Great Beginnings: Beginning Teacher Induction Program

The Great Beginnings Beginning Teacher Induction Program provides support teachers new to the profession.

The Summer Institute launches the induction program in July (modified calendar schools) or August (traditional calendar schools). During the Institute teachers focus on the first day and first week of school.

The program continues during the school year with after-school seminar sessions that present first-year themes of classroom management, parent relations, and standards-based instructional planning. Meeting the needs of diverse learners and modeling good human relations are integral parts of the entire program.

Great Beginnings: Continuing the Journey

The Great Beginnings Continuing the Journey Program continues the induction program for elementary and secondary second-year teachers, including those who completed their first year of teaching prior to coming to FCPS.

Teachers in the second-year program concentrate on using their first year of teaching as a foundation for building a strong, instructionally-focused teaching environment for students. Opportunities for continuous reflection on teaching practices are provided through the school year.

Great Beginnings: Expanding Your Horizons

The Great Beginnings: Expanding Your Horizons Teacher Induction Program is designed for third-year elementary teachers. These teachers are invited to continue their professional collaboration and networking with colleagues, while expanding opportunities for dialogue and reflection about their practice and profession.

Teacher action research is the basis for the program.  Throughout the school year, participants will meet with colleagues and their Great Beginnings coach to develop an action research that will help them investigate their professional practice and reflect upon its impact on student learning.  Not only will teachers learn more about their own practice, but they will also have an avenue to find out what their colleagues are learning as well.

Great Beginnings: Enriching the Experience

The Great Beginnings Enriching the Experience Program is for experienced elementary and secondary teachers to new FCPS.

"Cohort X," as they like to be called, provides teachers who come to FCPS from other districts the chance to explore the FCPS Program of Studies, learn about available resources as well as continue to explore best practices in instruction. Opportunities for collaboration and reflection are provided through the seminar.

The elementary Enriching the Experience begins the year with a two-day Summer Institute and conducts part of their year online.

Great Beginnings: Mentor Resource Teacher Program

The Great Beginnings Mentor Resource Teacher Program provides job-embedded instructional assistance and support to beginning teachers at selected schools. Mentor Resource Teachers are retired teachers and teachers on leave who work part-time with the beginning teachers.

The beginning teacher and Mentor Resource Teacher determine individual teaching goals with an individualized teaching plan created to guide in the achievement of these goals. The teaching plan is assessed and revised frequently in order to maintain consistent teacher growth. Services are matched to meet the instructional needs of each individual teacher and are provided during the school day.

Key services provided by the Mentor Resource Teachers are classroom observations, co-teaching, lesson modeling and instructional discussions. The Mentor Resource Teachers also provide guidance in using FCPS resources for effective instructional goal setting, lesson design, and planning and assessment.