Posted on March 18, 2009

Information For Educators

Applications Due April 24 for 2009-10 Great Beginnings Coaches

The Department of Professional Learning and Training (PLT) is seeking coaches for the elementary and secondary Great Beginnings programs for the 2009-10 school year. Current classroom teachers who have an interest in supporting beginning teachers should consider applying. All Great Beginnings coaches receive a stipend of approximately $3,000 as well as recertification points. Applicants should possess the following:

  • A minimum of three years’ successful teaching experience in FCPS.
  • Extensive knowledge of curriculum and instruction, FCPS instructional goals and expectations, and solid classroom management skills.
  • A strong desire to work with beginning teachers to support their growth and learning in the profession.
  • Strong communication and human relations skills.
  • A commitment to collaboration and teamwork.

Interested applicants must be available two days per month for professional development and after-school seminars during the school year. Applicants must also be available August 17-21 for coach professional development and
August 24-28 for the Great Beginnings Summer Institute. The application, a principal recommendation, a colleague recommendation, and an interview are required. Applicants may also be visited in their classrooms by the program managers.

Application packets are available at http://www.fcps.edu/plt/greatb.htm. For more information, call 703-204-4061.

Completed applications with the principal recommendation and colleague recommendation must be received by Friday, April 24.

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Proposals for Summer Leadership Seminars Due by April 28

The Department of Professional Learning and Training (PLT) is now accepting proposals for summer leadership seminars (formerly Leadership Academy seminars). Summer seminar offerings run from June 23 to August 19.

Registration for these seminars will be offered through the new online leadership publication PLT Compass. The goal of PLT Compass is to provide direction, instruction, and inspiration for current and aspiring school-based, central office and support administrators, teacher leaders, and school teams within FCPS. Each issue has an overall theme; the theme for the summer issue is “Closing the Gap.”

FCPS personnel may submit leadership seminar proposals through the online proposal form at http://www.fcps.edu/plt/Leaders/Programs/Leadership_Seminars.htm. The deadline to submit a proposal is April 28.

For further information contact Janet Kabel at Janet.Kabel@fcps.edu.

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Tara Loehr Named February News Liaison of the Month

Tara Loehr, a sixth grade teacher at Springfield Estates, has been named the News Liaison of the Month for February by the Department of Communications and Community Outreach (DCCO). This new recognition program rewards school news liaisons for submitting newsworthy media tips and creative photographs. Loehr submitted news about the school’s spelling bee and a visit by ABC7 meteorologists.

Loehr also submitted a number of photos, including one featuring members of the FECEP-Head Start class during a healthy hearts lesson, one featuring sixth grade students celebrating perfect scores on their timed math facts test, and one featuring kindergarten students writing with quill pens as part of their studies of Colonial times. Two more photos featuring Love a Book month and students involved in a health lesson were also accepted for posting on the FCPS home page. 

Loehr, who has been employed by FCPS for four years and at Springfield Estates for four years, received a $25 gift card from Starbucks for being named February’s News Liaison of the Month. 

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Fairfax CASA Seeks Volunteers to Speak Up for Children in Court

A new case of child abuse or neglect enters the Fairfax County Domestic and Juvenile Relations Court system once every 30 hours. These children need caring advocates to help ensure that they grow up in safe and permanent homes.

That's where the volunteer group Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) comes in. An independent nonprofit organization, Fairfax CASA recruits and trains volunteers to investigate a child's situation and to advocate for the best interests of the child in court. Fairfax CASA’s most successful volunteers are oftentimes current or retired educators who bring the skills and the experience needed to build rapport with families and professionals and to advocate forcefully for the needs of a child.

If you seek a volunteer role with real purpose that can create real change, attend one of Fairfax CASA's upcoming information sessions. For dates and to reserve a space, call or e-mail Elisa Kosarin, recruitment and training manager, at 703-273-3526, ext. 22, or ekosarin@casafairfax.org.

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Advanced Academic and Resource Teacher Recruitment and Information Meeting to Be Held March 25

Are you interested in learning more about becoming an elementary or middle school advanced academic Level IV teacher (formerly Gifted and Talented) or resource teacher? The Advanced Academic Programs Office is hosting an information meeting on Wednesday, March 25, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., in the Lacey Center multipurpose room, 3705 Crest Drive, Annandale.

All interested teachers are invited to learn about the roles, responsibilities, and application process to become a K-6 school-based advanced academic resource teacher or a 3-6 level IV teacher. No registration is necessary.

For more information, contact the Advanced Academic Programs Office at 703-846-8670.

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Recently Updated School Board Directives Posted Online

Recent changes and additions to directives that have been made effective within the last 45 days can be found at http://commweb.fcps.edu/schoolboardapps/recentchanges.cfm. Any citizen who requests a hard copy of a directive has a right to receive it and should be provided the most current version printed from the web page. The School Board office, at Gatehouse Administration Center I, maintains the historical records of all directives. 

Note: The School Board office has reassigned the General Support 7000 series to the Department of Communications and Community Outreach per the current version of Regulation 1104, Format for Directives. The Facilities and Transportation Services 7000 series directives have been assigned new numbers in the Facilities (8000 series) and the Financial Services 7000 series directives have been assigned new numbers in the Finance (5000) series. The directives numerical listing will display both the old (listed on left) and new (in parenthesis) number until the affected directive is revised or reissued. 

For more information, contact Debbie Hensley, School Board office, at 571-423-1068, or debbie.hensley@fcps.edu.

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