Deadlines Approaching for Spring and Summer 2009 Tuition Reimbursement Requests

Changes in the FCPS Tuition Reimbursement Program became effective with the spring 2009 semester. The newly enacted Tuition Assistance Regulation 9005 establishes five priorities for tuition reimbursement and can be found at http://www.fcps.edu/plt/treimbursement.htm. The regulation outlines the approval process, when and how to apply for tuition reimbursement, and the Tuition Reimbursement Request Form (PLT-905).

When to Apply for Tuition Reimbursement

• Tuition reimbursement must be pre-approved.
• The last date to submit a Tuition Reimbursement Request form (PLT-905) for course work to be completed during the spring 2009 semester is May 15.
• The last date to submit a summer 2009 Tuition Reimbursement Request form is June 30.
• A request for tuition reimbursement will not be approved after the last day on which a course meets.
• The employee must complete the NEW (PLT-905) tuition reimbursement request form located at http://www.fcps.edu/plt/treimbursement.htm and submit the completed application to the Department of Professional Learning and Training, Dunn Loring Center.
• Upon receipt of the request, the Department of Professional Learning and Training will notify the employee of the approval or denial of their request. Once a tuition reimbursement request is approved, the funds will be held in reserve for the employee.

How to Receive a Tuition Reimbursement Payment

To receive a reimbursement payment for spring 2009 and summer 2009 tuition reimbursement requests:

• Tuition reimbursement payments will be initiated after the approved  course has been satisfactorily completed with a grade of “A”, or “B”, or “Pass” (if it is Pass/Fail) for a graduate-level course, or “C” or better for an undergraduate course as verified by an unofficial university transcript and/or grade report and proof-of-payment from the college or university.
• Grade verification and proof-of-payment for spring 2009 and summer 2009 course work ending on or before June 30, must be received by the Department of Professional Learning and Training, Dunn Loring Center, by June 30.
• Tuition reimbursement payments are paid monthly and are included in the employee’s paycheck.

Note: The cost of textbooks, miscellaneous fees, travel, etc., is not reimbursed by the tuition reimbursement program. Substitutes, hourly paid employees, and employees on leaves of absence are ineligible for tuition reimbursement. Final determination of an employee’s eligibility for tuition reimbursement shall rest with the assistant superintendent, Department of Professional Learning and Training, or his or her designee.

Questions regarding tuition reimbursement should be directed to Rita Cloutier, Department of Professional Learning and Training, by phone at 703-204-3905 or by e-mail to Rita.Cloutier@fcps.edu.

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University of Virginia Regional Educational Leadership Endorsement Program Information Meeting to Be Held May 18

The University of Virginia is offering a regional Educational Leadership Endorsement program beginning in fall 2009 in collaboration with northern Virginia school divisions. The program is for teachers who hold a five-year renewable license and who want to obtain the administrative endorsement necessary for consideration for the school-based administrative positions of assistant principal, principal, and student activities director. Enrollment will be limited to 30 people. 

Selection criteria include three years of teaching experience with at least one year in FCPS and outstanding teaching ability. Participants will pay tuition and book costs. Representatives from the University of Virginia will provide information about the program, the application and selection process, coursework, and internship requirements at a meeting on Monday, May 18, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Alan Leis Center in the multipurpose room. 

To register for the information session, contact the Department of Professional Learning and Training by sending an e-mail to Rita Cloutier at rita.cloutier@fcps.edu. Include your name, work location, and telephone number in the
e-mail.

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2009 Leadership Conference Speaker Announced

The 2009-10 Leadership Conference is scheduled for Wednesday, August 5, at Hayfield Secondary School in Alexandria. Dr. Jack D. Dale will kick off the day promptly at 8 a.m. with a welcome, introduction of guests, and his vision for the new school year. The morning keynote speaker will be Tony Wagner, bestselling author of The Global Achievement Gap. Wagner is co-director of the Change Leadership Group (CLG) at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He consults with schools, districts, and foundations and has served as senior advisor to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Dr. Dale will dismiss support administrators at 11:45 a.m., and shuttle bus service will be available for transportation back to initial pick-up locations. Instructional school-based administrators will remain for a keynote presentation in the high school cafeteria where a box lunch will be served. To facilitate efficient use of time in the afternoon, lunch will be served from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Breakout sessions will begin promptly at 1 p.m. Shuttle buses will pick up administrators immediately after the sessions end at 3:45 p.m.

Updates will be posted as they become available on the Department of Professional Learning and Training web site, found at http://www.fcps.edu/plt.

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Summer Academy Catalog Available Online on May 7, Registration Begins May 20

The FCPS Summer Academy catalog will be available online beginning May 7 at http://www.fcps.edu/plt/catalogs.htm. Online registration will be available beginning May 20. All employees must register through MyPLT.

Follow these steps to use My PLT for the first time:

• Go to http://www.fcps.edu/plt/MyPLT/index.html.  
  
• Click on the LOGIN button.
• Type your FCPS domain name in the username field.
  
• Type the same domain name in the password field.
  
• Click on the LOGIN button.
  
• You will be prompted to type a new password with a maximum length of eight characters.

If you have problems with your user name or password, contact the IT Service Desk at 703-503-1600 or ITServiceDesk@fcps.edu.

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National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Information Meeting Set for May 21

A National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) information meeting on the certification process will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, in the Instruction and Professional Development (IPD) room at the Fairfax Education Association (FEA) office, located at 3917 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030.

The NBPTS seeks to establish and maintain high and rigorous standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. Each candidate for NBPTS certification undergoes an assessment process that includes four portfolios of the teacher’s work and six assessment center exercises.

NBPTS certification is available in the following fields for secondary teachers: English/language arts, math, science, social studies, career and technical studies, health education, music, foreign language, physical education, and art.  Generalist certificates, as well as art, music, and physical education certificates, are available for elementary school teachers. 

Certificates are also available for teachers of students with exceptional needs (students birth to 18+), library media (students 3 to 18+), and for teachers of English as a new language (ages 3 to18+), literacy: reading-language arts (ages 3 to12), and school counseling (ages 3 to18+).

Fairfax County Public Schools has more than 300 teachers certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. The Virginia Department of Education and FCPS offer stipends, dependent on budget availability, to teachers who attain NBPTS certification.

If you plan to attend or need additional information about NBPTS, send an e-mail to Patty Dimetres, national board program manager, Department of Professional Learning and Training, at patricia.dimetres@fcps.edu.

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Beth Tally Named News Liaison of the Month for March

Beth Tally, career and transition teacher at Chantilly Academy, has been named the News Liaison of the Month for March 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.

Tally regularly submits news releases to the Connection, the Times, and the Chronicle Newspapers touting the accomplishments of Chantilly Academy students and staff members. Among her March submissions were an article on the Chantilly Academy Robotics team and Chantilly High DECA students. She also submitted photos of DECA club members and winners at the state DECA competition as well as photos of SkillsUSA competition winners.

Tally, who has been employed by FCPS for nine years and at Chantilly Academy for seven years, received a $25 gift card from Starbucks for being named March’s News Liaison of the Month.

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