General Collaborative Event Information
New and Advanced Coach Training
Orientation
AKI
Early Completion Option
Confidentiality
BTSA Online Registration and Survey
Transferring Between BTSA Programs
RIF ("Pink-Slipped") Questions
Non Re-Election Questions
Unit (BTSA and Grade-Alike) Questions
1. Who can
register for a BTSA collaborative event?Only an SP can
RSVP for a BTSA collaborative event. This is to ensure that the PT and SP
have spoken to each other and arranged to come to the event
together, as required.
2. How do I
register for a BTSA collaborative event?
If you are an SP
(as noted above), you will need to obtain an RSVP form for
the event you are registering for. RSVP forms for the next
series of events are always available at the event
previous. Some of the RSVP forms are available on our website
for download (see BTSA
Collaborative Events page). You can also contact the BTSA office (see
Contact
Us page).
RSVPs must arrive
to the BTSA Office on the forms provided. Faxing your form to
the BTSA office or turning it in at an event are the
preferred methods of registration. RSVPs may not be phoned in
or emailed.
3. What is
expected of me at a collaborative event?
Arrive with the
goal of being seated and ready to begin when the event time
is scheduled to start. The parking gates at the SCOE lot do not
open to the general public on weekdays until 8:15am and
parking at SCOE is limited. You will need a parking permit on
your dashboard in order to be allowed to park in the SCOE
lots. If you forget to bring yours, they are usually available
at the sign in table inside the event. Parking is usually
more abundant on weekends. Please allow for these factors when
deciding on what time to arrive. Additional weekday
event parking can, occasionally, be found at no cost in the 12th street garage if you tell the security guard that you are here for a SCOE event.
Please refer to your event reminder email to see if 12th
street garage parking is available for your registered event
date.
Please bring your
Formative Assessment Binder to all events. Arrive with
appropriate assignments completed. Write legibly and complete
all forms and assignments thoroughly. Read the Induction
Handbook you will be given. It is short and will answer many
of your most important questions.
Please have your
cell phone off during events. If it must be on, please have
it on vibrate and go outside of the room to take any calls. In
the Peterson Event Center, please exit the building to talk on the
phone as conversations in the hallway carry and disturb the
event inside. Please keep phone calls limited and short in
duration. Collaborative events are mandatory and the event time should
be respected.
You must sign in
at ALL events. If you do not sign in, there is no proof
that you attended that event. It is YOUR responsibility to
make sure that you sign in. Those arriving late (after the
speaker has begun) will be noted on the sign in
sheet.
Be attentive to
the information presented and courteous to speakers, staff and
your fellow attendees.
4. Why do the
sessions sometimes close or get cancelled?
When we reach
maximum seating capacity for a certain session of an event,
that session is then closed and no further RSVP's will be
accepted. Sessions sometimes get cancelled when RSVP's for it
are so low as for it to be impractical to hold the
session.
5. Why do we
have to RSVP?
RSVP's are
essential for informing BTSA Support Staff when we've reached
maximum capacity for an event so that we may close it in
advance rather than having to turn people away at the door. It
is also how we get numbers with which to order the proper
amount of food and bring enough materials for all
attending.
6. What do I do if I can’t make an
event I have RSVP’ed for? Who do I contact?
Please contact your Support Provider and the
BTSA Office as soon as possible. You will need to choose a new date to attend the
event and have your Support Provider submit a new RSVP. If all event dates have passed, you and your Support Provider will need to make an appointment with
Lisa Tiwater or
Christine Sisco to make arrangements to receive the information presented at the
event.
7. What do I do if my Support Provider cannot attend
an event with me?
While having your Support Provider with you is very necessary to making the experience as beneficial as possible, your Support Provider can make arrangements with another Support Provider from your district to work with you.
1. Who should
go to which training?
All brand new Support Providers and Support Providers who are just now serving a second year must attend coach training. SPs wanting a refresher may also sign up, but are not required to attend. New SPs should sign up for one of the dates for New Coach Training DAY 1 which will encompass covering reflective conversations and coaching skills for new coaches. The SPs who are serving their second year or refreshing their skills should sign up for one of the dates for the Advanced Coach Training DAY 1 which will encompass advanced coaching skills. ALL MUST SIGN UP FOR A DAY 2. Day 2 focuses on the binder entries. SPs can choose from the dates for the binder entries for YEAR 1 PTs or for the dates for binder entries for YEAR 2 or ECO PTs depending upon who which year Participating Teacher(s) they are supporting.
1. Who must
attend an Orientation Meeting?
All SPs and PTs
must attend an Orientation BEFORE attending a Kick Off or
Blast Off event.
2. What do I need to bring to the Orientation Meeting?
Please bring something to write with and come prepared to
fill out registration documents which require both your
birth date and social security number (this information is
how we access your credential information with the state and
is required). If you are a PT1, ECO, or PT2-Transfer
(from another BTSA Program), you are also required to bring
a printout of your credential, which you can access at the
CTC Website. We do not need the "pretty" version
of your credential or the "summary of application status or
credentials held" for your BTSA purposes. We need the
printout of the credential you're planning to use BTSA to
clear (the version with an expiration date on it).
If you are an ECO, we will also need
the letter from your district
recommending that you be an ECO.
3. What do I do if I missed the Orientation Meeting?
If there is still an Orientation Meeting date available, then have your SP fill out a new
Orientation RSVP and attend the meeting of your choice. If there are not any meeting dates available, please be sure to contact the
BTSA Office immediately and describe your situation. You will be asked to review the
Orientation Meeting information with your SP and fill out the appropriate paperwork.
AKI
1. What do I do if I already finished “base BTSA” (the two year binder with the aid of a SP) but still need AKI and CTAP?
Please contact
Lisa Tiwater.
1. Do I qualify for the Early Completion Option?
Please see the ECO eligibility requirements in the
BTSA Induction Handbook and talk with your Lead Support Provider/District Coordinator.
1. What is the BTSA confidentiality policy? Can my SP talk to my principal about me?
BTSA is very strict in their confidentiality policy. At no time should your SP or anyone from the BTSA program be able to talk to anyone about you and/or your performance in the classroom. They have been trained on how to handle delicate situations so as to protect your relationship. Administrators have also been informed about
this confidentiality and its importance in the formative assessment system.
2. What do I do if I think my SP has been sharing information with my administrator, or if I don’t feel this is the best SP match up for me?
First steps would be to approach your Lead SP and have a confidential conversation with them about the situation. If you are uncomfortable with this, or your SP is the Lead SP for your district, please feel free to contact the
BTSA Office. You can have a confidential conversation with the BTSA director or consultant. You can just use them as a sounding board, or ask them to take action. The degree to which the situation is investigated and handled is purely at your discretion.
1. What is the website address for the beginning of the year California State BTSA registration and end of the year survey?
www.btsa.ca.gov
2. Who has to register?
All new PTs, first year and Early Completion Option, must register with the state for BTSA. ECOs register as a year 1 because this is their first year in the program even though they are doing the year 2 entries in the binder. Support Providers must register every year. Second year Participating Teachers do not have to register as they are already in the system from the previous year.
3. When is the registration window?
Registration opens in early July and closes on November 14th.
4. When is the window for the end of the year survey?
3-15-10 through 5-27-10.
Completion of the End of Year Survey
is a requirement of BTSA.
5. Who takes the survey?
All Participating Teachers (Year 1, Year 2 and ECO) as well as all Support Providers and all administrators who have PTs on their campuses are
required to submit the electronic survey each year.
1. How do I transfer between BTSA programs?
There are 166 BTSA programs in California. Your current program can provide transcripts to your new program. Contact the director of your old program to request that this be done.
1. I received
a Reduction In Force (RIF/Pink) slip. Now what do I
do?
- Don't panic. Districts
must notify all employees of
potential lay-offs by March
15th. Most superintendants and
school boards will plan for the
worst case scenario. The
impact of budget cuts continue to be
refined throughout the rest of the
school year so it is possible for
some of the "pink-slips" to be
rescinded. May 15th is the
deadline for the final notification
to those who will not be employed
next year.
- Unanticipated revenue,
enrollment and retirements or
resignations result in staff being
rehired during the next school year.
Be careful of what you say and how
you act. Be cordial and
helpful. You never know when
you may be called back to the
district and face the same
personnel. They will remember
your attitude.
- Administrators have friends in
many places. Maintaining a
positive and professional attitude
will enhance your reputation.
You never know who that
administrator will contact when you
apply for a new position.
- This is the time to do your best
work. Principals often fight
for the return of those teachers who
work well in the school and with
colleagues. Be the good apple,
not the bad apple.
- BTSA can serve you even if you
are hired for a half time position.
- Long term substitutes are
eligible for participation in BTSA
in some cases. It is
negotiated with the BTSA Director
and/or the district you are subbing
in.
- Attend teacher recruitment
fairs. There are some
districts hiring. Check the
EDJOIN.org website for locations.
- As you finish out your school
year, continue your induction work.
Teachers with a clear credential or
within one year of completing the
work are more marketable.
- Year One PTs: Your year
of work in BTSA will not go away.
You will be on hiatus after this
year's completion. You will
then be able to continue once you
have your next teaching position
without repeating any requirements,
even if you are joining a different
BTSA program.
- Year Two/ECO PTs:
The completion of a thoughtful
binder signals meeting the
requirements for clearing your
credential. In some cases,
SCOE BTSA may require completion of
a formal observation (please see
Formal
Observations page). If
needed, you will be able to satisfy
the formal observation requirement
by borrowing a classroom. BTSA
staff will work out the details with
you should the need arise.
Linked
Resources:
Managing Job-Loss Stress
When the Paycheck Stops
Keep Your Chin Up: How to Stay Positive
During a Long Term Job Search
1. I received
a letter of Non Re-Election. Now what do I
do?
- Districts
must notify all employees of non
re-election by March 15th.
This is the formal notification to
those who will not be employed next
year in their current district.
- Administrators have friends in
many places. Maintaining a
positive and professional attitude
will enhance your reputation.
You never know who that
administrator will contact when you
apply for a new position.
- BTSA can serve you even if you
are hired for a half time position
in another district.
- Long term substitutes are
eligible for participation in BTSA
in some cases. It is
negotiated with the BTSA Director
and/or the district you are subbing
in.
- Attend teacher recruitment
fairs. There are some
districts hiring. Check the
EDJOIN.org website for locations.
- As you finish out your school
year, continue your induction work.
Teachers with a clear credential or
within one year of completing the
work are more marketable.
- Year One PTs: Your year
of work in BTSA will not go away.
You will be on hiatus after this
year's completion. You will
then be able to continue once you
have your next teaching position
without repeating any requirements,
even if you are joining a different
BTSA program.
- Year Two/ECO PTs:
The completion of a thoughtful
binder signals meeting the
requirements for clearing your
credential. In some cases,
SCOE BTSA may require completion of
a formal observation (please see
Formal
Observations page). If
needed, you will be able to satisfy
the formal observation requirement
by borrowing a classroom. BTSA
staff will work out the details with
you should the need arise.
Linked
Resources:
Managing Job-Loss Stress
When the Paycheck Stops
Keep Your Chin Up: How to Stay Positive
During a Long Term Job Search
1. What Units
are available?
BTSA Units- Upon successful completion of a BTSA year, a
participating teacher may purchase 1
or 2 units from CSUS through BTSA. These units may be turned in at BTSA
Finale or up until the due date of June 7th, 2010. No BTSA Unit
applications will be accepted after this date.
Grade-Alike Units- After full
attendance of 5 Grade-Alike sessions in
a year, participating teachers and
support providers may purchase 1 unit
from CSUS through BTSA. These
units may be turned in at the fifth
Grade-Alike session or up until the due
date of May 14th, 2010. No
Grade-Alike Unit applications will be
accepted after this date.
Grade-Alike Unit applications will not
be accepted at BTSA Finales.
2. I
turned in a unit application and now have questions.
For unit questions, please
contact the Extended Education office at CSU Stanislaus at (209) 667-3111. The
BTSA Office has no information on units after submission.
3. I need a
unit transcript.
The BTSA Office cannot issue
transcripts for BTSA or Grade-Alike
Units. These have to be
purchased through CSU Stanislaus.
4. I applied
for units for 2009-2010. When were they submitted to CSUS?
Grade-Alike Units had a deadline of
May 14. BTSA
Units (Yr. 1 & 2) had a deadline
of June 4.
