There’s no consequence for missing it.

I switched specialities/positions so had to go through it twice. I opted to skip the summer session the 2nd time, but go to the monthly meetings. I just emailed my Great Beginnings person and that was that. Principals are not directly involved in GB and doubt there are many who really are going to care.

The benefits would be networking with people in your curriculum area, outside of your school. Also figuring out how to navigate the FCPS bureaucracy. But otherwise if you are an experienced teacher I would say go to that Friday at your school site and the rest is whatever.

Every new teacher who has ever had to do Great Beginnings (which is a year long thing for them) has wanted to throw themself in front of a bus by the end of the year. Great Beginnings is horrible.

If you are an experienced teacher, don't go. Not even for one week.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like its outside the contract so legally, they can't mandate it but also seem to not exactly advertise that it's optional

Is it for sure, or is it part of a new teacher’s contract?

Do teachers still receive contracts? I have been with FCPS for over 12 years and the only contract I ever signed was to teach summer school three years ago.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, can any FCPS teachers tell me more about this? I got an email that all new teachers must participate… it’s basically one week before everyone else goes back. Do we get paid? I don’t have childcare, and I will need to pay for summer camps because of it.

I'm so glad you asked this question! I am a new hire also and was wondering the same thing! I was told in the offer I accepted that my start date would be August 14 and I am moving to the area from out of state the week of August 7 (the week of the summer institute). They need to specify if this is mandatory and whether it is paid. If I am a teaching coming to the state with multiple years of prior experience, do I just need to e-mail my principal to clarify?

You are an experienced teacher so you know how it goes. Do not email the principal asking if it’s mandatory. You will get a canned answer saying new teachers should attend because that is what they are forced to say.

Instead, email saying you are moving to the area the week before your contract starts on 8/14. Ask if it would be possible to come to the school to see your room and get keys the Friday before, if you even want to do this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, can any FCPS teachers tell me more about this? I got an email that all new teachers must participate… it’s basically one week before everyone else goes back. Do we get paid? I don’t have childcare, and I will need to pay for summer camps because of it.

I'm so glad you asked this question! I am a new hire also and was wondering the same thing! I was told in the offer I accepted that my start date would be August 14 and I am moving to the area from out of state the week of August 7 (the week of the summer institute). They need to specify if this is mandatory and whether it is paid. If I am a teaching coming to the state with multiple years of prior experience, do I just need to e-mail my principal to clarify?

Looks like your question is answered here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like its outside the contract so legally, they can't mandate it but also seem to not exactly advertise that it's optional

Is it for sure, or is it part of a new teacher’s contract?

When new teachers are higher, they are often given an earlier start date by HR. Often times when you accept a job, you accept the start date they give you.

Teacher contracts really don’t explicitly specify start or end dates anymore. They just say, “the school year.”

My offer gave me a start date of August 14, so the August 7-10 dates are before my contract starts. There is still a specified start date, because we are given 30 days after our start date to enroll for benefits.

There you go. Start the 14th.

ES Teacher

Anonymous wrote:Hi, can any FCPS teachers tell me more about this? I got an email that all new teachers must participate… it’s basically one week before everyone else goes back. Do we get paid? I don’t have childcare, and I will need to pay for summer camps because of it.

I'm so glad you asked this question! I am a new hire also and was wondering the same thing! I was told in the offer I accepted that my start date would be August 14 and I am moving to the area from out of state the week of August 7 (the week of the summer institute). They need to specify if this is mandatory and whether it is paid. If I am a teaching coming to the state with multiple years of prior experience, do I just need to e-mail my principal to clarify?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like its outside the contract so legally, they can't mandate it but also seem to not exactly advertise that it's optional

Is it for sure, or is it part of a new teacher’s contract?

When new teachers are higher, they are often given an earlier start date by HR. Often times when you accept a job, you accept the start date they give you.

Teacher contracts really don’t explicitly specify start or end dates anymore. They just say, “the school year.”

My offer gave me a start date of August 14, so the August 7-10 dates are before my contract starts. There is still a specified start date, because we are given 30 days after our start date to enroll for benefits.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like its outside the contract so legally, they can't mandate it but also seem to not exactly advertise that it's optional

Is it for sure, or is it part of a new teacher’s contract?

When new teachers are higher, they are often given an earlier start date by HR. Often times when you accept a job, you accept the start date they give you.

Teacher contracts really don’t explicitly specify start or end dates anymore. They just say, “the school year.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get childcare.

They will go to summer camp on those days. I will have to pay for it, obviously, so I wanted to know if FCPS will pay me for attending the orientation classes.

Yes, you will be paid for attending.

—a principal

DP
$50 a day? Before taxes?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did it two years ago and it was $200. I didn’t get the impression it was optional but I don’t think they will do anything if you don’t go. It’s a commitment for the whole year. It does earn a lot of points. My co worker got out of it but I think they could have used it.

$200 for for 4? That’s it? I’ll have to pay $700 for my kids’ camps. That sucks. Can’t believe they mandate to attend and then don’t pay your hourly base salary

I believe it. My administrators required us to attend some PD after school last school year. They kept saying, “We’ll pay and feed you”. The pay was $15/hour.

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like its outside the contract so legally, they can't mandate it but also seem to not exactly advertise that it's optional

Is it for sure, or is it part of a new teacher’s contract?

New teachers that attend receive a stipend of $50 per day.

Sounds like its outside the contract so legally, they can't mandate it but also seem to not exactly advertise that it's optional

Where's the poster who says you should've known what you were getting into as a teacher?