ACPS@Home Update

Teen Doing Homework on Computer at Home

The Department of Technology has been working on a plan to support ACPS families and promote our Digital Learning Initiative at home. The program, known as ACPS@Home, works through partnerships with five major cell phone providers (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, and Verizon) and Kajeet to distribute Wi-Fi HotSpots to students without access to the Internet at home. With the current school closures, the interest in participating in this program has increased dramatically.

The demand for these HotSpots far exceeds the national supply available at this time. School administrative teams collected the names of over 650 students and staff who reported that they have no Internet access. Continue reading

Teacher Talk – Connecting Teachers and Students

The Daily Progress

In honor of our community’s dedicated teachers, The Daily Progress is offering teachers a free and interesting way to connect with their students. Teachers are invited to submit a brief letter (150 words or less) to their students, which The Daily Progress will publish for free.

Interested teachers should complete the Teacher Talk form on The Daily Progress website. Continue reading

Shannon Foundation Extends Grant Application Deadline to June 1

Shannon Foundation

Due to COVID-19, the Shannon Foundation has extended the application deadline for a 2020-21 Shannon Grant to June 1, 2020. Open the grant application »

Also, please note that teachers have until August 1, 2021, to implement and submit reports for current projects funded for the 2019-20 school year. Continue reading

Transitioning to Online Learning: Resources for Teachers

Online Learning

To support the transition to online learning after spring break, our Student Learning and Technology departments have partnered to curate resources such as planning templates and easy-to-use technology how-to guides. We will continue to add resources and tools to the following sites over the course of the next few weeks: Continue reading

Albemarle County Writing Collaborative: Now Accepting Applications for Cohort #3

Albemarle County Writing Collaborative

Calling all teachers in grades 4-12: The 3rd cohort of the Albemarle County Writing Collaborative (ACWC) is now accepting applications! This is a professional learning experience where we pay YOU ($500 stipend) AND you earn 40 recertification points! Apply to Cohort #3 »

The Writing Collaborative seeks to build a community of teacher leaders who value writing as a practice, but also as a method for students to connect and learn. The ACWC is not just for English/language arts teachers! Continue reading

JMU Master’s of Education in Literacy Education – Interest Meeting on March 4

JMU Logo

Wednesday, March 4, 2020 | 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. | Baker-Butler Elementary School Library

ACPS is excited to announce the creation of a cohort program through James Madison University (JMU) for teachers interested in pursuing a Master’s of Education in Literacy Education. To learn more about the program, please join us for the second interest meeting on March 4 in the library at Baker-Butler Elementary School. The Q&A session with JMU faculty will be held from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Continue reading

Apply for a Shannon Foundation Grant by April 17

Shannon Foundation

The Shannon Foundation wants to help teachers and schools implement their best ideas for achieving excellence in the classroom. The Foundation offers Level 1 grants up to $750 to classroom teachers, individually or in teams, for projects that support original and innovative student activities. Level 2 grants up to $5,000 are offered to school teams, led by a coordinating teacher or building administrator, for creative projects that enhance student learning across age and grade levels. Open the grant application »

Completed applications must be signed by the school principal and may be submitted electronically or by postal mail. All submissions must be received by April 17, 2020. Continue reading

Digital Learning Day 2020 – Feb. 27

Digital Learning Day 2020

Digital Learning Day 2020 is Thursday, February 27. This is a day that celebrates learning of all kinds that is strengthened by the use of technology. Visit our Digital Learning Day site to check out the Flipgrids of LTIs showcasing some of their favorite digital learning tools. Watch the demos and then vote for the one you’d like to try for Digital Learning Day! We can’t wait to share student learning on Twitter! Follow us at @acpslearntech.

Teacher Transfer Requests for 2020-2021

Two Teachers

Teacher Transfer Requests are now open to all tenured teachers desiring consideration for new assignments for the 2020-2021 school year. Teachers who are on a Performance Improvement Plan or who will be on an active improvement plan for the upcoming school year are not eligible to apply for a transfer. All other teachers are welcome to apply for jobs online as vacancies become available. Continue reading