Welcome to our weekly #VAESPChat starting at 8pmEST. I am Dr. Andrew Buchheit Principal in PWCS & VAESP Rep. to National Assoc. of Elementary School Principals from VA. Our chat is open to everyone & topics focus on how we can best Support/Lead/Celebrate our Student/Staff/Schools/Families/ Communities & Each Other

Our 30 minute Chat starts at 8pmEST. Our Guest Moderator VA Superintendent Dr. Lisa Coons, The Topic: Literacy, Attendance, Cell Phones Please INTRODUCE yourself &remember to add #VAESPChat to your responses. We use a QI/Al format. Ex: Add your Al to Q1

A1: Great Question to start us off! I always look forward to the new year! Very few professions have a restart each year. Love seeing the excitement of the kids and the teachers. And of course I’m also excited about the new VLA! 😃#VAESPchat

A2: The structure of expectations and direct Instruction, the focus on early literacy and evidence and research based instruction, the collaboration between teachers and with reading coaches and others. Change is always a challenge but each week we seem stronger. #VAESPchat

And Todd Bloomer will be our guest moderator on February 2. #VAESPchat

A3: Oir PAC - Proactive Attendance Committee- that meets weekly with admin, counselors, attendance secretary, nurse, parent Liasion and look at each student. And develop individualized support. Also create a welcoming environment where all students feel they belong. #VAESPchat

A4: it makes sense and aligns to what we were already doing. Having exceptions for medical reasons, etc is good. Including smart watches, etc was helpful too. We has those discussions - You can wear it as a watch but if you use it as a phone it goes in back pack. #VAESPchat

Thank you for joining #VAESPchat tonight & Thank you to Dr. Lisa Coons for a Great Discussion. Next Week join our chat on Sept. 22 – Eric Sheninger and Nicki Slaugh – Eric Sheninger Nicki Slaugh lead us in a chat on Personalized Learning! I hope you have a safe and positive week!

A5: Continue to Listen and Collaborate with principals and educators. We are all in it together and for the same reasons: our students. Reduce what we can and where we can - testing for example. Some things can just be too much for teachers and kids. #VAESPchat