Stratford Landing ES staff handled laptop distribution with ease. (Photo: Katie Kirdahi, School-Based Technology Specialist)
As a reminder, new guidance was issued earlier this year by the Internal Revenue Service to temporarily allow mid-year change opportunities for Flexible Spending Account (FSA) participants who did not have a qualified family status change. The opportunity to make changes under the Special Enrollment Period will end on September 30. For more information, please visit the visit the FSA Mid-Year Change Opportunities webpage.
After much consideration, FCPS has decided not to participate in the payroll tax deferral described in the Presidential Executive order signed on August 8. Employees should expect to see no change in their social security taxes withheld. For additional information, please visit the Office of Payroll Management’s webpage on the intranet (VPN required).
MyPDE Summative Performance Evaluation Updates and Training
Performance evaluations for all employees on evaluation cycle this school year are available in MyPDE.* To find out if you are on evaluation cycle, please go to your Timeline in MyPDE and look under Tasks. You will see Self-Assessment – [Your Name].
Keep in mind:
- Self-Assessment (all employees) and Goal Setting (instructional employees only) must be completed by November 16.
- Key evaluation dates are displayed on your Performance Dashboard.
- Supporting documentation should be uploaded to the Documentation Log and Evaluator Data Sources.
The following training videos are available within MyPDE:
For further assistance, please contact the Office of Equity and Employee Relations specialist assigned to your work location (VPN required) or email HRconnection@fcps.edu.
* Google Chrome is the preferred browser for MyPDE.
Photo of the Week
Maria Sanchez, a Spanish teacher at Madison HS, joins other staff who are distributing textbooks, library books, spirit wear, and other supplies this week.
An Opportunity for Middle Managers to Develop Leadership Skills
The Middle Managers Round Table (MMRT) is a seven-month collaborative leadership development program for both operational and instructional leaders, conducted by The Office of Professional Learning and Family Engagement and the Fairfax County government.
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 (except principals) who have a supervisory or management role and want to develop their leadership skills. The application deadline is close of business September 29. Apply now. Each applicant's supervisor will need to complete a recommendation form on the applicant’s behalf. Get more information on MMRT (VPN required). Please e-mail Tiffany Lee at ttlee@fcps.edu with any questions.
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Current employees, including substitutes, who would like to become special education teachers will be able to access EDSE 501–Introduction to Special Education tuition free this fall with George Mason University. Preference will be given to classroom support employees (instructional assistants, public health attendants, and public health training assistants). Eligible candidates must have a principal or manager recommendation, agree to the terms of the program, and at a minimum, hold a bachelor’s degree. Upon successful completion, candidates will be eligible, and expected, to apply for current FCPS vacancies in special education upon completion of the course. Candidates also are required to join an approved program leading to full licensure in special education.
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EDSE 501–Introduction to Special Education is an online, on-demand master’s level class, where students work through self-directed modules. Once registered, candidates will have six to 12 weeks to complete the course. Get course details. If you are interested, please complete this form.
The Office of Professional Learning and Family Engagement is required to confirm the eligibility of all National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) every year in order for them to receive the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) Incentive Award. All NBCTs must provide necessary information by completing this form. Please have your VDOE license number available.
Every year, FCPS must certify that NBCTs are “engaged in direct instruction” with students more than 50 percent of each school day. The verification form must be completed by close of business September 25. Visit the FCPS NBCT website to learn more. Also, if you are up for renewal this year, please consider joining your NBCT colleagues in an Academy Cohort beginning this month. Register in myPDE.
People on the Move is back! Check out new hires and appointments, transfers, and promotions within FCPS. This information is updated every two weeks and posted on the intranet. Check out People on the Move (VPN required).
#OurFCPS Faces: Lauren Spector
Meet Lauren Spector, a family and consumer sciences (FCS) teacher at Herndon HS. Lauren is a career-switcher from the mental health field. She loves being able to build a positive rapport with her students. She says, "I feel that all students should feel that they have a person in their corner rooting for them to succeed, and in this job, I get to be able to provide that.” She also shared her desire to provide all students with the knowledge and education to help them become their best selves.
Lauren is motivated by the Benjamin Franklin quote: “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” She and her colleague Heather Palm brought that sentiment to life by leading a team of students to a third-place win in Real Food For Kids' annual culinary challenge in August. Their winning recipe was replicated for Chefs Feeding Families’ Mighty Meals program, which feeds those in need in the DC metro area. The Herndon HS team was invited to help serve meals at Harvey Hall Apartments in Arlington earlier this summer, working alongside professional chefs.
The competition is one of Lauren's many responsibilities. Her primary focus is teaching students life skills such as budgeting money, creating healthy food plans, and making healthy meals for themselves and their families; kitchen skills such as proper sanitation, knife skills, and food preparation; and learning about hospitality and tourism, and other career paths.
As for virtual learning, Lauren says, it has given her the opportunity to learn about new teaching tools that can be implemented in and out of the classroom. It has also made her more creative in discovering ways to keep students engaged in a virtual classroom.
It comes as no surprise that Lauren loves cooking and baking in her free time. She also enjoys being with her family and going to thrift stores.
Lauren, thank you for inspiring FCPS students to be their best selves!
FCPS' seventh Annual Mental Health and Wellness Conference is being held over a three-week period beginning yesterday, through Saturday, October 3. The virtual conference features multiple keynote speakers who will address social emotional learning and resiliency. Our Minds Matter will also host a student strand on September 23 and 30. Register for the Mental Health and Wellness Conference.
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Helping individuals at risk to create a network for support and safety can help them take positive action and reduce feelings of hopelessness. Find local and national crisis resources.
This month, Jewish people throughout the world will be observing what is known as the High Holy Days or High Holidays. Most Jewish families will celebrate these holidays, which are often thought of as the holiest days of the year. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins Friday evening, September 18. Yom Kippur begins on Sunday night, September 27, through Monday night, September 28. Find out more. Also, please see FCPS guidelines on excused absences for all religious holidays. This information, along with ways to be mindful of staff and student needs during this time, was provided to FCPS leaders in a recent Infogram.
Staff Staples
Note: Intranet access is required to open some of the links in this email. If you're using a mobile device or working remotely, you can connect to the intranet via the Pulse Secure VPN (Virtual Private Network). Email ITServiceDesk@fcps.edu with questions.
Please email EmployeeNews@fcps.edu with potential submissions or questions. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Thank you!
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