ONBOARDING LOGISTICS METRO ATLANTA. Teach for America Region Name 1

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1 ONBOARDING LOGISTICS METRO ATLANTA Teach for America Region 1

2 IN THIS SECTION: Timeline and Action Items Timeline and Action Items» Mark your Calendars» Upcoming Communications and Action Items Institute Logistics» Summary of Institute Logistics: Quick Facts» 2016 Institute dates and locations» Institute Accommodations and Resources» Required materials and Documentation Overview of Corps Member Placement» Placement Partner Need» Timeline» Your Role Teacher Certification Coursework» Master s Degree» Finances 2

3 Timeline and Action Items We hope the following information will give you an idea of what to expect in the coming months and help guide your planning throughout the spring. Please do not hesitate to contact your regional team for clarification on any of the information in this document. MARK YOUR CALENDARS All of the following programming events are mandatory. Missing any portion of these events could jeopardize your ability to be a 2016 corps member. Please share any conflicts with the Metro Atlanta team immediately at metroatlantaonboarding@teachforamerica.org Event Location Date Induction Atlanta Wednesday, June 1st Saturday, June 4th (TENTATIVE) Summer institute Atlanta Sunday, June 5 th Friday, July 8 th (TENTATIVE) Kick-Off Orientation Atlanta Tuesday, July 19 th Friday, July 22 nd (TENTATIVE) First day of school (teachers) Atlanta Late July (varies by school district) First day of school (students) Atlanta Early August (varies by school district) 3

4 UPCOMING REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AND ACTION ITEMS Please look for your application deadline (by month you received your offer) and check out upcoming communications and action items to complete. This is the beginning of a list that you will receive more details on once you confirm your offer to join the corps. EDL/ Returning Deferral 1st/2nd 3rd 4th Action Details Log on to the Applicant Center Here you can access resources that will help you make the decision to join Teach For America: access our Corps Member Requirements, Policies, and Procedures; view your transitional grants and loans awards or submit an application (if applicable), view testing registration instructions, and learn more about living and working in your region. Sept 30 Oct 13 Nov 4 Nov 18 Jan 6 20 Mar 17 Mar 31 Speak with REGION staff You will receive a call from a staff member from the Metro Atlanta office to welcome you to our corps. These conversations give you an opportunity to discuss any questions you have about living and teaching in Metro Atlanta. Oct 13 Nov 18 Jan 20 March 31 Week of Nov. 23rd Week of Week of Nov. 23rd Jan. 23rd Week of April 4th Jan/Feb Jan/Feb Feb/March Week of Nov. 23rd Matriculate Attend a mandatory GACE preparation webinar to learn about preparation resources and support Take your required, rigorous GACE tests Deadline to accept or decline our offer on the Applicant Center. You will need to study at least 60 hours for your GACE tests and it will be important that you are aware of all resources offered to you and the supports in place to ensure you pass your rigorous GACE exams We strongly recommend that you register for earliest possible test date as indicated your Testing Overview document to ensure a smooth transition and placement process. Your Testing Overview document is located under the Resources tab on the Applicant Center. 4

5 Induction Induction Induction Induction Complete your onboarding prework You will complete mandatory pre-work before arriving at Induction. This pre-work will help you build knowledge, skills, and mindsets needed to be a prepared and strong educator in Metro Atlanta. By July 1st By July 1st By July 1st By July 1st Submit two official (sealed), degree-conferred transcripts at Induction or no later than July 1 (if your degree confer You will need to submit two official (sealed), degree-conferred transcripts from each college and/or university you have attended (even if you only attended one class at the institution) PLACEMENT SPECIFIC TESTING REQUIREMENTS (CONTINUED) Please locate your placement on the table below to find out more information about the tests that you will be required to take. EDL/ Returning Deferral 1st/2nd 3rd 4th Action Details Nov 30 Nov 30 Jan 29 April 6 Dec 7 Dec 7 Feb 5 April 13 April 6 April 6 April 6 April 6 Corps members receive preliminary institute information from regions Deadline to complete the Accommodations Request Form Corps members receive additional institute information and action items from regions All incoming corps members will receive preliminary institute information from their regions to help them plan for summer institute. All corps members should review and complete this form. You will receive a link to this form from your regional team before this deadline. Corps members will be able to submit requests and provide details for any special accommodations needed leading up to and during institute. All incoming corps members receive additional institute information and institute related action items from regions. Corps members can also expect to receive additional institute information after this date as it becomes available. 5

6 INSTITUTE LOGISTICS In the summer of 2016, Teach For America will run six national training institutes in Atlanta, Houston, the Mississippi Delta, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Tulsa. In addition to our six national institutes, several regions will also be hosting their own regional training institutes. Across these institutes, about 4,000 new Teach For America corps members will come together for an intensive five-week pre-service training program. In most cases, each institute houses corps members from a specific set of regions so that corps members can collaborate with one another and build the relationships that will be crucial during their two-year commitments. This section will highlight some logistical information about your transition to institute. Institute Accommodations and Resources Housing At national institutes, Teach For America provides housing for all corps members for the duration of institute. Each institute site is based at a university campus, and each corps member shares a dormitory room with one or more other corps members. Accommodations are similar to many college dormitory settings. Due to the fact that we prioritize rooming you with other corps members in your region and because of the high number of corps members who attend institute, we are unable to provide advance notice about roommate assignments and are unable to take roommate requests. Food At national institutes, Teach For America provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner for corps members for the duration of institute. Both breakfast and dinner are served in the host university dining hall. Teach For America provides bag lunches for corps members to pick up during breakfast on days when they teach summer school. Many corps members purchase additional food to supplement the food institute provides, and any food outside of the meal plan will be at your own expense. Teach For America will work with you to accommodate your dietary needs. You can indicate special dietary needs on a personal information survey that you will complete online this spring. At some regional institutes, corps members are provided a stipend instead of meals, in which case corps members are expected to shop for groceries and cook their own meals. Family Accommodations/Child Care Services The institute schedule is extremely rigorous, and whenever possible, we encourage corps members to find alternate arrangements for children and families for the duration of institute. In cases where this is not possible, we can most often arrange family housing for corps members who choose to bring a partner, spouse, and/or children to the institute; however, you will be responsible for locating and making your own childcare arrangements prior to your arrival at institute. You will be responsible for costs incurred for the travel, food, and lodging of your partner/spouse and/or children. We will provide information about the process for requesting family housing this spring. Parking Teach For America provides transportation to and from school sites during the summer, but some corps members choose to bring a car to institute for their personal use. Corps members who drive to institute will have access to parking on site, though parking is limited at certain university sites and you may have to pay for a parking permit. University parking passes will be available for pick-up during registration on the first day of institute. You are responsible for any parking costs you might incur. You will receive more information about parking, including instructions on how to request a parking pass and details on any related costs, later this spring after negotiations with the university sites have been finalized. 6

7 Computers We strongly recommend that you have a laptop for institute, as well as during your two-year commitment. At institute, you will be asked to complete activities and access resources that are only available online or in soft copy (e.g., flash drives with assessment tools, download specific curriculum resources). While you will be able to use computer labs that will allow you to complete all requirements, access to these labs is limited, and they are only available at the university sites. Previous corps members have told us that having their own laptops at institute provides greater flexibility and efficiency, allowing them to work at both their school and university sites. In addition, you may find it helpful to bring a printer with you to the institute, as institute sites may place limits on the number of pages you can print and copy. Once you are in your region, you will need a laptop and a printer in order to continue to access online teaching tools and resources and to set up your planning and tracking systems. While some school sites provide corps members with computers, this is not common, and it is not as convenient as having your own laptop. If you do not currently own a laptop and are concerned about your ability to purchase one, please apply for transitional funding. Grants and loans will be distributed by the first week of institute and may be used to reimburse travel costs to institute and regional inductions. Applicants can also use transitional awards to pay for personal and moving expenses (e.g., deposits on apartments) and necessary coursework, testing, and district processing fees. Please check the Applicant Center to learn more about transitional grants and loans and how to apply. Storage Storage space in your room is very limited. You should make your own arrangements for storage if you have too many belongings to keep in your dorm room at institute. Pets No pets of any kind are permitted in the residence halls at any of our institutes university sites or in any of our family housing accommodations. Please make other arrangements for your pets during your time at institute. Exceptions will only be made for service animals. If you have a service animal, please indicate this on the Accommodations survey sent out by your region. Transitional Grants and Loans Teach For America covers some major expenses during summer institute (e.g., housing, food) for all corps members. We also offer transitional funding awards in the form of interest-free loans and, in some cases, grants. Packages are based on a corps member s demonstrated need and the cost of living in the assigned region. 7

8 REQUIRED MATERIALS AND DOCUMENTATION TRANSCRIPTS You will need two official (sealed), degree conferred transcripts from each college or university you have ever attended (even if you only took one course there). You will turn these in at Induction in May or mail them to the Metro Atlanta office no later than July 1 (only if your degree will not be conferred by Induction). In addition, you will receive information about any additional transcripts required for your institute, if applicable, later this spring. TUBERCULOSIS (TB) TESTING At some of our institute sites, corps members are required to provide documentation before or at the start of the institute indicating that they are free of active tuberculosis or, if infected, that you are not contagious. This is a legal requirement for teaching children during institute and in some of our placement regions. This test must be conducted no earlier than 30 days prior to arrival at the institute. If your institute requires TB testing, you will receive more information about TB test documentation and required paperwork to complete later this spring. PHYSICAL EXAM At some of our institute sites, corps members will need to provide the results of a physical exam. You will be responsible for any costs associated with completing this requirement. If you need to submit the results of a physical exam, you will receive additional information as it becomes available in the spring. PROOF OF VACCINATION At some of our institute sites, corps members will need to provide proof of vaccination for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). You will be responsible for any costs associated with completing this requirement. If you need to submit this documentation, you will receive additional information and instructions as they become available in the spring. BACKGROUND CHECK To comply with AmeriCorps, all corps members are required to receive criminal background checks before institute. In some cases, summer school districts will also require background checks prior to allowing corps members in the classroom. Two of the required components may be a child abuse background check and an FBI background check. Completing background checks may involve providing a copy of your fingerprints. You will be responsible for any costs associated with completing and submitting this paperwork. The final stage of this process often mandates an identification check during institute registration; therefore, you will need to bring a current passport, driver s license or state identification card on the day of registration. If your institute requires this, you will receive additional information in the spring. If your institute school district does not require background checks, you will be responsible for obtaining an FBI background check on your own to comply with AmeriCorps. You will receive additional information on how to do this in the spring. POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION Corps members at some institutes may be required to provide documentation beyond the items listed above to obtain temporary clearance and licensure for the summer. Failure to follow all instructions and timelines may result in being ineligible to teach 8

9 during the summer and, therefore, fulfill training requirements. We are currently working with the school districts in our institute cities to finalize your institute requirements. You will receive more information institute requirements in the spring via and on the regional onboarding website. PLAN Other Information MEDICAL CARE AND INSURANCE It is highly recommended that you have health coverage for the summer. We will share more health insurance details and resources on the regional onboarding website this spring; we encourage you to check with your current provider and explore all your options. Access to healthcare is unavailable through Teach For America and at our host universities. If you anticipate needing medical treatment during institute, we suggest locating a doctor or medical facility prior to your arrival. Teach For America is unable to provide medical referrals. INSTITUTE DRESS CODE Professional dress is required when you are working at your summer school site and when attending certain functions (e.g., Welcoming and Closing Ceremonies) during institute. Professional dress usually consists of: - A button-down shirt and tie or a blouse, slacks or a skirt of reasonable length, or a dress Spaghetti-strap shirts are not acceptable; however, conservative sleeveless shirts are generally acceptable for women. All shirts must cover the midriff. All corps members should ensure that their clothing does not overexpose parts of their bodies or undergarments when they, for example, move to write on the chalkboard or sit down on a rug. We ask that corps members use their best judgment and err on the conservative side when making decisions regarding dress. Piercings (including ears) may need to be removed or covered while at your school site, and some tattoos may also need to be covered. Please note that specific school sites may have additional dress code requirements, including requirements regarding shoes (specifically regarding athletic shoes, open-toed shoes and flip flops, and heels when teaching small children). When planning a wardrobe, please keep in mind that while attending institute, you may also be asked to interview with school and district officials for potential full-time teaching positions in your region. You will receive more information about professional dress at your institute in the spring in/on the regional onboarding website. INSTITUTE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Please refer to the Teach For America Corps Member Handbook for information on the policies and expectations for all corps members. Please note that additional information about your specific institute s policies and procedures will be released and communicated out to throughout the year leading up to institute. SUMMER INSTITUTE PREPARATION CHECKLIST All preparation action steps will be posted on the Institute Preparation Checklist to the regional onboarding website this spring. These items will be posted once they have been confirmed with your district and university partners. 9

10 OVERVIEW OF CORPS MEMBER PLACEMENT Placement is the word we use to describe the process by which you are hired by a specific school for a particular position (e.g., seventh grade English at Washington Middle School). This document will provide you with an introduction to our main priorities for placing corps members as well as the placement timeline and your responsibilities related to placement. matches their original assignment, it is possible that your placement will not, as a result of changing district, school, or site-level needs. For example, a corps member originally assigned to teach elementary school may end up teaching middle school. For this reason, we ask that you remain as flexible as possible during the placement process. In placing corps members, we have four priorities: Meet the specific human capital needs of our placement partners (district, charter, ECE site) Create and maintain sustainable relationships with our placement partners through positive hiring experiences for principals, human resources/hiring managers and corps members Secure jobs for all corps members who are eligible with passing GACE test scores by the first day of school. Ensure corps members are set up to successfully interview with principals as this is the primary way to secure a job PLACEMENT PARTNER NEED Our first priority in placing corps members is to meet the specific needs of our placement partners and place corps members where they can have the greatest impact. We maintain communication with partner schools and districts throughout the year to develop a clear sense of where the greatest human capital needs are and how corps members can play a role in closing the gap. Partners specific needs for new teachers will often fluctuate throughout the year as teachers retire, change grade levels, or transfer to other campuses, and as school district budgets change. Though the vast majority of corps members receive a placement that SECURING PLACEMENTS FOR CORPS MEMBERS It is important that corps members meet Georgia teacher eligibility requirements for hire, including passing all required GACE tests (see Testing Overview document for more information). Once you are eligible to be hired, you interview to secure a specific placement at a school (for example, seventh grade English at Washington Middle School). We facilitate these interviews for corps members and provide the resources and preparation needed to ensure you are successful in securing a teaching position. To ensure we secure jobs for all corps members and maintain our district relationships, it is important that we take every job opportunity offered to a corps member. For this reason, it is required that you accept the first position you are offered regardless of location in the city, district, salary, preference, etc. This allows us to serve as many students in Metro Atlanta as possible, while also meeting all of our other placement priorities. TIMELINE The placement process and timeline is different in each region depending on the processes of our district and school partners. However, in Metro Atlanta most CMs are hired during the summer through our Induction hiring fair, individual principal interviews, and centralized district hires. In some cases, placement may begin prior to induction. In these Teach for America Region 10

11 situations, we will work together with you and our partner principals or site leaders in order to prepare you to interview with a principal or hiring manager over the phone, or if possible, here in Metro Atlanta. In 2016, 100% percent of Metro Atlanta corps members were hired by the first day of school. In cases where corps members have not been hired by first day of school due to circumstances outside of the corps member s control, they were either on district or placement partner payroll, or they were eligible to receive financial support from Teach For America. Teach for America Region 10

12 YOUR ROLE Corps members have important responsibilities in the placement process. Your responsibilities include the following: Remain flexible and keep a positive outlook throughout the hiring and placement process Participate in a placement conference call led by Teach For America staff during the spring, and internalize strategies necessary to obtain a teaching position in Metro Atlanta. Reviewing all Metro Atlanta placement materials and keeping on top of placement-related deadlines Prepare for interviews:» Research the school, district and/or charter you are interviewing with» Speak with current CMS and Alumni working at the school and/or district» Practice responding to commonly asked interview questions» Adapt to feedback from principals and regional staff members to improve interview skills Create a resume that highlights your experience relevant to teaching and that will enable you to standout in a competitive hiring process; you will receive more information on completing this resume and submitting it to us after you have confirmed your Teach For America offer Meet all Georgia and district hiring requirements o Prepare for, take, and pass all required GACE tests prior to the first day of school o Pass all state, FBI, and/or district background checks o Submit four official (sealed) degree conferred transcripts at Induction or no later than July 1 (if degree confer date is not before Induction) o Complete district or charter employment applications Actively and positively participate in the placement process as outlined by Teach For America o Only interview for positions explicitly shared with you by our placement team you may not solicit or find your own placement o Attend all interviews to which you are invited to ensure you have the best chance possible to be hired o Respond to all communications within a timely and professional manner o Accept the first job you are offered, regardless of location, district, salary, etc. o Complete all hiring district/charter paperwork and trainings in a timely manner (as required) You will receive more detailed information about what to expect and how you can prepare for the placement process after you have accepted our offer to join the corps. Teach for America Region 11

13 TEACHER CERTIFICATION The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires that incoming teachers meet a specific set of criteria, partially determined by each state, in order to be deemed highly qualified. In Georgia, this means that corps members must take and pass exams before being eligible for hire and enroll in an alternative certification program during their two year commitment. ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION & GEORGIA S TIERED SYSTEM Alternative certification is the process by which someone from a non-traditional education background (not an undergraduate or graduate education major) attains a license to teach professionally in a classroom. The law above states that all teachers in the state of Georgia must already hold or be pursuing a professional license to teach. This means you must enroll in an alternative certification program to be eligible to begin teaching by Georgia law. Georgia has a tiered certification system which requires every teacher to be on an Induction Pathway 4 teaching certificate for three years before earning a professional certificate. This means that you will need to complete a two-year certification coursework program while fulfilling your two year Teach For America commitment. Then, if you wish to obtain your professional teaching certificate (which is renewable), you will need to teach an additional third year. In this tiered certification system, all alternative route teachers are Induction Pathway 4. Learn more here from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission about converting your Induction Pathway 4 certificate to a professional certificate (specifically part V): CERTIFICATION ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS Every corps member must be enrolled in an alternative certification program by the first day of school. Exception you are already certified in Georgia or gained reciprocity from another state. There are two paths toward certification in Georgia certification only or earning a Master s of Arts in Teaching. You will need to choose a program certification only or Master s degree in late spring 2016 to ensure enrollment by the start of school in the fall. You will have many opportunities to learn about all 2016 program options during the spring via webinars and other communications. WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON T ENROLL IN A PROGRAM? If you do not enroll in, and do not remain in good standing with, a program, you are at risk for termination by your employing school and/or district and dismissal from Teach For America. Unfortunately, we have seen this happen to corps members in the past. WHAT IF I AM PLACED IN A CHARTER SCHOOL? With the introduction of the Teacher KEYS evaluation system in Georgia, all teachers need to be certified or on the path to certification. Additionally, we cannot guarantee that charter placements will be or will remain available throughout your corps experience; this means all of our corps members need to be eligible to be placed in any school district or charter at any given time during their two year Teach For America commitment. SEE CHART ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE FOR 2016 PROGRAMS Teach for America Region 12

14 CURRENT 2016 ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION COURSEWORK PROGRAMS Program Certification ONLY: Teacher Certification Program (Teach For America Metro Atlanta s own certification program) Master s degree + Certification: Georgia State University Master s of Arts in Teaching (in the content you re teaching); Master s of Education in Special Education only Length of Program 2 years for coursework years for coursework Prior coursework is required for some secondary programs and could extend your program length if you do not have the pre-requisites needed Total Cost Payment Information Why would I choose this program? Program costs: $2,000 - $2,500 Up-front costs: $0 Program costs: $16,000 - $20,000 (varies by program) Up-front costs: $50 application fee + GRE testing costs Interest-free loan that begins payment in October 2016 via monthly installments that can be spread out over months as needed Tuition due to Georgia State University based on their financial policies (similar to other universities) Most corps members cover the tuition costs via federal loans (FAFSA), scholarships, and/or taking the cost out of pocket More economical option Interest-free loan has flexible repayment plan Receive a mentor teacher to coach you in your classroom each week Closely aligned to TFA s expectations of you as a corps member (since it s our program) Elect into professional development courses that align to your specific coaching and classroom needs Earn a Master s degree MAT or M. Ed (Special Education only) Potential increase in teaching salary once you ve earned your professional teaching certificate (Master s degree + third year teaching) Qualifies you for educational leadership positions such as principal, assistant principal, instructional coach, etc. Qualifying loans and tuition can be paid off using AmeriCorps educational award, which you receive at the end of each teaching year (pending AmeriCorps eligibility and regional grant receipt, which is determined on an annual basis and cannot be guaranteed for 2016) Teach for America Region 13

15 ONBOARDING LOGISTICS Metro Atlanta The Metro Atlanta Office 1360 Peachtree St., 11 th Floor Atlanta, GA Teach for America Region 15