 
Glasgow MS teachers Luis Ramos, Kiersten Campbell, and Tami Snyder, attended a surprise ‘board meeting.’ Summoned by Principal Victor Powell, a team of teachers gathered to assemble skateboards with a group of students. Read the full story.
Welcome Back!
We had a great return to school yesterday, check out highlights from the day and keep sharing your return to school photos. We love seeing students and staff back together.
Our strong return builds on the foundation of success you helped establish. Take a look at Sharing Our Success, stories and highlights from the 2020-21 school year.
Returning Strong- Safety Updates for Staff
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Staff
Friday, we shared the news that by late October FCPS will require staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit routine negative COVID-19 tests. Requiring vaccination is an added measure to keep our schools, and everyone within them, safe. FCPS will continue our layered prevention strategies.
Over the next few weeks we will share more information that will answer the questions you have. Keep reading Employee News to stay informed.
Pick up a Mask!
Do you need to add to your mask supply now that school has started? Need a replacement during the workday? FCPS has you covered!
School staff simply need to ask for masks when they need them. Check with your principal or front office staff for details.
The Gatehouse Administration Building Welcome Desk has plenty of disposable masks on hand for staff and visitors.
Departments and offices are ordering masks for their staff as needed. Work with your supervisor if you have questions.
We continue to Mask Up to protect each other this fall. Research shows proper masking is the most effective mitigation strategy to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in schools where social distancing may not be possible and vaccination may not be available for all. Masking is adequate to prevent transmission in situations with less than three feet of social distance and on full-capacity buses.
Quarantine and Leave Options for Staff
As we navigate through a new school year with in-person learning, we realize the necessity to clarify staff work options in the event of a COVID-19 quarantine.
While telework is not generally available as an accommodation for this school year, it will be necessary to do so, on a limited basis, to prevent instructional interruptions for our in-person students due to staff quarantine.
Vaccinated Employees
- Vaccinated employees who are symptomatic and directed to quarantine are expected to telework as long as the employee is well enough to effectively complete their assigned duties and deemed appropriate by the supervisor.
- When a vaccinated employee is directed to quarantine by the Health Department or a treating medical provider and the employee is not well enough to telework, administrative leave will be provided. Up to 10 days of administrative leave will be provided per occurrence up to a maximum of 2 occurrences per fiscal year.
- Employees should submit leave requests in MyTime using the leave type “Administrative Leave” (“ADMIN-LV”) and reason code “Quarantine.” The employee’s supervisor is responsible for reviewing and approving the request in MyTime. Additionally, for individuals who are experiencing symptomatic COVID infection and not able to telework because of their illness, employees should report absences in excess of five days to our short-term disability (STD) vendor, Sedgwick. STD claims will be managed following established protocols.
Unvaccinated Employees
- Unvaccinated employees will be required to take their sick leave or leave without pay. Employees who cannot be vaccinated based on a medical or religious reason should be directed to the Office of Equity and Employee Relations (EER) to discuss an accommodation request.
All employees are expected to use their own sick leave to care for family members.
Calendar Reminders: Labor Day-September 3 and 6 are Staff Holidays, September 7 is Rosh Hashanah
The school year has just begun but we wanted to make sure you’re aware of some important upcoming calendar dates. Friday, September 3, and Monday, September 6, are Labor Day holidays for all FCPS employees and students.
Tuesday, September 7, is a religious and cultural observance day for Rosh Hashanah, the two-day celebration of the Jewish New Year. As a reminder employees wishing to observe religious/cultural observances on these dates should request a religious accommodation as outlined in Regulation 4817 – Religious Accommodation for Employees. Employees will be permitted to make up 16 hours of any time they miss for religious or cultural observances.
Tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events cannot be scheduled on any religious and cultural observances. Tests and quizzes will be given prior to any of the 15 days, so that students will not be expected to study on these days.
Fall 2021 Academy Course Catalog Available Today
The fall Academy Course Program is returning strong with over 100 virtual offerings! The course offerings have been selected based on teacher feedback and FCPS priorities for the new school year: Supporting Students' Social Emotional Needs, Addressing Unfinished Learning, Literacy (K-2), Adapting Culturally Responsive Instructional Practices, EL Instruction, Improving Family and Community Engagement, Developing Students' POG skills, and Leadership/Career Development. All courses are designed to enhance teacher knowledge and skills. Some of the new courses are highlighted below.
- History on the Front Line
- The FundamentELs of English Language Development
- Amplifying Academic Language Through Conversation
- Using Computer Science to Support Deeper Learning
- Building Mathematical Identity with Fractions
- Making an Impact: The Individual Teacher in a PLC
- New Coaching Skills for Leaders
Details including course syllabus, outcomes, and assignments will be listed in the Academy course catalog, which will be available on August 24 in MyPDE. Registration opens at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 31. See how to register or email Academy@fcps.edu for questions.
Become a National Board Certified Teacher in FCPS
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. Interested teachers are invited to attend an information session about the benefits and process for achieving National Board Certification on Tuesday, August 31, from 5-6 p.m. Register for the information session on MyPDE. There is an asynchronous session as well as additional information on the FCPS National Board Certification website.
The Office of Professional Learning and Family Engagement offers a three-credit Academy course to provide support throughout the candidacy process and tuition reimbursement toward the cost of certification. Please email NBCTInfo@fcps.edu for more information.
Interested in Becoming a Principal? Apply for the Principal Pool by September 5.
In planning for future principal vacancies, Fairfax County Public Schools maintains a pool of eligible candidates who have participated in a series of rigorous competency-based assessments. When a principal vacancy is determined, candidates in the principal pool are provided with an opportunity to express interest.
For more information on the process, visit the Principal Selection Process. The application window remains open until Sunday, September 5. Please apply at 15458BR: Principal Pool Application. Contact:Adam McGeehan at HRprincipalpool@fcps.edu
Are You a Middle Manager Looking to Develop Your Leadership Skills?
Consider applying for the Middle Managers RoundTable! The Middle Managers RoundTable (MMRT) is a seven-month collaborative leadership development program for both operational and school leaders conducted by FCPS and the Fairfax County Government. Applications are being accepted through September 22. 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. MMRT applicants’ supervisors will need to complete a recommendation form on their behalf. More information on the program can be found on the MMRT Google Site. Please email Tiffany Lee (ttlee@fcps.edu) with any questions.
2021/2022 FCPS/George Mason University Special Education Cohorts (All Levels)
Are you interested in becoming a special education teacher? Do you have a provisional license and would like information about GMU’s cohort programs to complete your license and earn your degree? FCPS and GMU will hold an online information session on August 31, 2021, and September 16, 2021, from 5:00 pm-6:00 pm. The information sessions will cover the same information, including the process for applying to EDSE 501 (the prerequisite course to attain a provisional license) and GMU’s Special Education cohort degree programs: Accessing the General Education Curriculum, Adapting the Curriculum, and Early Childhood. Completion of a cohort program leads to a Virginia special education teaching license. If you are interested in joining, please register for the virtual information session. Registration Form Here. (Note, You must be logged into your FCPS Google account to access this link). The meeting link will be sent before the session.
For additional information or to apply to the cohort, please visit the FCPS/GMU website (note: you must be logged into your FCPS Google account to access this link). Contact: Lynn Beal.
Get to Know the Employee Hub
 Want to get to know the Hub better? The Employee Hub Support page (located in the Hub Footer) has resources and tutorials to help you get started.
OurFCPS Faces Profile - Patricia Smalley, Librarian
Patricia “Patty” Smalley has been a librarian at FCPS for 21 years, all of which have been spent at Olde Creek Elementary School. She exclaims, “It’s an amazing place to be!”
Learn more about Patty and what new skill she’s learning in her car.
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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