7. Professional Development / Career Plan

7. Professional Development / Career Plan

The school supports ongoing professional development of our faculty. To that end, professional development opportunities will be provided on a weekly basis. Additionally, the school will strive to organize courses and workshops whenever possible. The instructional staff has the opportunity to request participation in conferences, educational workshops, instructional visitations, professional meetings and study courses.

Chapel has a Career Plan offered to all teachers which looks at the number of years working in the field and academic degrees. Please note that it is important to keep your files updated. If you have any diplomas or certificates, please bring a copy to the senior secretary. For any further information, please contact your Principal. Teachers are responsible for submitting documentation of completion of a degree with a requisition.

7.1 Professional Development Meetings

All faculty members must be present for weekly professional development meetings (Mondays from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.) No after school activities can be scheduled for that day and time.

Staff meetings will be announced in advance by each Principal. Teachers who teach in multiple divisions (Elementary/High School) should always check with the principals about wich session they will attend.

7.2. Tutoring

Tutoring may only be recommended through a Child Study Team meeting (ECEC/ES) or Student Team meeting (HS). No teacher should tutor his/her own student and no teacher may tutor to prepare his/her own student for school tests.

The tutor and the parents determine tutorial work payment. No tutoring is allowed during regular school hours (8:00 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.).

Chapel teachers may tutor on campus after completing a year of employment at Chapel.

Teacher’s Name] Tutoring Guidelines (Page 1) and Schedule (Page 2)

7.3. Conferences

Attendance at conferences and similar activities must receive prior approval from one’s Principal. The Professional Development Request Form, located under Appendix in this handbook should be completed and submitted with the teacher’s request.

7.4. Reimbursement for Faculty Tuition Expenses

Chapel encourages teaching staff to enroll in continuing education programs and courses. The following criteria shall be used in order to reimburse teachers who pursue university work (see Appendix):

• The teacher must be full-time with a minimum of 2 years employment at Chapel.

• All course work must be directly connected with the teacher’s assignment.

• Prior approval of the course must be obtained in order to receive the agreed upon % of reimbursement for satisfactorily completing course work.

• All course work requires prior approval of the Admin Team, that analyzes all requests. This permission must be renewed each semester.

Only regular expenses such as hotel, transportation and food - no alcoholic beverages, incurred at conferences will be reimbursed. Entertainment and luxury meals are not reimbursed. Staff members need to submit receipts to their Principal. There is no reimbursement without presentation of receipts. Receipts must be submitted within five working days after returning from the conference.

7.5. Professional Evaluation

Chapel School recognizes the need for timely feedback to teachers and provides support such as feedback, counselors and mentors to help them grow as professionals. Evaluation enables the teacher to become more aware of his/her strengths and areas for growth. With this knowledge, the teacher has the opportunity to capitalize on his/her strenghts points and improve in areas of need. Staff members are encouraged to partner in this process in an open and professional manner.

Evaluation will be based on the total performance and effectiveness of the teacher. Teachers will be placed on one of the three supervision and evaluation tracks and will be observed accordingly.

7.5.1. Personnel Records

Personnel records shall be available only for official use by the Board, the Admin Team, and the employee’s supervisor, or for inspection by accrediting agencies or other groups – with prior Admin Team or legal authorization.

8. Miscellaneous

8.1. Anthem

The Brazilian National Anthem is played every Friday at 8:00 a.m. Teachers are expected to model respect and request all students to stand in attention for the National Anthem. The American National Anthem is played every last Friday of the month.

8.2. Keys

All keys will be issued through the Principal’s secretary. Keys issued are for personal use and are not to be loaned to others. All keys are to be returned to the office at the end of the semester.

8.3. Emergency Procedures

Each division (ECEC, ES or HS) has specific emergency procedures for a situation when a student is not feeling well in class. Check with the secretary or principal of your division to know which ones apply to your situation.

Students should always be taken to the nurse if injured or not feeling well. If a student cannot move, a nurse should be contacted immediately for appropriate care and assistance.

First Aid training is offered periodically. Emergency information and Fire Drill evacuation maps are available in every classroom.

8.4. Visitors on Campus

If you would like to have a visitor on campus you must officially request permission by submitting an email to your section principal and secretary with a copy to the Admin Team. A written request form will then be filled out and submitted for approval. Please specify your visitor’s full name, reason for the visit and the areas on campus where the visitor will tour. This request must be submitted at least 5 school days in advance in order for the appropriate vetting and communication process to be completed.

8.5. Chapel Forms

Some forms must be filled out in Portuguese. The school secretary can help teachers in this process.

• Absence Request Form (See Appendix)

• Professional Development Form (See Appendix)

• Requisition Form - (See Appendix)

• Copy Requisition Form - Should be signed by Principal for requests over 150 pages. Each side counts as a page. (See Appendix)

• Visitors on Campus Request Form (See Appendix)

Professional Development Request Form

(print out and submit to your administrator)

Teacher’s Name and position: Today’s Date:

Number of years of full time employment at Chapel School

Name of the professional development (PD) event you are requesting to attend:

Location of PD:

Date of PD: (from) (to)

List the expected amounts and currency type (Ex.: US$ / R$ ) of the expenses below:

Course/Workshop Fees:

Transportation:

Food:

Hotel:

Other (specify):

Total Amount:

Would this PD require you to be absent from your classes? No  Yes  If Yes, please list:

Has Chapel School supported you with PD expenses before? No  Yes  If Yes, please list:

Attach a single page with the following:

 an abstract of the content, learning outcomes of this PD, including additional information such as a pamphlet, flyer and/or website,

 an outline of which Supervision Evaluation and Professional Development standards this PD would support and how is it related to your own SEPD goals,

 and the specifics on how you will share your learning at Chapel School.

Chapel School remains strongly committed to supporting our staff with professional development that is deemed directly relevant to our mission’s fulfillment. By requesting financial sponsorship for PD it is understood that you do not currently have plans to leave Chapel School and that you intend to remain on staff for the time necessary to fully contribute to the learnings acquired in the PD opportunity.

Teacher signature: Date: To be filled out by school

Name of the Division’s Principal:

Approved: Not Approved:

Date approved: Portion to be paid by Chapel School %

Approved by Chapel School’s Board:

AUTORIZAÇÃO DE ENTRADA (ENTRANCE AUTHORIZATION)

Visitante (Visitor)

Solicitado por (Requested by)

Motivo (Reason)

Data (Date)

Horário (Time)

Autorizado por (Authorized by) Nome (Name) Assinatura (Signature)

( ) DF – Oblate Fathers

) do Valle ( )