EdFocus Days 2026

On June 17-18, 2026, Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union will host its second annual EdFocus Days retreat at Burke Mountain Resort. This retreat is designed for OSSU school teams to work together on aligning our efforts around culture, climate, behavior, and student support across the supervisory union.

Approximately 50 teachers, support staff, and administrators will participate in two days of collaborative learning and planning focused on strengthening student belonging and success. Participants are volunteering their time to engage in this collaborative learning opportunity. Lodging is provided through funding from the BEST/Act 230 Grant.

Registration is now closed for this event.

Anchor Presentation

Our theme for the morning anchor presentation is One System, One Purpose: Uniting Practices to Strengthen Belonging and Learning. Anchoring keynote by Jess DeCarolis, Jon Kidde, Dr. Peter Knox, Mark Scott, Amy Wheeler-Sutton, and Molly Zapp-Ludt.

By examining the intersection of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) , Restorative Practices, and Community Schools, teams will design cohesive, activities, routines, and instructional connections that align with and support social, emotional, behavioral, and academic learning (SEBL) for the upcoming year.

Jess DeCarolis

Jess DeCarolis has a combined 20+ years in education and 13 years in municipal and state government – most recently serving as Division Director for eight years at the Vermont Agency of Education, where she developed and implemented the Act 67 (2021) Community Schools grant and co-founded the VT Community School Research-Practice-Policy-Partnership with colleagues from UVM. Jessica.A.DeCarolis@uvm.edu

Jon Kidde

Jon Kidde has been exploring the concepts of restorative justice (RJ) for 24 years and has played a critical role in the conceptualization, application, and enhancement of restorative justice within different contexts—education, justice, and within organizations in several states. Jon is currently an independent consultant focused on restorative justice and school discipline, and juvenile justice reform living in Vermont. Jon received an MSW degree from the School of Social Welfare at University of California – Berkeley. He co-authored Restorative Justice: A Working Guide for Our Schools with Rita Alfred during the initial implementation of RJ within the Oakland Unified School District. He is a Certified Dialogue Education Teacher. jonkidde@greenomegal3c.org

Dr. Peter Knox

Dr. Peter Knox is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Education at the University of Vermont. His primary areas of research include the Community Schools approach/framework, school climate/culture, public education policy, and family-school-community partnerships, particularly in rural contexts. Originally from Montana, he has significant experience working with and in rural, under-resourced communities using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches. Peter.Knox@uvm.edu

Mark Scott

Mark Scott is the Youth Programs Director at Lamoille Restorative Center (LRC) in Hyde Park, VT. He has worked in the restorative justice field for over 25 years. Mark began his career working directly with youth involved in the criminal justice system and over the years developed expertise in supporting schools with the implementation of a whole-school restorative model. Mark is recognized for his leadership in collaborative training and coaching in schools across Vermont. Currently, Mark works in two supervisory unions providing professional development in restorative practices to strengthen school engagement and belonging. mscott@lrcvt.org

Amy Wheeler-Sutton

Amy Wheeler-Sutton is the Co-Director of the Vermont BEST/PBIS State Team. Before joining the State Team in 2016, she was a school counselor at The Conservatory Lab Charter School in Boston, MA. Prior to that, she was school counselor at the Dothan Brook School in White River Junction, an Exemplar PBIS School. Amy trains and provides technical assistance on a variety of topics including PBIS, SEL, SWIS, data-based decision making, and alignment of initiatives. Amy.wheeler-sutton@uvm.edu

Molly Zapp-Ludt

Molly Zapp-Ludt is a Restorative Educator at Lamoille Restorative Center in Hyde Park, Vermont. Witnessing the positive transformations that restorative practices have on school culture is her favorite part of her work. She loves collaborating with school staff and students to help create school environments where all feel a sense of belonging and see their skills and contributions valued. Molly has a background in journalism and peace activism, and has an MA in English Rhetoric and Composition from the University of Missouri. She is a certified mindfulness meditation teacher under the mentorship of Devin Berry. mzapp@lrcvt.org