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The Academy requires teachers to pursue professional growth and development on an annual and long term basis in order to develop a faculty distinguished for teaching excellence and program development. The Academy expects all members of its faculty to contribute to creating an academic community committed to sustained intellectual inquiry, personal and professional growth.
The Academy seeks to recognize the varying needs and interests of faculty members at different points in their career as well as the needs for specific program development. For instance, teachers in the early stages of their career may seek mentor relationships among the faculty, attend workshops, or begin graduate study. Teachers with more experience and expertise may apply for leadership roles in program development and share their work not only with colleagues at Germantown Academy but also with the larger educational community.
All teachers and academic administrators submit annual goals which they develop with the advice and approval of their department head, division head, the Dean of Faculty Studie, or Head of School. Annually faculty will set one key professional development goal for which they will be held accountable to demonstrate plans and/or progress in their annual review.
Goals designed to further students' learning in the classroom and the goals of the mission statement and strategic plan are paramount. Teachers are encouraged not only to seek opportunities beyond the school but also to take advantage of those opportunities available within the school such as collaborating with colleagues, visiting classes, and participating in the work of various school committees. Teachers and administrators are also encouraged to design plans to foster their own intellectual and personal growth and to contribute positively to Germantown Academy and the larger academic community. The school encourages individuals and groups of teachers to designate goals and plans for furthering knowledge of a subject area, improved instruction, or innovative program development.
The Academy provides compensation for academic and extracurricular activity program leadership, awards for distinguished achievements, and funding for workshops, graduate study, and special projects which further the mission and strategic plans of the school. Funds are included in the school's operating budget and generated from the Academy's endowment or from special gifts and grants.
The school compensates faculty serving in academic or advisory leadership roles such as department heads, curriculum coordinators, heads of form, grade level coordinators, or college guidance advisors. Each is evaluated by the appropriate division head, Dean of Faculty and Studies, or Head of School.
The school recognizes that teachers with or without designated formal leadership roles may, by virtue of their expertise and experience in the classroom, serve as mentors to other faculty or new faculty in the school. The school does not currently have a formal mentor program, but is looking toward a way of recognizing and using individuals with exceptional classroom talents within the context of the school's professional development program.
Annually the Academy honors seven members of the faculty or administration or staff with awards for excellence in program development, teaching, service, or other exceptional achievement. Faculty and staff are invited to nominate individuals for this award. The award is presented at the Faculty Breakfast during graduation week. The Selection Committee includes the Head of School, Dean of Faculty and Studies, the Assistant Dean of Faculty and Studies, the division heads, and the Chairperson of the Board's Education Committee.
The William L. Schoff Memorial Alumni Chair for Distinguished Teaching in English is awarded every three years to a teacher of English in the Middle or Upper Schools. The Herbert and Irma Barness Endowed Chair in the Fine and Performing Arts is awarded every five years, to a Lower, Middle, or Upper School teacher in the Fine or Performing Arts Department. Nominations are invited from the entire GA community. The chair recipient will receive three quarters of the income generated by the chair's endowment each year during his/her tenure.
NAIS, IES, PAlS, NYSAIS and other independent school organizations hold special workshops each year. Examples are workshops for "The Experienced Pro," "The Beginning Teacher," or the NAIS conference on diversity. The administration invites faculty members to go to these workshops based on a teacher's performance and contribution to the school, and the likelihood of benefiting from the conference and bringing the experience back to the school.
The purpose of this program is to make available an extended period of time for faculty professional enrichment advancement. Leave time will be the second semester of the school year and the teacher will receive 3/4 of his/her contracted pay for that year. This generally runs from the end of January to the middle of June. For a faculty member to be considered eligible s/he must have worked at GA for at least seven years and earned a Level III status. The selection process will be based on the quality of an applicant's proposal and the value of the proposal to GA. All proposals must be submitted to the Assistant Dean of Faculty and Studies by December 1 of the preceding academic year and a decision will be announced by February 1. Decisions will be made by a committee composed of the Head of School, Dean of Faculty and Studies, the Assistant Dean of Faculty and Studies, and the Chair of the Education Committee of the Board. No more than three faculty members will receive this benefit in any given year.
This is an idea generated by the Ad Hoc Committee on Professional Development (1997-1998) which will be explored as an option for faculty in the years 2000 and beyond. It is not yet funded.
Attendance in a special extended program for which the school will arrange and pay for a substitute (e.g. Fulbright Fellowships, the St. Andrews University Teacher Fellowship Award, Educational Ambassadors).
a. Membership in the Class of 1760 (an honorary member of alumni society)
b. Faculty speaker for opening faculty meeting
c. 'Faculty guest of the Board of Trustees
d. Participation in key ad hoc committees
e. Recognition of 25 years of service at "Hanging" ceremony in May
Faculty members and academic administrators are encouraged to pursue graduate degrees in their fields of study and further course work to enhance their knowledge of subject matter and pedagogy. Germantown Academy will reimburse the full amount of one course per year to any faculty member who is a matriculated student seeking a graduate degree. Individuals MUST notify the Dean of Faculty and Studies by completing a Graduate Study Request Form by September 15 of his/her enrollment in a degree-seeking program and the amount needed to cover a course. After September 15, teachers taking non-degree courses may request a maximum of $750 reimbursement as long as there is money in the fund. A grade of 'A' or 'B' is required before any reimbursement is made.
Please be advised that under current IRS regulations, some course work may be categorized as taxable income. As such the applicable amount will be included on annual W-2 wage earnings.
Faculty members and academic administrators may apply to attend or present at workshops or conferences to contribute to their knowledge of a subject area or specific program. They may also arrange for departmental, division level, or whole school workshops or courses, and visiting scholars. Applications are submitted to division or department heads for funds, and in some instances to the Dean of Faculty and Studies or the Head of School. Administrators and program leaders are expected to consider the needs of the overall programs as well as those of individuals in designating funds for an individual or group of teachers to attend a workshop or present at a workshop.
Current IRS regulations require that certain employer paid courses be treated as taxable income.
Teachers and academic administrators are encouraged to apply for funding to develop special projects to further their knowledge and expertise in the classroom, programs to enhance the goals of the school and fulfill the strategic plans, and plans which sustain their individual professional and personal growth. Special projects might include any of the following:
1. Program development
2. Research studies
3. Mentor programs
4. Leadership and development of annual or long-term working groups within GA or with teachers from other schools
5. Distance learning projects
6. Development and publication of essays, poetry, short stories, books
7. Presentations at workshops or conferences
8. Exhibitions or performances
9. Visiting scholars
10. Travel
11. Mini Sabbatical
12. Development of summer institutes for teachers from other schools
13. Special workshops
These projects are usually funded by the Kast Professional Growth Fund. See description following this section. Please see Dean of Faculty and Studies or Head of School for further information.
Occasionally a teacher may request a leave for an entire academic year for reasons outside of those covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Such requests should be made to the Dean of Faculty and Studies or Head of School. A teacher on a year's leave will receive no salary or benefits other than tuition abatement and will lose that year's salary increment raise.
No more than two faculty members should be on a year's leave simultaneously.
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Development