Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy (TAPP)

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Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy
(TAPP)
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The Clayton County Public Schools (CCPS) provides
quality instruction to over 51,000 students

• The vision of Clayton County Public Schools
  is to be a district of excellence preparing ALL
  students to live and compete successfully in a
  global society.

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• The mission of Clayton County Public Schools is
  to be accountable to all stakeholders for
  providing a globally competitive education that
  empowers students to achieve academic and
  personal goals and to become college and career
  ready, productive, responsible citizens.

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Core Belief Statements

• We believe children have first priority on all of
  our resources.
• We believe education is the shared responsibility
  of the student, the parent/guardian, the school,
  and the community.
• We believe communication and understanding among
  all stakeholders of our diverse community are
  essential to achieving the goals of education.
• We believe that learning is a continuous process
  and most productive when the needs of the each
  child are met through instruction provided by
  competent and caring teachers.
• We believe a learning environment where everyone
  experiences security, care, dignity, and respect
  is essential.

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District Strategic Goals

• To increase academic achievement for all students
  in Clayton County Public Schools as evidenced by
  state, national and international assessment
  results.
• To provide and maintain a safe, orderly, and
  secure learning environment.
• To create an environment that promotes active
  engagement, accountability, and collaboration of
  all stakeholders to maximize student achievement.
• To effectively communicate the systems vision
  and purpose and allow stakeholder involvement in
  an effort to build understanding and support.
• To provide high quality support services
  delivered on time and within budget to promote
  academic success in Clayton County Public
  Schools.
• To recruit and retain highly qualified and
  effective staff.

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We are seeking outstanding individuals..

• who are committed to supporting CCPS in the
  endeavor of its vision and mission by bringing
  your educational background, experience, and
  knowledge to provide a positive impact on the
  lives of our students. No previous education
  coursework or experience is required.

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TAPP is a practical field-based program,
designed to develop proficient teachers in a
timely and economically feasible manner. The same
rigorous standards as a traditional
teacher-training program are the foundations for
this competency-based program. Our Professional
Standards Commission (PSC) approved TAPP Program
is a rigorous program that
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• Application Process
• 2014-2015 School Year
• Complete an online application at
  www.clayton.k12.ga.us

• Submit
• an information sheet
• Resume
• a personal statement detailing your desire to
  participate in the CCPS TAPP program

• official passing scores on all three parts of the
  GACE Basic Skills Assessment or evidence of one
  of the following exemptions
• ACT English and Math combined score of 43
• GRE Verbal and Quantitative combined score of
  1030
• SAT Verbal and Math combined score of 1000
• Masters Degree

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Please visit www.gace.ets.org for
registration and additional details. You may
visit the GA Professional Standards Commission
website for questions regarding types of
certification www.gapsc.com  

• Application Process
• Submission documents contd.

• passing scores of the GACE appropriate content
  assessment associated with the field in which
  you desire to teach.
• Official transcripts of ALL colleges and
  universities attended. NOTE Must have a
  Bachelor's degree with a minimum 2.50 GPA on a
  4.0 scale or a Masters degree

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Please submit all of the aforementioned
documents to the following address

• Clayton County Public SchoolsAttn Teacher
  Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy (TAPP)
  Program Interest1058 Fifth Avenue Jonesboro,
  GA. 30236
•  Application Deadline Friday, October 17,
  2014After submission of all application
  materials, selected applicants will be invited to
  participate in the Interview Day activities.

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Dates to Remember

• August 15, 2014   (TAPP Application Period Opens)
• October 17, 2014 (Application Deadline)
• October 24, 2014 (Invitation Sent to Selected
  Candidates for Interview Day)
• November 6 - 7, 2014 (TAPP Interview Days)
• November 14, 2014 (TAPP Candidate Selection Day)
• December 1-12, 2014 (TAPP Essentials Class)

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RATIONALE

• Meet the critical need for quality teachers in
  the Clayton County Public Schools
• Assist qualified college graduates as they
  transition to a teaching career
• Provide a time and cost effective program that
  recognizes the education and experiences of each
  candidate
• Prepare qualified candidates to earn clear,
  renewable Georgia teaching certificates

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COMMON AREAS OF CERTIFICATION/GACE

• Hold an academic major or the equivalent (defined
  as a minimum of 15 semester hours for middle
  grades certification and 21 semester hours for
  secondary certification)

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Financial Commitments

• GACE assessment fees
• College or university expense
• Books/materials for any additional college
  coursework
• Once you have begun the program, there is a 1000
  fee if you should drop out any time before
  completion
• Candidates who successfully complete the program
  and are offered contracts must work for CCPS for
  at least 3 years or reimburse the system up to
  3000 for program expense. Cost is forgiven at
  the rate of 1000 per year taught after program
  completion.

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Time Commitments

• PreTAPP Essentials Class (2 weeks total)
• Offered in the summer and is mandatory for all
  TAPP candidates. There will be a session
  held December 1-12, 2014.
• New Teacher Induction (mandatory for all TAPP
  candidates)
• The Essentials class must be completed before
  entrance into the classroom.
• TAPP is a 1-3 year program.

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Coursework

• Coursework in the summer and in the evenings
  (average of two evenings per week)
• For Special Education all coursework will be
  provided by the district
• All other programs may involve some college
  coursework in addition to core courses offered
  in the district

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CORE COURSES FOR TAPP PROGRAMS

• Human Growth and Development (TAPP)
•  InTel (TAPP)
• Classroom Management (TAPP)
• Identification/ Education of the Exceptional
  Child (All)
•  Teaching of Reading and Writing (All)
• CRISS Learning Strategies (All, but ECE TAPP)
• Differentiated Instruction (All)
• Learning Styles (All)
• Understanding Students in Poverty (All)
• Assessment (All)
•  

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Additional CCPS Requirements

• Gain admission to an appropriate college to
  complete needed content coursework, if assigned
• Complete all coursework
• Maintain employment as a CCPS teacher
• Candidates may not assume any extracurricular
  teaching, coaching or club obligations which
  might interfere with CCPS TAPP.

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TAPP Is

• A rigorous program that leads to clear, renewable
  certification
• An on the job training program that allows you to
  maintain teaching responsibilities while taking
  courses in content and/or pedagogy
• A heavily supported program that allows you to
  apply your content knowledge to a teaching
  situation under the guidance of mentors,
  administrators and a teacher development
  specialist

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TAPP is not

• A program that leads to another degree
• Appropriate if you have ever held a teaching
  certificate
• An easy route to a new career in teaching

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REMEMBER

• Everyone must pass GACE basic skills or exempt
  them (SAT/ACT or Masters)
• All TAPP candidates must pass the GACE before
  acceptance into TAPP
• Checklist