Teacher Transfer Opportunity (Transfair) to Be Held May 5-7; Vacancy Lists Available April 30 on UConnect

Clusters I, II, III	Clusters IV, V, VI	Clusters VII, VIII
May 5	May 6	May 7
3:30 to 9 p.m.	3:30 to 9 p.m.	3:30 to 9 p.m.
Marshall High School	Lee High School	Centreville High School

Transfair specifies specific times that are devoted to principal interviews of teachers interested in changing work locations. Three evenings are dedicated to the interviewing process during the spring.

A vacancy list will be be posted on UConnect on April 30. Teachers wanting to transfer should call individual schools from May 1 through May 7 to schedule appointments. The deadline for transfers is August 1. The last day to transfer from a modified calendar school (MCS) is July 2.

For more information, contact Donnell Fisher at Donnell.Fisher@fcps.edu.

Please Note: Transfair is open only to current full-time FCPS teachers who want to move to another work location while staying in the same teaching assignment.

For instructional positions, the date for resignation without prejudice is June 1. This date is consistent with all other school systems in Northern Virginia. To resign, an employee fills out an HR-2 form, Notification of Resignation or Retirement, and submits it to his or her program manager for signature. Employees who resign after the June 1 deadline may jeopardize their rehire status.

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Partners in Education and MentorWorks Award Nomination Deadline Is April 17; Celebration Set for May 14

Honor your exceptional business partners and mentors by nominating them for a Partners in Education award. Nominations are currently being accepted to recognize the many valuable contributions being made by business and organization partners in Fairfax County.

Eligibility

School partners are broadly defined as those companies, organizations, or individuals who give assistance to a school for the purpose of furthering student achievement and who receive no remuneration for their efforts.

All partnerships nominated must be officially listed on the FCPS 2008-09 Partners in Education roster or be involved with MentorWorks or Career Connections.

The deadline for nominations is 1:30 p.m. on April 17, and the results will be announced at the Partners in Education and MentorWorks Celebration on May 14 at Falls Church High School from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

For more information on criteria or procedures, or to obtain a nomination form, go to http://fcpsnet.fcps.edu/supt/busind/index.htm.

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TMPC and Education Library to Reduce Hours During Spring Break

Spring break is coming, and, with that much-anticipated event, a temporary change in hours at the Sprague Technology Center’s walk-in services facilities will occur. Beginning Monday, April 6, the Teacher Materials Preparation Center (TMPC) and the Education Library will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Spring Break hours will be in effect through April 10.

Regular hours (8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays) resume on Monday, April 13.

For more information, call the TMPC at 703-503-7430 or the Education Library at 703-503-7420.

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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 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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