COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 204

December 5, 2003

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Pilot Teacher-Training Academies for Selected Industry Certifications

The Virginia Department of Education is pleased to announce as part of the Governor’s Education for a Lifetime, Path to Industry Certification initiative, seven pilot teacher-training academies to prepare career and technical education teachers for selected industry certification examinations. Testing options for the specific industry certification will be available as a part of the academies. These industry certifications are Board of Education approved for the student-selected verified credit option. Career and technical education teachers must be certified in an industry certification before their students can be eligible for the student-selected verified credit that may be earned by passing an industry certification exam while completing a career and technical education course and/or program sequence.

The pilot teacher-training academies are preparation for broader industry certification offerings allowing for more enrollment capacity to be scheduled for spring/summer 2004. Enrollment will be limited with registration on a first-come, first-serve basis. A waiting list will be maintained for each academy, and will be used to give first priority when enrolling participants for the spring/summer academies.

Travel expenses for mileage in accordance with state guidelines will be reimbursed to participants as well as the cost of teacher substitutes to localities. In certain approved situations, lodging and meals will be reimbursed. All academies will be “free of charge” (to include the cost of industry certification examinations) to career and technical education teachers who include preparation for the specific industry certification in their course or course sequence, and who use the industry certification as an option for their students to earn student-selected verified credit. Teachers attending these sessions must test on-site or, if vouchers are provided, within 30 days of training.

The pilot training academies for the January/February timeframe are:

• Brainbench AutoCAD 2000 Certification, January 29-30, 2004 (snow dates February 3-4) – Virginia Western Community College, Roanoke County, Coordinator: George Willcox (gwillcox@pen.k12.va.us);

• Fundamental Concepts of Business and Marketing Certificate, January 12-13, 2004 (snow dates are January 15-16) – New River Community College, Dublin, Coordinator: Dr. Margaret Kirby (mkirby@pen.k12.va.us);

• Greenhouse Operators Certification, February 27, 2004 – VA Tech, Blacksburg, Coordinator: Dr. Glenn Anderson (ganderso@pen.k12.va.us);

• Teacher Trainer Workshop for the Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC3), February 27, 2004 – Henrico County Adult Education Center, Nine Mile Road Facility, Richmond, Coordinator: Gordon Creasy (gcreasy@pen.k12.va.us) (*One registration will be accepted per school division as a “trainer of teachers” for the IC3 certification. A computer literacy background is recommended for participants.);

• Microsoft Office Specialist (2000 MOS prep/test), January 30, 2004 – Advanced Technology Center, Virginia Beach City Schools, Virginia Beach, Coordinator: Anne Rowe (arowe@pen.k12.va.us);

• Microsoft Office Specialist (XP MOS prep/test), January 30, 2004 – Advanced Technology Center, Virginia Beach City Schools, Virginia Beach, Coordinator: Anne Rowe (arowe@pen.k12.va.us), and

• National Professional Certification in Customer Service, February 16-17 2004 (snow dates are February 19-20) – Mecklenburg County Schools, South Hill, Coordinator: Dr. Margaret Kirby (mkirby@pen.k12.va.us).

Information about teacher-training academy times, directions to the locations, and preparation materials will be sent when a registration is received and confirmed. Enrollment confirmation (or waiting list notification) will be sent directly to participants when a registration form is received. The registration form is attached.

For further information about a specific industry certification teacher-training academy, contact the workshop coordinator. For information about a specific industry certification, contact Gordon Creasy, specialist for industry certification and licensure, Career and Technical Education Services, at gcreasy@pen.k12.va.us or 804-225-2057.

Registration forms should be sent by January 2, 2004, to Robert A. Almond (ralmond@pen.k12.va.us), director of career and technical education, Department of Education, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2120, or fax (804)371-2456.

JLD/sj

Attachment

http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/suptsmemos/2003/inf204a.pdf