Upcoming Instructional Staff Learning Opportunities

By Communications & Community Relations
Employee News
September 29, 2022

Tuition Reimbursement

All contracted full-time employees of Fairfax County Public Schools are eligible for tuition reimbursement (tuition only, fees are not reimbursable) for courses that enhance job-related skills and knowledge, lead to career growth, and support the Fairfax County Public School Strategic Goals. Learn more about tuition reimbursement. 

FCPS ACE Offers Microsoft Office Specialist Certification

Ready to get certified; take your career to the next level, and inspire others in your department too? Get your Microsoft Office Specialist Certification today! This certification increases efficiency and ensures you know how to make Office work for you. 

FCPS ACE is an authorized assessment center for Word Associate, Excel Associate, PowerPoint Associate, Outlook Associate, Access Expert, Word Expert and Excel Expert. Use your employee discount and lock in your exam date—you can take your exam from your home or office! Register to take your test today! 

Middle Managers: Develop Leadership Skills

The Middle Managers Round Table (MMRT) is an seven-month collaborative leadership development program for both operational and school leaders, conducted by The Office of Professional Learning and Equity and the Fairfax County Government. The application deadline is close of business on October 11. Apply now.

During the program, middle managers from both systems build leadership capacity and collaborate on a group capstone project. The program is seeking coordinators, managers, and school-based administrators (not principals) who have a supervisory or management role and want to develop their leadership skills. Supervisors of MMRT applicants will need to complete a recommendation form on the applicant’s behalf. Get more information on MMRT. Please email Tiffany Lee with any questions.

All You Need to Know About FCPS’ Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACF)

Do you know that annually, the Comptroller Office produces an ACFR which contains meaningful information regarding FCPS financial healthiness? In addition, FCPS receives two mandatory external audits annually, on: (1) financial statements, and (2) federal grants required by the Office of Management and Budget Uniform Guidance (this audit used to be called “single audit”). 

Many employees may have been requested to provide information to external auditors, and may not be aware of the end-product. In a new MyPDE ACFR training, we will cover (a) the key components of ACFR; (b) things you need to know for the two external audits; (c) how these audits are related to my daily work at FCPS; and (d) the common audit pitfalls. 


New Resources for Teacher Residents and New Teachers in MyPDE

The Office of Professional Learning and Equity has created a dashboard in MyPDE featuring curated asynchronous learning and resources for new teachers and teacher residents. Opportunities for in-person and synchronous training and additional resources will be added throughout the year.  

Topics include Lesson Planning, Learning Theory, Classroom Management, Teacher Resilience, and Creating a Positive Learning Environment. Resources will be coming soon on Special Education, ESOL, and Content Resources.  

Teachers and their mentors are encouraged to visit the dashboard, which can also be found by clicking on the “New Teacher Professional Learning” scrolling banner in their MyPDE Learner Dashboard.  Please contact [email protected] with questions.

Compass Leadership Development Courses are open for registration

Compass Courses are courses offered by FCPS to leaders and aspiring leaders. They are run by staff from across the division to promote leadership skills and development. Compass Courses are for both operational and instructional leaders unless specified in the course title. 

“Compass Quarterly” is a new newsletter showcasing all Compass course offerings for the first quarter! Offering topics include coaching, managing conflict, Fierce Conversations Refreshers, and leading effective meetings. Sign up to get Compass Quarterly sent directly in your inbox each quarter to plan your personal professional development calendar. Contact [email protected] if you have questions.

New Cohort to Inspire Students

Instructional Services is building a cohort of Portrait of a Graduate Presentations of Learning (POG POL)  Innovators for the 2022-23 school year. This cohort will support the continued growth and scaling of POG POL and meet the FCPS Strategic Plan Goal that all FCPS students will have the opportunity to participate in the program by 2025-26. 

The cohort will be made up of individuals who have experience or an interest with helping students reach Portrait of a Graduate outcomes and want to grow as an educator and instructional leader. 

Please view this document to learn more and sign up by Friday, September 30.

Are you a School Leader? Are you wondering if administration is right for you?

The George Mason Education Leadership Program has a Region North (Fairfax region) hybrid cohort that will be accepting new students for the Spring 2023 semester. In addition to the cohort, there are fully online and campus hybrid options available. 

If you are interested in advancing your career by earning a Master’s degree or advanced Certificate in Education Leadership, register using the links below to attend a virtual information session conducted by Farnoosh Shahrokhi, Education Leadership & Policy Division director, on any of the following dates: 

Once you register, you will receive a Zoom link to join the information session. By attending an info session, your $75 application fee will be waived. If you have any questions, please contact Shahrokhi at [email protected].

 

STEAM and Computer Science Professional Learning

Consider joining the 2022-23 STEAM and Computer Science (CS) professional learning cohorts to deepen students’ content learning and Portrait of a Graduate (POG) growth, and bring hands-on resources to your school. Space is limited and principal approval is required. 

North TIER Fall 2022 Courses

North TIER has a wonderful line-up of online professional development courses for instructional staff and administrators. Courses are only $55 for a 30-hour course. A graduate credit option, earning two graduate credits from Colorado State University, has extra work and fees.
 

Check out the fall advertisement for details. FCPS staff who have never taken a course will create an account as they register. Seats fill quickly, so register early! Questions? Contact [email protected]. 

 

Teacher Leadership

Teacher-leaders continuously improve schools and classrooms across FCPS. If you are interested in growing your capacity as a teacher-leader, the educational specialists in Professional Growth and Career Development invite you to consider registering for an upcoming teacher leadership opportunity. Visit each link to learn more:  

  • PLC After School Specials: Monthly, two-hour long sessions with topics that offer skills and strategies leaders can employ when working with novice teachers in Professional Learning Communities. The first session, Creating a Welcoming Culture for Novice Teachers, is September 22. 
  • Teacher Leadership Cohorts: Current and aspiring teacher leaders who are interested in building their skills in leading others are invited to enroll in either Emerging Teacher Leadership or Developing Teacher Leadership Academy Courses. Registration is available August 30 to September 15 in MyPDE. 
  • Making an Impact: The Individual Teacher in a Professional Learning Community: K-12 teachers who want to explore the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to work interdependently in a Professional Learning Community (PLC) are invited to enroll in this Academy Course. The first meeting is September 21.
     

For more information on any of these opportunities, contact Hallie Case by email or by calling 571-226-7526.