Posted on February 20, 2008

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Outstanding First-Year Teacher Nominations Due March 21

The deadline for nominating a first-year teacher for the FCPS Outstanding First-Year Teacher Award is Friday, March 21. Principals are encouraged to nominate outstanding beginning teachers whose first teaching assignment started on or after January 1, 2007. Nominations of certified teachers in grades K-12 will be reviewed based on academic and teaching performance relative to instructional skills and interaction with students, faculty and staff members, parents, and community members. 

The winner will be recognized at a School Board ceremony and awarded $2,000. Instructions and nomination forms are available online at www.fcps.edu/DHR/employees/awards/index.htm.

For more information, contact Shannon Watson at 571-423-3278.

FCPS Staff Members Invited to Participate in Jefferson-Overseas Schools Technology Institute, Registration Deadline Is March 14

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) would like to extend an invitation to all FCPS educators to attend or present at this year’s Jefferson-Overseas Schools Technology Institute (JOSTI) conference. TJHSST, in collaboration with the U.S. State Department’s Office of Overseas Schools, hosts this annual five-day technology conference to provide a professional development opportunity for educators and technology support staff members located in their member schools. There will be a special emphasis on virtual learning, highlighting collaborative communities and shared resources with “hands-on” training for integrating technology across various grade levels and curricula.

The conference will take place June 23 through 27 at TJHSST. Sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday. TJHSST will be able to accommodate 50 participants from FCPS, and 25 recertification points will be awarded for participating in the five-day conference. Administrators, technology staff members, librarians, and teachers are invited to attend.

There is a registration fee of $100 per person, which includes lunch daily and an opening dinner Monday night. Registration must be completed through MyPLT (search for JOSTI) before March 14; checks for the registration fee, made payable to TJHSST, should be sent to Barbara Dent, JOSTI conference coordinator, TJHSST.

If you are interested in presenting at this conference, send an e-mail to Robert Latham at Robert.Latham@fcps.edu for further information and a proposal form.

Coming Soon to Your School: The FCPS Working Conditions Survey

FCPS will join the growing list of states and large school systems that have begun to look at the relationship between teacher working conditions and student learning, teacher effectiveness, and teacher retention by surveying teachers and school administrators. FCPS, in partnership with the New Teacher Center of Santa Cruz (www.newteachercenter.org), will conduct a survey on working conditions. All school-based licensed educators are asked to participate by completing the online survey during the open period (February 25 through March 17). A Help Line will be available during the survey period.

Teachers and school administrators will receive a personal and secure code by February 20 to access the survey online. Topics covered will include leadership, empowerment, time, facilities and resources, professional development, mentoring and induction, and community support. The survey will be anonymous, and initial survey data will be available to schools and to FCPS in May.

Along with the New Teacher Center, FCPS is working with a committee composed of representatives from the education community to tailor the survey for FCPS needs. The committee also includes representatives from three employee organizations, principal organizations, and a parent organization.

Detailed information and answers to frequently asked questions can be found at http://www.fcpswcs.net.

Pathways to Leadership Conference Set for March 11, Registration Ends February 29

The Department of Professional Learning and Training will host the annual Pathways to Leadership Conference on March 11 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Falls Church High School for instructional employees wanting to explore leadership opportunities.

The conference will begin with refreshments and networking at 3:30 p.m. General session speakers will include Jack Dale, Division Superintendent, Terri Breeden, assistant superintendent of the Department of Professional Learning and Training, and Andrew Cole, director of the Office of Leadership Development. During concurrent sessions, information concerning the LEAD Fairfax Administrative Intern program, the LEAD Fairfax Accelerated Certification Cohort, and the Assistant Principal Portfolio program will also be presented along with other programs provided by the department.

Participants should register for the general session as well as two concurrent sessions. To register, log onto MyPLT at http://fcpsnet.fcps.edu/plt/MyPLT/index.html by February 29.

Reading Recovery Training Offered for Fall 2008, Information Sessions Scheduled for March

Reading Recovery is a short-term early intervention of one-on-one tutoring for low-achieving first grade students. Training is available for teachers with successful literacy experience at the primary level who can devote two and one-half hours each day to individual instruction. A recommendation by the principal is required.

Interested applicants and/or administrators may want to attend a Reading Recovery awareness session on March 3 from 3 to 4 p.m. or March 10 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Lacey Instructional Center.

For more information or to obtain an application, call 703-846-8635. Applications must be submitted by April 18.

Fairfax County Park Authority Seeks Staff Members for Rec-PAC Program

The Fairfax County Park Authority will soon begin hiring staff members for its 2008 summer Rec-PAC program, which will operate from June 30 through August 8 at 54 FCPS elementary schools. The work hours will be 8:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., or 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at some sites.

Open-hire sessions will be held at the Fairfax County Government Center (12055 Government Center Parkway, Herrity Building, first floor) on the following dates:

• March 4, 12 to 5 p.m.
  
• May 14, 12 to 5 p.m.
  
• May 20, 12 to 5 p.m.

All applicants must bring an original Social Security card and photo identification. A special open hire will be held on Thursday, March 13, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Mt. Eagle Elementary. For additional information, contact the Rec-PAC office at 703-324-5514, or visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/employment/summercampjobs.htm.