Information for Educators

Posted on June 3, 2009

Information For Educators

Registration for Summer Leadership Seminars Begins June 8
Proposals for Fall Leadership Seminars Due by August 11
Fulbright Teacher Exchanges Available for 2010-11 School Year

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Named FCPS 2009 Business Partner of the Year
Register Now for 2009 Academic Diversity Institute

Registration for Summer Leadership Seminars Begins June 8

Online registration through MyPLT for the summer leadership seminars begins at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 8. Information about the leadership seminars as well as many informative articles will be available inside the new online publication, PLT Compass, which will be posted at http://www.fcps.edu/plt/leadership.htm.

The goal of PLT Compass is to provide direction, instruction, and inspiration for current and aspiring school-based and central office administrators, teacher leaders, and school teams within FCPS. Each issue has an overall theme; the theme for the summer issue is Closing the Gap.

For more information, contact Janet Kabel at Janet.Kabel@fcps.edu or 703-204-4013.

Proposals for Fall Leadership Seminars Due by August 11

The Department of Professional Learning and Training (PLT) is now accepting proposals for fall-winter leadership seminars. Fall-Winter seminars run from September 21, 2009, to February 26, 2010.

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 and central office administrators, teacher leaders, and school teams within FCPS. Each issue has an overall theme; the theme for the fall-winter 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 August 11. For further information contact Janet Kabel at Janet.Kabel@fcps.edu.

Fulbright Teacher Exchanges Available for 2010-11 School Year

Overseas teacher exchange opportunities are available for the 2010-11 school year. FCPS participates in the school year direct exchanges. Other short-term exchanges are not supported by the school system due to the impact on instructional programs. In addition to meeting the Fulbright eligibility requirements, applicants must have taught three years in FCPS prior to the exchange year.

Opportunities and other eligibility requirements vary by country. Information and applications are available from the Fulbright Teacher Exchange at 202-464-3825 or by e-mail at fulbrightcte@aed.org. The application is also available at http://fulbrightteacherexchange.org/cteapplication.cfm. All applications must be approved by FCPS prior to submission.

All FCPS applications must be submitted to the Department of Professional Learning and Training, Dunn Loring Center, attn: Patty Dimetres. Applications must be received no later than Friday, September 25, to meet the Fulbright deadline. Applications will then be submitted by FCPS directly to Fulbright.

If you need additional information about the Fulbright exchange program, call 703-204-3934 or e-mail Patty Dimetres, program manager, Department of Professional Learning and Training, at patricia.dimetres@fcps.edu.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Named FCPS 2009 Business Partner of the Year

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) has been named the Fairfax County Public Schools 2008-09 Partner of the Year for its work with Sandburg Middle School. MWAA was honored at the 22nd annual FCPS business-school partnership reception and awards ceremony held May 14. (watch related video)

MWAA was recognized for its 19-year partnership with Sandburg Middle and for the creative way the organization has worked with the school and its students. Chief executive officer James Bennett serves as principal for a day at the school each year, and Sandburg principal Wendy Eaton serves as CEO of MWAA one day each summer. Student studio and performing artists have a venue for their work at Reagan National Airport; their artwork is hung year-round in the historic terminal, and students in the orchestra, jazz band, and chorus perform regularly at the airport. During the holiday season, students create ornaments for a tree displayed in the baggage claim area.

For Sandburg’s annual Career Day, MWAA provides professionals representing many different positions to talk about their careers. Employees also participate in a reading mentor program and talk to students about money management. MWAA fire department members volunteer their time to provide CPR, AED (cardiopulmonary resuscitation, automated external defibrillator) training to Sandburg staff members. MWAA employees adopt needy Sandburg families during the holidays, and, each year, the group presents each of two students with a citizenship award and a cash prize.

Other winners include:

Herndon United Methodist Church, Community Partnership Award.
Mitre Corporation, Career and Technical Education Award.
Trible's Inc., Career Connections Award.
Capital One and the Heart of American Foundation, Blue Ribbon Award for Outstanding Event, for their Library READesignSM project at Glen Forest Elementary School.
Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority, Blue Ribbon Award for Improving Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
West Potomac High School and Bucknell Elementary School, School-Based Mentoring Award.
Coldwell Banker and Louise Archer Elementary School, Outstanding Mentoring Partnership Award.
Santana's 30/30 Club, Blue Ribbon Award for Promoting Appropriate Student Behavior.

For more information, go to http://commweb.fcps.edu/newsreleases/newsrelease.cfm?newsid=1173.

Register Now for 2009 Academic Diversity Institute

The Academic Diversity Institute is a one-day summer opportunity designed to further develop the expertise of
prekindergarten-12 teachers and administrators as they work to challenge and engage all learners. It is offered through the collaborative efforts of a wide range of FCPS offices and departments.

This year’s institute will be held at West Potomac High School on August 19 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Breakfast will be provided starting at 7:30 a.m., and participants will receive compensation at the rate of $15 per hour in addition to recertification hours assigned through MyPLT.

This year’s keynote speaker is Rafe Esquith, who has been described as “one of America’s most beloved and celebrated schoolteachers and living proof that patience, understanding, love, and imagination can work miracles.” He has written two books, Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56 and There Are No Shortcuts: Changing the World One Kid at a Time.

Registration is now open in MyPLT. Search for “Diversity” in the course title. (Please note: If you teach in a modified calendar school, you will register directly with your principal.) For more information, go to http://fcpsnet.fcps.edu/is/summeroflearning/diversity.htm.