Critical Shortage Sabbatical Leave 2015-2016

THE SCHOOL BOARD OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA
DESMOND K. BLACKBURN, Ph.D.
CHIEF SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICER
Signatures on File
February 4, 2015
TO:
All Principals
Department Heads
FROM:
Amanda Bailey, Chief Human Resources Officer
VIA:
Desmond K. Blackburn, Ph.D., Chief School Performance & Accountability Officer
SUBJECT:
APPLICATION FOR CRITICAL SHORTAGE SABBATICAL LEAVE 2015-16
Please notify each member of your instructional staff that we are now accepting applications for the Critical Shortage Sabbatical Leave
for the 2015-2016 school year.
An application is attached. Please make copies, if needed, or download from
www.browardschools.com/teacher by selecting “Current Teacher/Sub”, “Instructional Employee Forms & Info”. The deadline for
applying is February 27, 2015. The following is the approved 2015-2016 subject area for which an instructional employee may apply
for a critical sabbatical leave, as well as the provisions of the leave:
Speech-Language Impaired
♦ Teachers are allowed to take a one-year Board approved leave of absence to complete the required coursework and/or
requirements to become certified in the approved subject area. A full course load of at least 12 hours is expected and courses
must be completed by the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year.
♦
The district does not pay for the cost of tuition or other fees.
♦ The teacher applicant must have completed at least two (2) years of experience with the district.
♦ Teachers granted a sabbatical leave receive 75 percent of their base salary and full benefits while on leave.
♦ The leave counts as regular service for the purpose of retirement, a year’s credit of service for salary increments, and
contributions to the retirement system continue. While on leave, no sick leave is earned.
♦ The employee must teach in the District for at least three (3) years in the critical shortage area upon returning. If no vacancy
exists in the critical shortage area, they must teach for the District for at least three (3) years in an area in which they are
certified until a vacancy in the critical shortage area is available. An applicant who is approved may be placed at any level for
which he/she has become certified, in any location within the District. Failure to complete the three (3) years of teaching
requirement will result in the employee refunding the money to the District.
If you have further questions, please contact Susan Benak, Manager, Certification/Incentives, at 754-321-2362.
DKB/AB/STR/SB/dr
Attachment
c:
Senior Leadership Team
Susan Benak, Manager, Certification/Incentives
Deadline for application to be received in
Certification/Incentives is 5 p.m. on
February 27, 2015.
Submit application to Susan Benak,
Certification/Incentives, 600 SE Third
Avenue 3rd Floor, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
33301.
2015-2016
APPLICATION FOR CRITICAL TEACHER SHORTAGE SABBATICAL LEAVE
(Note: Tuition Reimbursement application is separate)
Teachers are allowed to take a one-year Board approved leave of absence to complete the required coursework and/or
requirements to become certified in the approved subject area. The teacher applicant must have completed at least
two (2) years of experience with the district. Teachers granted a sabbatical leave receive 75 percent of their base
salary and full benefits while on leave. The leave counts as regular service for the purpose of retirement, a year’s
credit of service for salary increments, and contributions to the retirement system continue. While on leave, no sick
leave is earned.
The district does not pay for the cost of tuition or other fees. Teachers must be enrolled as a full-time student in an
accredited university and are expected to carry a full course load of at least 12 semester hours. Courses and
requirements needed for certification must be completed by the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year. An
application should be submitted to the Florida Department of Education to apply for the critical shortage area and the
Florida subject area exam passed by June 2016. Access www.fl.nesinc.com to schedule the exam and request a study
guide.
Upon returning, the employee must teach in the District for at least three (3) years in the critical shortage area. If no
vacancy exists in the critical shortage area, they must teach for the District for at least three (3) years in an area in
which they are certified until a vacancy in the critical shortage area is available. An applicant who is approved may be
placed at any level for which he/she has become certified, in any location within the District. Failure to complete the
three (3) years of teaching requirement will result in the employee refunding the money to the District.
Applications will be screened by a committee of six members. Three members are appointed by the BTU and three
members are appointed by the Superintendent. Performance evaluations and recommendations will be used in the
selection process. This application must be filled out completely and must provide the following supporting
evidence and documentation. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
♦ Written recommendation from your principal (use page 3 of this application)
♦ Written recommendation from your department head/grade chairperson, or team leader
♦ A letter of acceptance from the accredited university/college you will be attending
Name
__________________________________________________________________
(Last)
(First)
Personnel No. _________________
Teaching Assignment
Contact Phone No.
________________________
______________________________________________________
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CRITICAL TEACHER SHORTAGE CERTIFICATION AREA 2014-2015
Subject Area
Speech/Language
Impaired (SLI)
Sabbatical Leave to complete the required courses and/or internship for a
professional certificate in Speech-Language Impaired (K-12). A maximum of four
(4) sabbatical leaves will be granted for the 2015-2016 school year.
Briefly explain why you should be granted a leave in the critical shortage sabbatical area:
LIST THE COURSEWORK YOU NEED TO COMPLETE TO BECOME CERTIFIED IN THE CRITICAL AREA
Course Number
No. of
Credits
Course Title
Applicants must meet all criteria specified in Article 21, Section C, and Article 23, Section D, of the Collective
Bargaining Agreement between the Broward Teachers Union and the Broward County Public Schools. Failure
to comply with these requirements will result in the rejection of your application. All sections of the
application must be completed. If any sections are left blank, your application will be rejected.
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The School Board of Broward County, Florida
PRINCIPAL RECOMMENDATION FOR
CRITICAL SHORTAGE SABBATICAL LEAVE
NOTE: THE PRINCIPAL MUST RETAIN THE ORIGINAL COPY OF THIS SIGNED FORM.
________________________________________ has applied for Critical Shortage
(Teacher’s Name)
Sabbatical Leave from The School Board of Broward County, Florida, for the 2015-2016
school year in ________________. As a candidate, __________________________
(Critical Shortage Area)
(Teacher’s Name)
has my unqualified recommendation and support. He/She currently teaches
________________________. By signing this recommendation, I am verifying that, while
(Subject Area)
under my supervision, this teacher has received satisfactory evaluations and is currently not
being considered for placement in performance documentation. In the event that a vacancy
exists at my location in the subject area for which the leave or tuition reimbursement was
granted, I acknowledge that I will be required to hire this teacher for the position.
_________________________________________
Principal's Name (Print)
__________________________________
School/Location
_________________________________________ __________________________________
Principal’s Signature
Date
Page 3 of 3