Course Description
The Vermont Mathematics Initiative (VMI) announces two professional development offerings for educators. Applications for both are now being accepted and can be accessed from below. Both opportunities are a good use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds and provide an excellent way for a school to increase leadership capacity in mathematics and consider long term, strategic approaches to addressing mathematics achievement concerns.
The Post-Masters Certificate of Graduate Study Series
Offered in collaboration with Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), the Certificate of Graduate Study is a five-course, 15-credit series. This series focuses on the knowledge and specialized skills school and district leaders need to support mathematics instructional excellence, with the goal of providing all students opportunities to learn important mathematics. The program is specifically designed for current and aspiring math coaches, math specialists, math interventionists and leaders in mathematics services for students who struggle in math. This series will provide mathematics instructional leaders with the knowledge, skills and confidence to contribute to the systemic changes needed for all students to be successful in mathematics.
Successful applicants to the VMI Post-Master’s certificate program are educators committed to enhancing their effectiveness as leaders of mathematics and are committed to sharing their increased knowledge of mathematics content and pedagogy with colleagues. Through coursework, classroom and school- or district-based applications, and support by VMI staff, participants will earn The VMI Certificate of Graduate Study in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Mathematics. Please note that there are no prerequisite requirements for entry into the VMI Post-Master’s Certificate program, although one must have already earned a master’s degree in a related field.
The first of five courses will run this summer, June 26-June 30. The remaining four courses will be held one per semester: Fall 2023 (three Friday/Saturdays), Spring 2024 (three Friday/Saturdays), summer 2024 (one week) and fall 2024 (three Friday/Saturdays).
More information can be found by downloading an application packet or by contacting VMI’s Director, Judi Laird, at [email protected].
The VMI Master’s Degree Programs
Also offered in partnership with SNHU, the VMI Master’s Program is a three-year, comprehensive mathematics professional development program. Now in its twenty-third year, the mission of the VMI Master’s program is to significantly improve the teaching and learning of mathematics in grades PreK-12 across the states of Vermont and New Hampshire. Through their VMI experience, teachers build strong mathematics content knowledge, develop the ability to conduct action research around mathematics education issues, cultivate leadership skills, and apply this acquired knowledge and skill in their classrooms and at the school or district level to improve student learning.
The program, held in the Burlington area, is cohort based and commences the weeks of July 10 and 17, 2023. Academic year courses are held on Friday/Saturday “weekends”: three during the fall semester and three during the spring semester. Summer courses are held two weeks during July each summer.
Upon completing the full three-year VMI program, a teacher will have earned 36 graduate credits and will have completed all of the requirements for the Master of Education (M.Ed) degree in Educator Practices from SNHU.
More information can be found by downloading an application packet or by contacting VMI’s Director, Judi Laird, at [email protected].
