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UVM Center on Disability & Community Inclusion (CDCI)
University of Vermont

Home » ABOUT

About The BEST Project

Strengthening Vermont school communities, so they’re better able to work with students at risk of or experiencing social, emotional, and behavioral challenges

To help schools develop more effective strategies and interventions, the BEST Team facilitates a variety of workshops, trainings, webinars, and an annual Summer Institute.

Training and technical assistance are presented within the framework of a multi-tiered system of supports, specifically, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). They are available to school staff, families/caregivers, community members, and a variety of interagency workforce members.

A pale-skinned teacher with medium-brown hair up in a messy bun and overalls stands on one foot in a brightly colored classroom. Around her a circle of students imitates her move.

Meet Our Staff

Our collaborative team includes a program administrator with decades of experience, as well as nationally recognized experts on social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health supports.

  • Meg Baker, M.Ed, Early Childhood Professional Development Director
  • Anne-Marie Dubie, Program Support
  • Cassandra Townshend, Ed.D, Project Co-Director, and
  • Amy Wheeler-Sutton, M.Ed, Project Co-Director
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BEST Trainings & Workshops

The BEST Project offers ongoing workshops and webinars that improve learning outcomes for students in Vermont. These trainings are based on school data, proven strategies, and nationally verified curriculum, and include the renowned annual BEST/VTmtss Summer Institute.

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Other BEST Projects

The BEST Project coordinates a number of projects related to social, emotional, and behavioral learning in Vermont, including leading work on EarlyMTSS, student mental health, and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS).

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BEST/ACT 230 Grants

Each fiscal year, Vermont supervisory unions/districts have the opportunity to apply for grants to use for training, program development, and building capacity. BEST funds are intended for training and professional learning that will support creating equitable, rigorous learning environments for students with emotional and behavioral needs. Act 230 funds are intended for training on how to support children in each tier of the multi-tiered system of supports.

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Quick Facts

2024 BEST Project Fact Sheet

  • Download the 2024 BEST Fact Sheet (.pdf)
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CONTACT

208 Colchester Ave, 3rd floor Mann Hall
Burlington, VT 05405

Phone: (802) 656-4031
Email: cdci@uvm.edu

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TERMS OF USE

CDCI and its projects license all work under Creative Commons 4.0 AT-NC-SA: our work can only be used for non-commercial purposes, and we require attribution and a share-alike license. We do not give permission to upload and/or manipulate any of our work with artificial intelligence technology, nor do we allow any of our work to be minted and sold as NFTs.

How Do I...

  • Sign up for a BEST Project training
  • Learn about projects associated with the BEST Project
  • Find out who works for the BEST Project
  • Contact the BEST Project

FUNDING

This project is supported in part by grant number 90DDUC0062, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201.​​ Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.​

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