known state-wide for the enthusiasm, integrity, strategic planning, and passion she brings to the work of providing professional development opportunities within the field. CCV is excited to have Becky's leadership, experience, and collaborative spirit. She will be joining CCV on May 15th. Welcome Becky!

Early Childhood Summer Institute Registration is open!  
Take college courses this summer at a reduced cost.

The Early Childhood Summer Institute, a collaborative partnership with Castleton University and the Higher Education Early Childhood Consortium, is a four-day professional development opportunity for Early Childhood educators (birth through grade 3) working in public schools, private early childhood and afterschool settings, as well as those professionals who support them. The institute is July 24-27, 2017 at Castleton University.  Learn more and register for the institute online HERE .   Registration deadline is July 1, 2017.  Contact: Dr. Ric Reardon at (802) 468-1234 or richard.reardon@castleton.edu . 



NEW! Approved online training   
Find it on the Northern Lights website

We have approved one module from FEMA: Multi-hazard planning in child care. This meets the child care program licensing requirement for an emergency preparedness training.  Remember to submit the certificate you earn to Northern Lights to enter into your BFIS credential account. Find this and all the approved online trainings HERE
Ca lling all BFIS Sponsors 
We depend on you! 

Thank you for being detailed and accurate when submitting BFIS Course Calendar information to Northern Lights.  A common mistake BFIS sponsors make is to use a course calendar form from a previous training without accurately updating the information for the new training.  Please remember to:
a)       double- check that the BFIS Course Calendar information is accurate and complete before sending it to Northern Lights via email; 
b)       make sure the information on the Course Calendar checklist, documentation form and  attendance are all the SAME so we can connect it; 
c)        send in the completed Attendance form with a copy of the Professional Development form to Northern Lights immediately after the training;
d)       collate and enter the data from the common evaluation into the data form if required. 
  
Thank you for your help with this process.  Your guide is HERE 
  
Instructors Sought!
Ti me to submit proposals for the fall early childhood conference

Presenters sought for the VAEYC and VT Head Start Association 2017 Early Childhood conference. These two organizations are teaming up to offer this year's early childhood conference October 12, 13, 14, 2017 (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) at the Killington Grand Hotel in Killington.  Instructors in the Instructor Registry are invited to submit a proposal to present at the conference.  Deadline EXTENDED to April 24, 2017. Learn more and submit your proposal HERE

Licensing Spring Newsletter 2017 
Want to get the latest news from Child Development Division program licensing?  

The spring issue covers college courses, fingerprinting, background clearances and much more.  Sign up for their newsletter HERE

Welcome Rhys! 
Rhys Morris is the newest Northern Lights team member

He is the new "Jeanie", creating program director, afterschool, instructor and early childhood level certificates. He also confirms professional experience for Career Ladder applications and much more. Rhys is a graduate of Cornell University. He loves databases and working on the computer. He also loves to laugh - an important criteria for joining the Northern Lights team.  
Pictured: The famous Sylvia Kennedy-Godin with Rhys Morris in the Northern Lights Montpelier office.

Get those transcripts to Northern Lights to enter into your BFIS Credential account 
You can request your transcript online.
  
The Community College of Vermont and other Vermont State Colleges now have a fully online process to request transcripts. Check HERE  CCV transcripts cost $6.50 or more. Find more information on the right column of the CCV website page HERE
  
FOLLOW   1-2-3
  1. Request and pay for your transcript.
  2. Send the original or clear copy via PDF or mail to Northern Lights (no FAX or Photos).  Use the Verification Cover sheet found on the Northern Lights in the side bar under "training resources" HERE  
  3. Find your transcript in your BFIS credential account under DOCUMENTS; look under the PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT tab to find individual related courses from your transcript.
Thank you!  
Northern Lights was just named a Constant Contact All Star for 2016.
 
Thanks subscribers for reading and responding to our newsletter and emails!  Only the top 10% of Constant Contact customers earn this designation due to their high response rate.   

Learning to Write a Meaningful IPDP 

A long time program director overcomes a challenge

"When I submitted my IPDP as part of my Career Ladder Level application, I thought, 'I got this' but that was not it at all.  I got feedback and suggestions from Northern Lights, got help from my mentor and the IPDP book and it was an eye opener.  Before I didn't know what I was not getting.  I had to wrap my brain around it and the book and suggestions from Northern Lights outlined it for me.  You have to come out of your comfort zone a little - write not what you're doing but what you're going to do. I was really uptight at first, but after I did it realized, that wasn't so bad.  The outcome was awesome and it's easier now."                                                                  

                                                                                                        - a long time program director 

Register now for a FREE summer Infant Toddler Summit  
The Earliest Years:  Effective Practices for Supporting Infants/Toddlers and their Families

Please join Champlain Valley Head Start for a free day of multi-disciplinary professional development especially for those who work with infants, toddlers and their families.  The Summit is from 8 am-4 pm on Friday, June 16, 2017 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, South Burlington.  Continental breakfast and buffet lunch are included.  Register HERE

Help is here!  
Vermont Birth to Five (VB5) provides training, resources and support

Vermont Birth to Five (VB5) has agreements in place with seven community partners to offer 90 trainings (610 hours) in eight regions of the state through 2017. Continue to check the BFIS course calendar HERE .  Training opportunities are being added every day!
 
The current community partners are Child Care Resource in Chittenden Count, Family Center of Washington County, Orange County Parent Child Center, Mary Johnson Children's Center in Addison County, The Family Center at NCSS (Franklin/Grand Isle), Sunrise Family Resource Center (Bennington area), Windham Child Care Association and Mud City Kids (Lamoille valley).
 
Vermont Birth to Five expects to expand agreements by the end of April. Additional partners will include Start with the Arts-VSA Vermont, Vermont Center for the Book, Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children, Building Bright Futures St. Johnsbury and Rutland Central School. Together, these sponsors will provide over 700 hours of professional development for the field. 
 
Find the VB5 Professional Development Resource Hotline HERE
You have influence!   
Vermont is creating new Guiding Principles for the Full Participation of Each and Every Young Child and their Family. 

Tell us which words or phrases you like and how to make the Guiding Principles stronger and clearer.  See the mini-webinar, review the draft, then share your feedback HERE Deadline is May 15, 2017.
Did You Know?
60% of Career Ladder applications received cannot be processed!  

WHY? The submitted IPDP is incomplete.  These common IPDP mistakes are easy to fix:  
  1. Write the date you wrote or updated your IPDP ("plan date") on your IPDP. 
  2. Be sure fill in every box in the self- assessment section of your IPDP (page 1). 
  3. Set a reasonable timeline with a month + year when you will meet each of your goals (not "ongoing"). 
  4. Make sure your IPDP is written or updated in the last three months.  Review your IPDP before sending it to update the status of each goal.  A current IPDP has at least one goal in process. 
Find guidance, examples and IPDP forms on the Northern Lights website HERE
Early Childhood Day at the Legislature 2017
Compelling conversations and information was shared at early childhood day at the legislature


Learn more about early childhood Career Level Certificates HERE
Level I


Dawn Bailey - Hardwick
Katelyn Bartlett - Bristol
Shelley Bartsch - New Haven
Anita Boulay-Sidney - St. Johnsbury
Karen Butler - North Bennington
Mary Cabral - Winooski
Pamela Coffin - Newport
Heather Collins - Washington
Catina Cota - Starksboro
Anne Cota - North Troy
Lisa DeLaricheliere - East Hardwick
Sarah Flickinger - Orford
Cynthia Hill - Bellows Falls
Deanna Jenness - Derby
Vincent Keement, Jr. - Derby
Kristyn LaFrance - Williston
Tony Lamoureux - West Charleston
Sarah Latham - Enfield
Tammy Lathrop - Middlebury
Sonia Launder - White River Jct
Nayeon K. Maas - Brattleboro
Cynthia McGregor - Colchester
Michael McGregor - Colchester
Sandra Mobbs - Milton
Amanda Muir - Milton
Jessica Papeika - Burlington
Nancy Paronto - White River Jct
Linda Kay Ploof - Panton
Traci Potter - Barton
Amanda Pray - Newport
Stacey Rheaume - Salisbury
Colin Snyder - Hinesburg
Joya Todt - Quechee
Tabatha Winter - Brattleboro

Level II



Aubrey Boyles - Montpelier
Kinley Burgess - Lyndonville
Jessica Dunning - Milton
Aliza Fitzgerald - Eden
Angela Fontaine - Colchester
Tammie Hazlett - Thetford Center
Sherrie James - Waterbury Center
Amanda Neal - Colchester
Jennifer Pearson - South Burlington
Jessica Rich - Eden
Lindsey Slade - Brattleboro
Jillian Waite - Burlington
Silvia Wakim - Essex Junction
Erica Ward - Milton

Level IIIA


Elizabeth Bollman - Lyndonville
Elaine Capriola - Bennington
Karole Davis - Lyndonville
Stacey Grau - West Pawlet
Kate Keach - Essex Junction
Angelia King - Manchester Center
Allison Monniere - South Burlington
Amber Patten - Wolcott
Kristi Powers - St. Albans
Shayla Rountree - Spofford
Amanda Russell - Orwell

Level IIIB


Jennifer Bergeron - Morgan
Debra Blake - Williamstown
Jennifer Davison - Hardwick
Hannah Freda - Morrisville
Heather Hamilton - Jonesville
Jacquelyn Kissell - Bellows Falls
Joy Solomon - Winooski
Tabatha Viger - Fair Haven

Level IVA


Amity Burnham - Derby
Kristi Farrar - Newport
Abby Harrington - Morrisville
Jennifer Haskins - Wells
Tabitha McGlynn - Williamstown
Britny Morrill - Plainfield
Judith Reichsman - Brattleboro
Kayla Williams - Westminster
Anita Williger - Williston

Level IVB


Elsa Bosma - Shelburne
Kathleen Schaffner - Burlington

Level VB


Justyna Krysztoforska - Stowe
Leah Smyth - Milton
Dominique Sprouse - Williston

Aschool
These professionals earned their Afterschool  Foundations Certificate   20 issued between January 1st and March 31st, 2017
 
Learn more about the Afterschool Certificates and Credentials HERE


Ellen Adams - Montpelier
Brooke Aicher - Shelburne
Samuel Beatson - Essex Junction
Katherine Burrell - Burlington
Dawn Dorr - Manchester Center
Jacy Hagy - Burlington
Tessa Harrington - Jericho
Mary Ellen Hutchins - Swanton
Zachary Johnston - Colchester
Jennifer Lamos-Brusetti - Barre
Jordan LeFebvre - South Burlington
Alyssa Machia - Johnson
Jessie Pascal - Burlington
Cortney Poljacik - Pittsford
Rebecca Shedd - Colchester
Kassidy Snair - Colchester
Tyler Startari - South Burlington
Alexander Trudeau - Underhill
Mary Ann Webb - Danby
Rebecca Weisburgh - Burlington




InstructorsThese professionals earned or renewed their Instructor Registry Certificates  15 issued between January 1st and March 31st, 2017
 
Learn more about the Instructor Registry   HERE


NEW
RENEWED
Affiliate I Elsa Bosma
Siobhan Liberman
Laura Murphy
Katherine Tobin
Stephanie Simpson


Certified Ines Abdelnour
Priscilla May


Master Sarah Becker

Wendy Cunningham
Specialist I Anne Marinello
Debra Smith


Specialist II Mary Gill
Katie Greene
Leslie Turner
Tara McLaughlin
PdirectorThese professionals earned their Program Director       Certificate or Credential for early childhood and afterschool professionals
10 issued between January 1st and March 31st, 2017
 
Step 1
Theresa Forbes
Kathie Gatto-Gurney
Angela Hayes
Amy Rubright


Step 2
Lori Gratton
Katie McGee
Jaime Milazzo
Allison Monniere


Step 3
Dawn Hiscock
Corina Wood

Learn more about the Program Director Credential  HERE

What a director says...
She worked hard and earned her Program Director Credential 

"... the more time I spend on documents for my Director Portfolio and the Credential the more I realize that although this was a lot of work the framework is thorough and inclusive of what is truly needed to be an effective director in a childcare early ed program. So, I just want to say thank you yet again!"

- Program Director Credential/ Step 3 recipient, Dawn Hiscock
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