FCPS class rosters and assignments

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Responsibilities involving time in excess of 7 1/2 hours per day or 8 hours per day if assigned to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and extended-day schools may be scheduled by the principal or program manager. Such duties shall normally relate to, but are not limited to, pupil transportation, faculty meetings, student-related activities, and parent conferences. A teacher's primary responsibility shall be to teach, and, whenever feasible, the assignment of nonteaching duties to teachers should be limited."

FCPS administrator and parent here. There are no "contract hours." Teachers have a 7.5 hour work day. The above quote is directly from the regs.

I heard about the home visits from a colleague and then talked with the principal there. We're going to try it at our school in a few weeks. Yes, a "Welcome Walk" or other home visit event would be a school-based decision and yes, there may be teachers that wouldn't be able to do the home visits. It probably wouldn't work or might need some adjustments at an AAP center or immersion school where kids come from a wider area. But if it's part of the culture of the school and, teachers see the immense value in it, they're excited to do it. I'm planning to feed them dinner (not pizza) and adjust their start time the next day. In the end, it's a win-win for everyone and starts the year off on the right foot for everyone. A friendly welcome at the start goes a long way in establishing a positive working relationship with students and families.

This is true about the 7.5 hour work day.

Are the teachers who are unable to do the home visits excused?

[Anonymous]

Our school mails them out. They used to post them on the door, but they stopped doing that about 4 years ago. I believe it's for security reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school mails them out. They used to post them on the door, but they stopped doing that about 4 years ago. I believe it's for security reasons.

Our school has never posted them for that reason.

[Anonymous]

I would hate to have my kids teachers drop by my house.

[Anonymous]

Our school posts them on their website. First name and last initial only.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school mails them out. They used to post them on the door, but they stopped doing that about 4 years ago. I believe it's for security reasons.

Our school has never posted them for that reason.

What is the security concern?

[Anonymous]

It's a public school. Chances are most of the kids in the neighborhood go there. I can't see why knowing which class they are in poses a security threat.

[Anonymous]

I don't know. That's what a principal of mine told me years ago and we've never posted them. We aren't allowed to post names of students outside of our classroom door either.

[Anonymous]

We received our class lists via email back in early July.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours posts on the front doors at 4pm on Wed. Then that evening all of the teachers go out into the neighborhood and make a quick visit to each child's home. It's called "The Welcome Walk." we love it. On Friday there's a short open house in the morning where you can drop off your supplies and see the classroom.

Where I work, Open House is always on Thursday. I'd prefer Friday. I don't always have the room "ready" for Thurs.

That's interesting that they visit each child's home in the evening. I think I would be unavailable that night.

I think it's adorable and seems so old-fashioned! I wish our school did that.

[Anonymous]

I think its funny the teacher complaining has admitted to also not being able to get the classroom ready on time when Open House is scheduled at the end of a long summer break. I'm guessing they have it on Thursday so that any changes to the classroom can be made after open house easily before school starts. Hoping this teacher isn't in my child's school too. Sounds like one of those teachers that is unorganized and just does the minimum to get by.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think its funny the teacher complaining has admitted to also not being able to get the classroom ready on time when Open House is scheduled at the end of a long summer break. I'm guessing they have it on Thursday so that any changes to the classroom can be made after open house easily before school starts. Hoping this teacher isn't in my child's school too. Sounds like one of those teachers that is unorganized and just does the minimum to get by.

That wasn't a complaint. Many teachers don't have their rooms "ready" for Open House. Much of Monday-Wed. is filled up with meetings. That just doesn't leave much time to prep the room. It's ok that the room isn't perfect for Open House. It doesn't need to be.

I'm very organized and do a lot beyond the "minimum to get by". However, there are administrators who will take a mile if you let them do it.

[Anonymous]

Our teachers do home visits too, but during the day. We have advanced warning, so that if families would like to be home, they can arrange it if possible. If a family is not able to be home, they leave a note and a special pencil. I think for our school, which is a Title I school, they want to start the year with a good family/teacher connection. We love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our teachers do home visits too, but during the day.

That would be better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think its funny the teacher complaining has admitted to also not being able to get the classroom ready on time when Open House is scheduled at the end of a long summer break. I'm guessing they have it on Thursday so that any changes to the classroom can be made after open house easily before school starts. Hoping this teacher isn't in my child's school too. Sounds like one of those teachers that is unorganized and just does the minimum to get by.

That wasn't a complaint. Many teachers don't have their rooms "ready" for Open House. Much of Monday-Wed. is filled up with meetings. That just doesn't leave much time to prep the room. It's ok that the room isn't perfect for Open House. It doesn't need to be.

I'm very organized and do a lot beyond the "minimum to get by". However, there are administrators who will take a mile if you let them do it.

Not in FCPS but we run into the same issue each year. The first 3-4 days of school are taken up by meetings (half are unnecessary) so teachers get a half of a day to get the room ready before the Back to School Picnic where families come to meet their teacher and see their classroom. Most of my colleagues stay at night that week to get their rooms ready. I usually stay until at least 8pm to get my room ready.