Professional Development Certification Program (PDCP)
Laine Obando, Executive Director
Dr. Cele Oldham, Program Coordinator
510 S. Palm Avenue, Howey-in-the-Hills, FL 34737
PH: 352-742-6900 ~ FAX: 352-324-3072
Professional Development Certification Program (PDCP)
Click here for current PDCP Information Flyer
Click below to watch the PDCP Information video clip
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATION INFORMATION VIDEO
Click the link below to download 2022-2023 PDCP Application (Download, complete and mail to Dr. Cele Oldham PDCP Coordinator at the Learning Resource Center 510 South Palm Ave. Howey in the Hills, FL 34737. (Do Not Submit your Application Electronically)
Program Description
The Professional Development Certification Program (PDCP) is a 2-year program designed to develop quality teachers by offering professional education preparation via online learning and mentor support. To support job-embedded learning, unique support teams are built for teacher candidates pairing each with an onsite experienced content area coach and an offsite task assessor teacher with subject area expertise. By choosing this program as a means of obtaining professional teaching certification, teacher candidates are committing to successfully satisfying all FLDOE required components. The PDCP requires the dedication of a substantial amount of professional learning time as a long-term investment in becoming a highly proficient educator.
Program Components
Online curriculum based on FLDOE state model: 20 job-embedded tasks which align with the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices.
District approved Reading Endorsement Competency 1 and Competency 2 (secondary teachers)
District approved Reading Endorsement Competencies 1 -5 for program candidates earning certification in coverage areas listed below.
- Elementary Education (grade K-6)
- Prekindergarten-Primary Education (Age 3 through grade 3)
- Middle Grade English (grades 5-9)
- English (grades 6-12)
- Reading (grades K-12)
- English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) (grades K-12)
State exams: Subject Area, General Knowledge, and Professional Education exams
Participant Qualifications
In order to qualify for the Lake County Schools PDCP, the applicant must:
- be a paid, second year instructional employee of Lake County School Board in a fulltime core content area or general education teaching assignment which does not vary from day to day
- have at least a bachelor’s degree
- currently hold a three-year temporary teaching certificate from the Florida Department of Education. (Note: must be entering the second year of the three year certificate to apply)
- successful demonstration of the Professional Education Competency (PEC).
- have received passing scores on all subsections of the General Knowledge Test - (exempt with a Master's degree).
- obtain the signature of the hiring principal on the PDCP Application as agreement to coordinate the PDCP on site.
- Submit the PDCP Application and $150 application fee as an agreement of participation
Program Procedures
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The Human Resource Services Office identifies employees who qualify for the PDCP
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Eligible teachers must attend a 2-hour orientation session to receive an application, timelines, and guidelines. A choice of sessions will be offered.
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The teacher obtains the signature of the hiring principal as agreement to coordinate the PDCP on site. The teacher signs the completed application for Lake PDCP as an agreement of participation. The completed application and application fee are forwarded to the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment.
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Applicants are interviewed and screened for appropriate placement in the program.
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Approved teacher candidates will commit to paying the published fees for the PDCP with the option of paying in full or spreading out payments through payroll deductions.
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The participant will attend a required overview training to receive guidance and access on the PDCP online curriculum and assessment program.
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The PDCP participants will complete the district approved Reading Competencies as specified above for Secondary and Elementary Teachers .
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PDCP participants will attend additional monthly support seminars (mandatory).
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The PDCP participant must satisfactorily demonstrate all assessment tasks of online curriculum.
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PDCP participants must successfully pass the Professional Education Exam (PDCP teachers who receive a Highly Effective rating on their most recent performance evaluation just prior to program exit may exempt this exam.
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Upon portfolio completion, a final meeting is held with the principal to sign off on the PDCP Documentation Record.
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After verification of successful completion of all PDCP program components, the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment signs the participant out of the PDCP and forwards the approved PDCP Documentation Record of an Alternative Certification Program form to the Human Resource Services Department.
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The Human Resource Services department verifies and notifies FLDOE as required, for issuance of the regular professional teaching certificate.
Length of PDCP
The PDCP is designed as a two-year program. Teacher candidates are encouraged to complete the online curriculum and assessment system during the first year of the program. Participants may be allowed to continue into the following year, under justifiable circumstance, (i.e., serious illness, catastrophic event), and with BOTH Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, and School Principal approval, and providing their 3-year temporary teaching certificate hasn’t expired. Program fees will continue in the second year to be prorated accordingly.
Resources & Materials
Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE)
Contact Information : Dr. Cele Oldham, PDCP Coordinator, 352-253-6895 or oldhamc@lake.k12.fl.us