New Members VanWeekly
Feb 12, 2020
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Mark your calendar
Feb 18- Webinar @ 7:30 TOPIC: Student Tech Leaders
Feb 24- Microsoft Monday Webinar @4:30
March 7- EdCamp at Alpharetta HS - RSVP HERE! https://forms.gle/VT68Pp6StMZLUgaR8
June 15th- VanCon at GaTech Hotel and Conference Center
Module 5 is live!
Hope to see you there!
VanCon is Coming!
VanCon is scheduled for Monday, June 15th at the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center!!!! Mark your calendars and change your vacation plans! You don't want to miss this amazing conference experience JUST for FCS Vanguard members!
LAST CALL!!!!!! Today is the deadline: The Event Committee wants your input for VanCon!!! Please complete these few quick questions on the survey link here: https://forms.gle/Ba4ouP1CddCvmVPS7 Feedback requested by next Wednesday.
- What would you like to see at VanCon? (Concurrent Sessions, Deep Dive (longer or full day sessions), a Combination of Concurrent & Deep Dive, or Other).
- Describe your idea for presenters. (In-House Vanguard-Led, Outside Speaker/s, or Other)
- Do you enjoy having choice & options? (Yes, No, Other)
- Do you have any additional comments about VanCon?
- Would you be interested in helping with the event? If yes, what capacity?
Help! 3 Spots Left!
We are looking for volunteers to share on this month’s Vanguard webinar. The focus is students leading to advance technology use. I know many of you have student tech teams that do PD for teachers, tech troubleshooting and more. Please let Mindy Ramon know if you are available Feb 18 from 7:30-8:30 pm and want to be one of our speakers. Each person will have about 10-15 min.
Calling all Teacher and Professionals of the Year!
Are you Teacher or Professional of the year this year, 2019-2020 ? please share that here.
Congratulations to all the Vanguard members who earned their $500 for the 2019-2020 school year. Instructional Technology is in the process of getting funds transferred to schools now. Once the transfer from accounting is complete, Chris Olateru will email bookkeepers, and you will be able to start spending your funds. We anticipate that funds should be available at your schools by February 21st. Remember, there is a district-wide moratorium on software purchases until the end of the school year. Therefore, you will not be able to use your funds to purchase any type of software. All other purchases must follow FCS procurement guidelines. If you have a question about what may be purchased, you should contact the purchasing department.
Stipend recipients should have received a congratulatory email from Heather Van Looy on Monday, February 10th. If you did not receive an email and you feel that you qualified for the stipend, please email Heather (vanlooy@fultonschools.org).
Fulton Virtual School
Fulton Virtual School is currently staffing for adjunct teaching positions for the Summer 2020 term! This year, they are recruiting teachers in the following subject areas 6-12:
- CTAE – Business, Computer Science, and Healthcare
- Fine Arts – Art
- ELA – Middle and High School
- Math – High School Certification
- Social Studies – All subjects
- Science – All subjects
- World Languages – Spanish and French
For more information, see the attached flyer. Feel free to contact Marcus Vu (vuma@fultonschools.org) or Steven Moody (moodys@fultonschools.org) with questions.
Vanguard Birthdays
Vanguard Wishes A Very Happy Birthday to
Quajulan Wimberly 2/4
Latasha Rutledge 2/5
Malena Bisanti 2/10
Ashley Ellis 2/25
Chanel Johnson 2/28
We want to celebrate our Vanguardian family. If you would like for us to recognize your birthday, please click this link.
Have you met Vanguardian Martha Bongiorno?
- Can you tell us a little about what inspires you in your role as a METI?
The students! While I was in school, I was the quiet kid with big ideas but struggled with self-esteem. When I think about our library program, I want to provide a space that is inclusive and safe for our students but also provide ways to amplify our student voices. Each of our students has so much to learn, to explore, and a voice that can help us improve the world we are living in given the opportunity. I consider myself a servant of opportunities in order to support our students on their path to greatness and our teachers to help our students get there.
And all the books. Always books. :) - Favorite tech tool (or top 3)
This is the legit hardest question ever because it depends on the project. When I think about the tools we use most often, though, I can try to narrow it down to Flipgrid, Skype in the Classroom, and Adobe Spark. - What impact has Vanguard had on you?
Joining Vanguard has been so rejuvenating! I have met people who inspire and challenge me as well as had learning opportunities to push me outside of my comfort zone. Vanguard has allowed me to explore my own interests in technology while also providing feedback from like-minded individuals to help me grow as an educator and a leader. We can always improve our practice so having a group I can bounce ideas off of and collaborate with, who understand the value of mentoring and instructional technology, has been life-changing. - How do you share your ideas with others?
Since June of 2019, I have presented at the International Society of Technology Education International Conference, the Georgia Educational Technology Conference, the American Association of School Librarians National Conference, the Future of Education Technology Conference, the Georgia Library Media Association Summer Institute, and the First District RESA Summer Institute. - What is something you are most proud of when it comes to your work?
It’s the small wins I am most proud of when it comes to my work. Big projects are amazing and exciting and a huge learning opportunity for all those involved in the project, but when I am able to help a teacher who was reluctant to try something new like use a tool on their own, that’s something I get super giddy about. When I hand deliver a book to a student that was ordered just for them and see their excitement, I get super giddy. So maybe what I am trying to say is it’s the personal relationships I build with others? My work is not something I can do alone – it takes a village and relationships is the number one reason I do what I do. - Do you have a dream or vision for Vanguard at your school? If so, would you share?
I had the phenomenal meeting of a lifetime with Jennifer Williams at FETC. With a background as an International Baccalaureate teacher (pre-METI) and a heart for humanities, I value global collaborations and projects that help our students learn about the world and how they can make a difference. When I read her book and met her in person to see the good work she has done through the Teach SDGs movement, I knew we needed to read her book as a Vanchise team. As a school Vanchise, we are currently reading Teach Boldly: Using Edtech for Social Good. My dream for our team would be to embody the idea of using technology for social good so we can help our teachers and students be empowered to use their devices to connect, learn, and change the world. Through this book deep dive, I hope we can start making a game plan to put that into action!
Shoutouts
Megan Endicott and Casey Hall
Megan Endicott and Casey Hall lead a GMEA ( Georgia Music Education Association) workshop
Bravo Behavior! Effective Strategies to Promote Positive Classroom Behaviors!
Way to Go!!!
ISTE Certification Cohort 2
ISTE is focused on pedagogy, not tools. It’s not about edtech per se, it’s about what you do with the tech to transform learning and improve student outcomes.
Through the ISTE Certification process, teachers will participate in professional learning based on the ISTE Standards and transformative pedagogy. After completing the training, participants have six months to apply their learning and compile artifacts and reflections into a competency-based portfolio to earn ISTE Certification. This is the second cohort mixed with Vanguard members and educators throughout our district. Cohort 2 started their 2 day training January 28-29, They are working with their modules and will finish with a portfolio.
Nominate someone or submit your own Spotlight Vanguard Member!
Vanleads, do you see any vanguard members at your school doing something awesome? Were they struggling with a tool before and are now using it? BRAG on our Vanguard members. If you see something awesome, please submit about your team member.
Please share your success stories with us! You may see your "Spotlight" in an upcoming Vanweekly!
School Lead Info
Thank you for joining us on our February Monthly call! You can find the information in our Teams channel / School Leads / Monthly Calls OR below. Don't forget to redeliver important content to your teammates monthly. Reach out with questions!
Here is the link to this month's slide deck: February School Lead Call.pptx
Key take away items from this month:
- Stipend Padlet walls / links to share with teammates
•Stipend Ideas – Padlet #1
•Stipend Ideas – Padlet #2
•FETC Finds
•Technology Stipend Ideas – by category! - Spotlight on School Lead Carolyn Hutcheson (393 XP, shared ways to stay on top of entering XP, and described her "Other Mentoring" activities.
- Upcoming events:
- RSVP for EdCamp! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSch_L5aDW0QoTZYVyBem5CyvQJ7xXPKzImpkNU5u9fqPPY4aQ/viewform
- (CHANGE IN WEBINAR HOSTS - WE NEED SCHOOLS WITH STUDENT TECH TEAMS - See Teams post or contact Mindy Ramon to volunteer your team!)
- Mark your calendar & advertise - VanCon 2020 Monday, June 15th
- Complete the survey to have your voice heard in the VanCon planning process: https://forms.gle/Ba4ouP1CddCvmVPS7 Deadline is 2/12/2020!
- Share ways to promote Vanguard in school/district - watch video playback for interactive conversation! It was great!
- Tips & Tricks - Grading tab in Teams!
The video can be found on our stream channel (soon!) or by clicking here: https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/be26a06c-8d9a-4722-b183-bda6029926ac
Attention all Vanguardians!
Attention all Vanguardians! Interested in earning a little extra cash?
We are looking for Vanguard members, Seesaw Ambassadors, and experts in Standards Mastery Framework to work on a collaboration with Seesaw to help Standards Mastery Framework come alive in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies K-5. This work requires an understanding of how to develop high quality activities in Seesaw aligned to Standards Mastery Framework Learning Targets from the Learning Maps. This work will also include searching through the Seesaw library of activities already created and aligning those activities to our Standards Mastery Framework Learning Targets from the Learning Maps.
Look for the application in next week's Vanweekly.
Next Microsoft Monday!
Microsoft Monday February 24 4:30-5:00
Vanguard Feedback
Vanguard Leadership Team
District Support
@hoke
Heather Van Looy -
Instructional Technology Program Specialist - New Member Support
@HeatherVan Looy
Mindy Ramon -
IT Training Support Coordinator
@fultonitdept
Executive Committee
Lead Coach - Member Support
@jeevans
Megan Endicott
Associate Lead - Events, Professional Development & School Lead Support
@endicottspot
Chanel Johnson
Associate Lead- XP & Communications
@DC_stemtastic
South Learning Community & Achievement Zone
@allisongtechie
Crystal Billingslea
billingsleac@fultonschools.org
@MathyMissB
Patricia Thomas // Evoline C. West Elementary School
@ThomasNeverStop
Northeast Learning Community
@msmorrisra
Tammie St. John
@stjohnteach
Northwest Learning Community
@MsBeardsClass
Pam Kelly
@pckelly4
Katie Pardee
@mkpardee
Central Learning Community
Fulton County Vanguard Team
Vision: Through building colaborative relationships and supporting student focused learning, the Vanguard Team will positively impact student achievement.
Pillars: Transform, Innovate, Mentor, & Support (TIMS)
Website: http://www.fcsvanguard.org/
Twitter: @FCSvanguard