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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS............................................................................................. 2
GREENVILLE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT MISSION STATEMENT
and VISION................................................................................................................ 2
GCSD STRATEGIC PLAN ......................................................................................... 2
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Staff Development and Technology Proficiency ......................................................... 3
Professional Development Plan ................................................................................. 4
Obtaining Renewal Credits ........................................................................................ 5
Submitting Renewal Credits ....................................................................................... 6
Exchange Day Credit Portal Entries ........................................................................... 7
SC SDE Credit Matrix ................................................................................................ 8
Initial Certificate ......................................................................................................... 8
Alternative Certification .............................................................................................. 8
CERTIFICATE CHANGES
Professional Certificate Renewal ............................................................................... 9
Certificate Area/Endorsement Change ......................................................................10
Certificate Related Pay Changes ..............................................................................10
GCSD Request Change Action form .........................................................................11
PORTAL ADMINISTRATORS
Professional Development Portal Entries ..................................................................12
Common Questions ..................................................................................................13
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY APPEALS
Appeal Process .........................................................................................................14
Appeal Form .............................................................................................................15
SUBSTITUTES/NON-CONTRACT EMPLOYEES/RETIREES
Certificate Renewal Process .....................................................................................16
CONTACT INFORMATION ......................................................................................17
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In the summer of 2012, the Greenville County School District established a Professional
Development Handbook to assist certificate holders with planning, posting, and
submitting professional development for certificate renewal credit. The District wishes
to acknowledge all the portal administrators for their cooperative efforts in providing
information and suggestions for the Professional Development Handbook.
GCSD MISSION STATEMENT AND VISION
Mission
We provide educational experiences, in cooperation with the home and community,
which prepare students for lifelong learning and for ethical, productive participation in a
democratic society and the global community.
Our Vision
To become an exemplary school district in which every child achieves to his or her
maximum ability through a rigorous, engaging curriculum and systems of support that
cultivate the potential and promote the wellbeing of every individual child.
GCSD STRATEGIC PLAN
Goal Area 1
Raise the academic challenge
and performance of each student.
Goal Area 2
Ensure quality personnel in all positions.
Goal Area 3
Provide a school environment
supportive of learning.
Goal Area 4
Effectively manage and further
develop necessary financial resources.
Goal Area 5
Improve public understanding and
support of public schools.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Professional Development should never be repeated for certificate renewal
credit. If you have participated in training for renewal credit you cannot take that
same training ever again for renewal credit. The only exception to this rule is
technology training through our Instructional Technology department that
involves a significant change in information.
District Professional Development Requirements
Principals and teachers set yearly professional development goals with their
supervisors.
All teachers must participate in a minimum of 24 hours of professional
development during each school year.
Professional development may include workshops, conferences, in-services,
and coursework.
At least 12 of these 24 hours will be offered by the school/principal. This is a
minimum requirement and does not limit the authority of the principal to
require additional training to meet individual and school needs.
RESPONSIBILITY – Annually, as required by the South Carolina State Department of
Education (SC SDE), each teacher (full-year temporary, probationary, and contract) is
responsible for writing and completing a Professional Development Plan in which goals
are set to support professional improvement. The Professional Development Plan, see
page 4, is to be developed by the educator in collaboration with the administration.
Technology Proficiency
Technology Proficiency is not tied to certificate renewal. Contact:
techprof@greenville.k12.sc.us
State proviso requires that all teachers meet/renew technology proficiency every five
years. Greenville County uses Intel Teach to the Future 1, Intel Teach to the Future 2,
and A.L.I.V.E to meet initial technology proficiency. Once a teacher acquires initial
proficiency, he or she must accrue 30 hours of technology points over the next
five years in order to renew technology proficiency. These 30 hours can be ANY
type of technology workshop or technology integrated workshop offered at the school or
district (PowerTeacher, Software Training, Promethean Training, etc). This also
includes conferences and graduate level technology classes.
For additional information related to Technology Proficiency you may visit:
Technical Proficiency Webpage
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Professional Development Plan, PAS goals
Professional Development plans and PAS goals are written individual plans designed
with the primary purpose to increase student learning by improving professional skills of
the teacher. Each plan shall be designed to assist the teacher in at least one of the
following:
1)
Achieve District, state, and national standards;
2)
Achieve school improvement goals;
3)
Keeping current with the development and use of best practices;
4)
Develop ways to enhance learning for a diverse student body; and
5)
Pursue professional excellence based upon self-assessment and recommendations
for improvement contained in the previous evaluation.
The plan is to be comprehensive and sufficient to master new strategies and content.
* Greenville County Schools teachers and administrators can use the Performance
Assessment System (PAS) Goal(s) setting form as their Professional Growth and
Development Plan for renewal credit purposes.
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OBTAINING RENEWAL CREDITS
Certificate holders are responsible for ensuring that all renewal options and activities
meet the following guidelines.
Professional Development should never be repeated for certificate renewal
credit. If you have participated in training for renewal credit you cannot take that
same training ever again for renewal credit. The only exception to this rule is
technology training through our Instructional Technology department that
involves a significant change in information.
Professional Development Guidelines
An individual who is employed in a position that requires South Carolina educator
certification and is employed in a South Carolina public school district must earn
renewal credits through professional development activities that:
directly relate to the educator's professional growth and development plan;
support the goals of the employing public school district; and
promote student achievement, as required by State Board of Education Regulation
43-205.1, Assisting, Developing, and Evaluating Professional Teaching (ADEPT),
and Regulation 43-165.1, Program for Assisting, Developing, and Evaluating
Principal Performance (ADEPP)
District professional development points must:
•
be earned within a district point plan for certificate renewal that was approved by the
SBE and
•
be reciprocal from one SBE- approved district point plan to another
*
Educators who hold a South Carolina Initial (3 year) Certificate or Alternative
Certificate (CATE, PACE, ADJUNCT) are not eligible to begin accruing renewal credit
points toward certificate renewal until they have received a South Carolina
Professional (5 Year) Certificate.
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SUBMITTING RENEWAL CREDITS
Contact: Kelly Wingert
Credit Matrix and Jason Flatt Act Information
South Carolina Department of Education - Certificate Renewal
Out of District In-service (current contract employees only)
All Out of District In-Service requests must be submitted within 180 days of completion.
To submit an Out of District In-Service click the ? beside your name on the GCSD
Professional Development Portal website for a tutorial and professional development
manual.
*Verification of completion should include the following information:
the title of the activity
the name and signature of the sponsor/renewal credit provider, including
applicable contact information
the date(s) and time(s) of the activity
the location of the activity
the objectives of the activity
the intended audience or participants
the number of actual contact hours (excluding all meals and breaks) accrued by
the participant
the name of the participant
College Credit/Transcripts
An official transcript should be sent from the College/University to GCSD/HR, Attention
Jen Knox, 301 E. Camperdown Way, Greenville, SC 29601. You will be notified via
email when the transcript arrives. College credit is not placed on the GCSD Portal; your
credit will be entered directly onto the SC SDE certificate website. See Contacts, page
17, for assistance.
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EXCHANGE DAY CREDIT PORTAL ENTRIES
Contact: Your school administrator
Exchange Day Credit Guidelines
The activity must meet the same requirements as Professional Development
renewal credits. (See pages 3-5)
The activity must meet either the participants’ PAS Goal(s) or the school goals for
the current school year.
The activity must take place “off contract time” (weekends, after school, holidays, or
breaks).
Teachers may earn one or two days off for professional development received
during “off contract” time. Credit may be earned beginning the day after school is
out in one year until the day school is out in the next year.
Exchange day credit may not be carried over from one school year to the next.
Events and meetings; such as weekly faculty meetings, Open House events, school
fundraiser events, PTA meetings, parent conferences, and other non-training
related activities are not eligible for exchange day credit.
If exchange day credit is chosen, the employee cannot use the hours to gain in-
service credit for certificate renewal or college course credit (remember, all
certificate renewal points must be related to the educator’s Professional Growth and
Development Plan).
Educators may not receive any form of payment for hours that are used for
exchange day credit.
Seven hours of training may be exchanged for one day off. Maximum of 14
hours, two exchange days, may be used in one year.
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SC SDE CREDIT REQUIREMENTS
Contact: Jen Knox
Scan SDE credit form to certificate@greenville.k12.sc.us
INITIAL and Alternative CERTIFICATES
Contact: Stacy Forrester
Initial and Alternative certificates cannot be renewed. In order to advance an Initial or
Alternative Certificate to Professional, an employee must pass the required PRAXIS
exams and successfully complete ADEPT (Alternative certificate holders also have
additional requirements set by the SC SDE). An Initial Certificate will automatically
advance to Professional upon expiration once the above requirements have been met.
If your Initial Certificate is about to expire and you have not yet met the above
requirements to advance your certificate to Professional, your administrator will need to
submit a request for an extension of your Initial Certificate to Human Resources.
The district will not be notified by the SC SDE when your certificate advances to
Professional. To print your certificate go to the South Carolina Department of
Education Website, under Educators click Certification then click View Certification
Status, log in and then click the word Academic next to the icon of a printer and submit
a copy to Human Resources at [email protected] , indicating the change
that has been made to your certificate. See contacts on page 17 for assistance.
Points and credits earned during your Initial or Alternative Certificate validity period will
not carry over to your Professional Certificate renewal. All renewal points must be
earned within the five year validity period of your Professional Certificate (the start date
will almost always be July 1 with an end date of June 30).
Employees are encouraged to complete Technology Proficiency requirements after their
certificate has advanced to Professional. For additional information related to
Technology Proficiency see page 3.
Once you have a Professional Certificate, please see the renewal requirements on the
following pages.
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CERTIFICATE CHANGES
Contacts: Stacy Forrester, Certification and Renewal
Jen Knox, Pay Changes and Transcripts
Substitutes, other Non-Contract Employees, Retirees, and all other Previous Employees
please see page 16
Educators employed with Greenville County Schools are responsible for submitting
and/or reporting all changes of their certifications/licenses, including degree
status, years of experience, name, address, and any other changes, to the
Certification Specialist in a timely manner.
Professional Certificate Renewal
1.
All renewal applicants must submit a District Request Change Action form, page
11, requesting renewal after all of the necessary requirements for renewal have
been met. Please submit your request as soon as you have met the renewal
requirements; you will not lose time on your certificate by applying for renewal
early.
2.
If in-service points are being used toward recertification, please attach a print-out
from the portal of your current earned in-service points.
3.
Note: Any educator who does not have a Master's degree on their teaching
certificate must earn at least sixty renewal credits (3 semester hours) in
graduate-level coursework to renew his/her current certificate. If you are using
college credit for your renewal, an official transcript from the college/university
should be on file at the district office (have the university send transcript to:
GCSD/HR, Attention: Jen Knox, 301 E. Camperdown Way, Greenville, SC
29601) prior to submitting your renewal request. You will be notified when your
transcript arrives. The SC SDE will no longer provide the district with a copy of
your transcript for renewal purposes. Most colleges/universities have the ability
to send official transcripts electronically. Electronic official transcripts should be
sent directly from the college/university to certificate@greenville.k12.sc.us .
Check with your college records office to verify their ability to send official
transcripts electronically.
4.
Extension: If you feel you will not meet renewal requirements by your certificate
expiration date, you will need to submit a Request Change Action form (found at
the SC Department of Education Website) to the SC SDE requesting a certificate
extension. You must send a copy of your certificate reflecting the extension with
page 11 to Human Resources. It is up to the SC SDE to determine whether or
not you are eligible to receive an extension to your certificate. At the end of the
one-year period, the educator must submit sufficient credits with page 11 to HR
for his/her renewal. When renewed, the certificate will be valid for 4 years.
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Certificate Area/Endorsement Change
After the South Carolina State Department of Education has modified your certificate to reflect an
area or endorsement change submit a copy of your changed certificate, along with District Request
Change Action form, pg. 11, to Jen Knox in Human Resources for the district system to be updated.
See Contacts, page 17, for assistance.
Certificate Related Pay Change
After the South Carolina State Department of Education has modified your certificate to reflect a
degree upgrade or additional years of experience, please submit a copy of your changed certificate,
along with the District Request Change Action form, pg. 11, to Human Resources, attention Jen
Knox, for your pay change to be processed. See Contacts, page 17, for assistance.
Your pay change can only be made based on your certificate. Transcripts and any documentation,
other than your certificate, cannot be used by the district for certificate related pay changes.
The effective date placed on your certificate by the SC SDE will be the date entered for the start of
your pay change. All July 1 effective dates will be entered in the district system for the pay change
to begin on the first day of pay the following school year, as this is the first day worked with your
certificate change.
To View/Print Your Certificate
To print your certificate, go to the South Carolina Department of Education Website, click
Educators, Certification, click View Certification Status under Certification Status heading. Log-in
and then click the word Academic next to the icon of a printer. Your educator ID is not your
certificate number.
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(Not intended for substitutes, other non-contract employees, or retirees)
All lines must be completed:
_
Name School
@greenville.k12.sc.us
School Email Address Employee Number
Certificate Number (not Educator ID, see page 10) Telephone Number
☐
Renew my Professional Certificate. All required documentation has been submitted.
(Check all that apply)
☐ Points (all educators must include PD print-out)
☐ Graduate Credit (official transcript required)
☐ SDE Credit (Intel and ALIVE are examples of SDE courses)
☐
Update the GCSD system. Certificate reflecting the change must be attached.
(Check all that apply)
☐ Class/Degree level change
☐ Years of experience change (not needed for years of exp. change annually)
☐ Circle change: Area(s) added, Endorsement(s) added, National Board, Extension, Advanced to
Professional
By signing I attest that all training submitted for my certificate renewal is new and not repeated learning. All
activities directly relate to my PAS Goal(s), my area of certification, the goals of GCS, and promote student
achievement.
Signature: Date:
(Signed, or digitally signed, and dated by requesting GCSD employee)
Please do not write below this line – For Central Office Use Only
Renewal Staff Signature: Date:
REQUEST FOR CHANGE/ACTION
Scan (certificate@greenville.k12.sc.us) fax (355-9784) or courier to: GCSD Certification Office, HR
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Contact: Kelly Wingert
Professional Development Portal Entries
1.
One hour of training may be awarded one renewal point.
2.
Objectives should be clear and establish learning of new concepts/material.
Participants should not receive credit more than once for the same training.
3.
A full schedule must be provided to the district’s Certification Specialist for
approval when training is entered on the Portal for more than 10 hours, even if
the training expands multiple sessions.
4.
Breaks incorporated into the training need to be subtracted from points awarded.
5.
All objectives written in the course description must meet renewal credit criteria.
6.
Examples of keywords/phrases:
Participants will learn…
Participants will collaborate…
Participants will be trained…
7.
Samples of approved in-service PD Portal entries:
Teachers in grades 3-5 will be trained to teach using the Fountas & Pinnell Balanced
Literacy Program. Teachers will learn how to: Guide readers and writers and support the
teaching of reading. Promote student independence as readers through classroom
organization. Teach strategically whenever students read. Understand the purpose for and
plan effective Interactive Read Alouds. Refine Reading Workshop to include: Mini-lesson,
Independent Reading, and Share. Teachers will have 30 minutes for lunch and 2 fifteen
minute breaks.
Teachers will learn the Balanced Literacy model. Topics included will be: The Classroom
Environment, A Language and Literacy Framework, Interactive read Aloud, Shared Reading,
Independent Reading, Work Stations and the Reading Process.
This course is designed to prepare the teacher to organize and deliver appropriate curriculum
for gifted and talented students. Teachers explore curriculum models, instructional strategies
and assessment to meet the needs and abilities of gifted and talented students.
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COMMON QUESTIONS
1.
What determines the requirements for awarding renewal credit?
Guidelines set by the SC SDE that must be followed.
Professional Development for certificate renewal credit should be an
activity that goes above and beyond job requirements.
2.
How will I know if my in-service meets renewal credit criteria?
Consider the following questions:
Does this activity exceed the participant's job responsibilities?
Does this activity relate to the participant’s area of certification?
Does this activity relate to the participant's Professional Growth
and Development Plan or PAS Goal(s)?
Can the participant re-teach or use the information learned in
his/her instructional setting in a way that impacts student
achievement?
Is this a new training topic?
3.
What should I do if my course has been disapproved?
Review the reason for disapproval.
Revise the course entry based on the reason.
See Contacts, page 17, if you have questions.
You may submit an appeal form, see pgs. 15 and 16.
4.
How do I get a new employee added to my Portal Registry list?
Employees may only be assigned to one Portal Administrator, even
if they work at more than one location.
Ask the employee to log onto the Professional Development Portal.
This should trigger the system to add a new employee to your list.
If the employee has already logged onto the Professional Development
Portal and still does not appear on your list, contact your school’s TAC to
put in a HEAT ticket through ETS.
Please visit the District Certification Website for additional information related to
professional development certificate renewal credit. On this web page you will find some
examples of in-services that are not eligible for certificate renewal credit.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY
APPEALS
APPEAL PROCESS (intended for Professional Development Activities that were
previously submitted and not approved for renewal credit)
Complete the Appeal form (pg. 15) in full
Fax to 355-9784
Minimum time for review is 10 work days
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Please Print
GCSD Professional Development Appeal Form
Fax to 355-9784
Name Date School
Title and Type of Professional Development Activity:
Reason for Denial:
Does this activity exceed the participant's
job responsibilities?
Yes
No
Does this activity relate to the
participant’s area of certification?
Yes
No
Does this activity relate to
the participant's Professional Growth and
Development Plan?
Yes
*Please include a copy
of the PG&D Plan.
No
Can the participant re-teach or use the
information learned in his/her
instructional setting in a way that impacts
student achievement?
Yes
*Please attach an
explanation.
No
Reason for Appeal:
*please paste or attach denial letter or message.
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SUBSTITUTES/ NON-CONTRACT CERTIFIED
EMPLOYEES/RETIREES/ALL OTHER
PREVIOUS EMPLOYEES
Contact: Jen Knox
Professional Certificate Renewal Process
Certificate renewals for educators not employed/not under contract in a South Carolina
school district or entity are handled directly through the State Department of Education.
Please refer to the South Carolina Department of Education Website .
If you have points through the GCSD Portal that need to be sent to the SC SDE, please
email your request with your employee number to [email protected] . A
completed Professional Growth and Development Plan must be on file in Human
Resources in order for your points to be submitted to the SC SDE. See Contacts, page
17, for assistance.
Once your certificate has been renewed, it is your responsibility to submit a copy of your
renewed certificate to Human Resources, fax 355- 9784, or scan to
certificate@greenville.k12.sc.us, in order to maintain certified pay. Please write
“substitute” and your employee number on your certificate for processing. To print
your certificate, go to the South Carolina Department of Education Website, click
Educators, Certification, View Certification Status, log-in and then click the word
Academic next to the icon of a printer.
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CONTACTS
Certificate Issues, Alternative
Certification and Renewal
Stacy Forrester
Professional Employment Certification
Specialist
Human Resources
Phone: 355-3174
certificate@greenville.k12.sc.us
Fax: 355-9784
System updates, Pay Changes, Points to
the SC SDE, Transcripts
Jen Knox
Professional Employment Data Clerk
Human Resources
Phone: 355-3989
certificate@greenville.k12.sc.us
Fax: 355-9784
Professional Development Approvals,
Jason Flatt, and New Hire Certificates
Kelly Wingert
Professional Employment Specialist
Human Resources
Phone: 355-7549
kwingert@greenville.k12.sc.us
Fax: 355-9784
International Certificates, Project Create
Deitre Helvy
Professional Employment Recruiter
Human Resources
Phone: 355-3005
dhelvy@greenville.k12.sc.us
Fax: 355-9579
Experience Verification
Payroll Department
Verifications@greenville.k12.sc.us
Fax: 355-0920
Loan Forgiveness
Human Resources
HRProcessingCenter@greenville.k12.sc.us
Fax: 355-3975
Technology Proficiency
Michelle King
Technology Facilitator
Instructional Technology Department
Phone: 355-3050
techprof@greenville.k12.sc.us
Fax: 355-9821
Read to Succeed
Academics
R2S@greenville.k12.sc.us
Renewing your certificate on false pretenses puts your certificate at risk of being
revoked by the SC SDE upon audit of our records.
Professional Development Website
