The Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators has been active in educational leadership across Vermont for over 44 years. The organization has supported Special Education Administrators and other special education leaders, and worked closely and collaboratively with Superintendents, Principals, the Agency of Education, family support organizations and many other state organizations throughout the years. We stay abreast of legislative issues at both the state and federal levels. Our collaboration with our national organization, CASE (Council of Administrators of Special Educators a subdivision of the Council for Exceptional Children), continues to broaden our perspective and inform us on the national level. Our goal is to provide leadership, support, collegiality and mentoring to all those who teach and lead in education and special education in Vermont. We are honored to be a part of a state that invests in all of our children for the future of our state.

Annual VSA/VCSEA/VTCLA Spring Conference

Each spring, VCSEA holds a joint conference in collaboration with the Vermont Superintendent's Association and the Vermont Curriculum Leaders Association.

This year's conference will be held on May 15 & 16, 2025 at the Stoweflake Resort in Stowe, VT

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jamila Dugan

Tending to Educators: An Invitation to Radically Dream for Our Collective Thriving
Educators are the heart of our schools, yet the profession is under attack and more challenging than ever. This session invites those who support educators to honor our collective work, acknowledge present realities, and radically dream of what’s possible for a more sustainable and humanizing educator experience. Through reflection and frameworks for thriving—both relational and structural—we will explore what it takes to sustain ourselves and those we serve. Together, we will move from truth-telling to action, making concrete commitments to transform how we tend to ourselves and others. This is not just a conversation—it’s an invitation to reimagine how we care for and uplift educators, not just for today, but for the future of our schools and communities.

Conference Highlights:

Engaging Workshops on critical topics such as:

Telling Your District Story: Communicating your school’s vision and impact effectively through student voice
EQS Implementation: Implementing the new Education Quality Standards
Special Session on Mental Health in Schools featuring Vermont education and healthcare leaders
Networking opportunities with fellow Vermont education leaders
Thursday Evening Banquet & Silent Auction supporting student scholarships

New Leader Academy - 2024-2025

The Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators (VCSEA) is pleased to announce the annual New Leader Academy. The Academy is a year-long professional development program designed to support new and aspiring special education administrators. The Academy uses a cohort model and provides academic and practical instruction in an array of skill and knowledge areas important to success as a special education administrator. The cohort model ensures that participants have the opportunity to share experiences, expertise and support in a collegial format.

Hybrid Model

New Leader Academy will be offered in a hybrid format to accommodate both in-person and virtual learning.

Program Dates

July 23rd and 24th - Full Day (in person) - Vermont Agency of Education Montpelier, VT

Monthly sessions:

Sept 19: 9-12 Virtual

Oct 17: 9-12 in person/virtual Location TBD

Nov 21: 9-12 virtual

Jan 16: 9-12 virtual

Feb 13: 9-12 virtual

March 20 9-12 virtual

April 17: 9-12 virtual

May 15: 9-3 in person - Location TBD

The Academy will be co-facilitated by Carrie Lutz (Colchester Director of Student Support Services) and Jon Berliner (Harwood Unified Union Director of Student Support Services). Academy instructors and presenters will be Vermont educational leaders with extensive expertise and experience in the specific content areas. In addition, the VT Agency of Education collaborates with VCSEA to present and co-facilitate a number of Academy topics.

Registration is open to new and aspiring special education administrators (click below to complete registration). Program enrollment is limited to 20; if space is available, additional registrants will be considered. The fee for participants is $2500.

2024-2025 VCSEA New Leader Academy Registration

Cancellation Policy: VCSEA requires advanced notice for cancellations. Participants who notify us of their withdrawal prior to the start of the July sessions will not be invoiced. Late withdrawals will be invoiced at 50% of the total cost of the Academy. Participants who withdraw after the September session will not receive a refund.

Questions? Please contact:

Carrie Lutz, carrie.lutz@colchestersd.org

Jon Berliner, jberliner@huusd.org

Mary Lundeen, marylundeen@vcsea.net

Please see the following COVID-19 resources:

VCSEA Q&A Document from May 1st Special Education in the Era of COVID-19: FAPE & CASE Management training - here

VCSEA Member Shared Resources Document for Distance Learning - here

Please add to or share this document.

Vermont Agency of Education Guidance and Resources - here

Including: Memo: IDEA Requirements for Educational Placement and Amendments to IEPs in the Context of COVID-19. (released 3/27/20)