About the Program
The Great Beginnings: Continuing the Journey extends the induction program for second-year elementary-level general education, middle, and high school teachers, art and music (General/Vocal), and special education teachers of the learning and emotionally disabled. Novice elementary teachers who participated in a Professional Development School (PDS) or Professional Development Academy (PDA) intern program with FCPS for the previous school year may choose to enroll in this induction program for second-year teachers.

The Program Format
The Elementary Great Beginnings: Continuing the Journey Program consists of two parts:

A two-day Summer Institute scheduled in July (for teachers in modified calendar schools) or August (for teachers in standard calendar schools)

An After-School Teaching Seminar with sessions scheduled monthly throughout the year

The Secondary Great Beginnings: Continuing the Journey Program consists of two parts:

A two-day seminar scheduled in August

An on-line community in which teachers participate in monthly discussions. There will be one face-to-face meeting in January.

Teachers hired after the Summer Institute may still enroll in the Continuing the Journey induction program by attending the After-School Teaching Seminar.

In the second-year program, teachers use their first year of teaching experience as a foundation to assist in building a strong, instructionally focused teaching environment for students. Opportunities for continuous reflection on teaching practices are provided throughout the seminar.

Teachers who complete the induction program receive FCPS' Academy course credit and recertification points that can be used for licensure renewal and salary scale increase.