Family and School Partnerships Training for Educators

Are you looking to enhance your partnership with families? Would you like to learn more about research-based strategies to engage families in the learning and healthy development of their child(ren)? Registration is now open for the following academy classes offered by Family and School Partnerships.

• Engaging Families for Student Success . Sessions held July 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30; 4-6 p.m. Develop a greater understanding of what family engagement is and how it can be incorporated into an existing classroom or school culture. 
  
• Culturally Responsive Family Engagement . Sessions held June 18 and 25, and July 2, 9, and 16; 3- 5 p.m. Develop a greater understanding of what culturally responsive family engagement is and how it can be incorporated into an existing classroom or school culture. 
  
• Supporting Military-Connected Youth . Sessions held 3:30-5:30 p.m. on June 26 (synchronous), July 3 (asynchronous), July 10 (asynchronous), July 17 (asynchronous), and July 24 (synchronous). Learn strategies to better meet the unique needs of military-connected youth.

Click the links above to register in MyPDE. 

Great Beginnings Facilitator Pool

The Great Beginnings Team is still looking for cohort facilitators for the following areas:

• Elementary: Grades 1-2, 5-6; Kindergarten
• Secondary: ESOL; Math (MS); Science (HS); Social Studies (HS & MS)

Facilitators must be available  Monday, July 29, through Friday, August 2 , and  Monday, August 5, through Wednesday, August 7 . 

Teacher leaders interested in applying should complete and submit the application and referral as soon as possible.  Application materials and more information about facilitator roles can be found on our website.

Mentoring Novice Educators

Are you interested in mentoring a novice educator in the 2024-25 school year? Get a jumpstart on your training requirements this summer! Aspiring mentors of novice educators now have options for completing this VDOE-required training:

• Mentoring Novice Educators or  Mentoring Novice Special Educators Academy Courses
  • A 30-hour, one-credit Academy course consisting of three asynchronous modules, three synchronous sessions held via Zoom, and completion of a final project.
    
• New!  Mentoring Novice Educators Compass Course
  • One face-to-face, six-hour session, earning six recertification points, on  Friday, June 14 ;  Tuesday, June 18 ; or  Thursday, June 20 . 

Click the session titles for more information and to register. 

Years 2 & 3 Program: Leveling Up

The Great Beginnings Team will present the “Years 2 & 3 Program: Leveling Up” for teachers entering their second or third year of teaching in the fall. Receive continued support from an experienced educator facilitator, network in small groups with educators within your subject or grade level, and personalize learning based on your own goals. 

Years 2 & 3 cohorts will meet monthly via Zoom. Registrants will receive a survey in August to select which night(s) of the week work best for cohort meetings. Participants will receive up to 20 hours of recertification points. 

Complete  this form to express your interest in participating. 

Secondary Educators: Register for InnovatED 2024 

The  InnovatED Summer Symposium will be held  Thursday, June 20, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Herndon High School. This dynamic symposium is designed for secondary educators as a launchpad to Strategic Plan Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation. Engage in collaborative and practical professional learning around cutting-edge educational topics, such as The FCPS Learning Model, Work Based Learning, Portrait of a Graduate Presentations of Learning,  Universal Design for Learning, Artificial Intelligence for Educators and Students, and more.  Register on MyPDE by Friday, June 7. 

Instructional Coach Learning Cohort 

Applications are being accepted for two Instructional Coach Learning Cohorts (ICLC) to prepare teacher leaders for the role of an FCPS instructional coach. Cohort participants engage in seven in-person professional development sessions, experiences leading in their schools, and asynchronous learning and reflection. Participants receive observations, coaching, and feedback. 

The application deadline for Cohort A is  Monday, June 3 , with a start date of  Tuesday, September 3 . The application deadline for Cohort B is  Friday, October 18 , with a start date of  Tuesday, November 12 . Find  additional information and application materials .

National Board Certification

Certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is considered one of the most prestigious certifications a teacher can achieve. The Virginia Department of Education recognizes this by awarding $5,000 for the first year of certification and $2,500 each additional year a teacher maintains the certification. 

Teachers are invited to attend an information session about the benefits and process for achieving National Board Certification on  Tuesday, May 21, 5-6 p.m . Register for the  information session in MyPDE . View an asynchronous session and additional information on the  FCPS National Board Certification website .

The Office of Professional Learning offers a three-credit Academy course to provide support throughout the candidacy process and tuition reimbursement toward the cost of certification. Please email  Mary Beth Anderson or  Sara Royer for more information.

Check out the Academy Catalog for On-Demand Professional Development

Dive into a selection of more than 35 professional development opportunities designed to empower and inspire teachers. Whether you're looking to support twice exceptional (2e) students or foster culturally responsive family engagement to build strong partnerships with students and families from diverse backgrounds, you’ll be able to choose a course that best supports your learning journey. Academy Courses are available at no cost in MyPDE. 

We are excited to introduce three new courses this summer:

• PD Playbook - The Basics and Beyond: Develop your expertise in leading effective professional development (PD) sessions for colleagues.
• Demystifying AI - Empowering Educators in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Learn how to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance your current teaching practices.
• Bookmarking and Visual Journaling: Hone your skills in integrating arts-based strategies into your classroom routine.

Summer course hours are flexible, allowing you to craft a learning experience that best fits your schedule.

The Summer 2024 Academy Course Catalog is now available. Registration begins  Tuesday, May 21, at 5 p.m. Visit the  Employee Hub to learn how to register or email questions to  [email protected] .