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Emerging Educators

Welcome

Welcome to Bibb County School District’s Emerging Educator support page. We are excited to support teachers who are working toward full professional certification while serving students in BCSD classrooms.

If you have been hired into a certified teaching position and do not yet hold full professional certification in the field you are teaching, this page is for you. Here you will find required timelines, next steps, reporting responsibilities, and district support resources to help you move toward full certification.

Start Here: Who Is an Emerging Educator?

You are an Emerging Educator if you were hired under the Strategic Waiver.

This includes educators who:

  • have a four-year degree in a field other than education and are completing certification requirements while teaching,
  • are serving as an Intern Teacher, or
  • are an education major in your senior year, have passed the GACE, and have been hired as the teacher of record.

If you are unsure whether you were hired under the Strategic Waiver, please contact Holly Huynh or Melanie Brown for guidance.

Emerging Educator Quick Facts

The three most important things to know

  1. You must enroll in a GaPSC-approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP) within 1 year of your hire date.

  2. You must complete certification requirements within 3 years.
  3. You must report key milestones to BCSD, including enrollment, testing progress, and program completion.

Your Roadmap

Step 1: Review the Emerging Educator Protocol

Before doing anything else, review the BCSD Emerging Educator Protocol so that you understand district expectations, required timelines, and available support.

Linked resource: Emerging Educator Protocol.pdf

Step 2: Determine Your Certification Pathway

Different Emerging Educators may be on different routes to certification. Use the guidance below to identify your likely next step.

  • I already know I need an EPP / certification program.

Your next step is to research and enroll in a GaPSC-approved Educator Preparation Program that aligns with your certification field and pathway.

  • I still need to pass the GACE.

Review the GACE requirements for your content area and make a plan for testing as soon as possible. BCSD provides guidance and limited reimbursement support for eligible first attempts.

  • I am already enrolled in a program.

Make sure BCSD has been notified of your enrollment and continue monitoring your progress toward completion.

  • I am not sure which pathway applies to me.

Attend Certification Office Hours, contact the Certification Office, or participate in an EPP support session so we can help you determine the best next step.

Your Timeline

At Hire / First 30 Days

  • Review the Emerging Educator Protocol

  • Determine your certification pathway
  • Review GACE requirements, if applicable
  • Attend the next Certification Information Session or Office Hours as needed

Within Your First Semester

  • Apply to or enroll in a GaPSC-approved EPP
  • Submit required documentation to BCSD
  • Address testing needs and application barriers

Within 1 Year of Hire

  • Be fully enrolled in a GaPSC-approved Educator Preparation Program

Years 1–3

  • Maintain progress in your EPP
  • Submit required milestone updates
  • Complete all certification requirements within the district and GaPSC timeline

Required Reporting Responsibilities

Please notify BCSD at key milestones in your certification journey.

Notify BCSD when you:

Required contacts:

  • Holly Huynh, Director of Talent Management         
  • Melanie Brown, Certification Administrator

What You Need to Send BCSD

Depending on your pathway, BCSD may need:

  • proof of EPP enrollment,

  • passing score reports or testing updates,
  • program completion documentation,
  • certification documents, and
  • other required forms or status updates.

For certification uploads, forms, and broader certification resources, please visit Certification Corner.

Linked resource: Certification Corner

District Support for Emerging Educators

Required Professional Learning for First-Year Emerging Educators

All first-year Emerging Educators are expected to participate in ongoing professional learning. If you have been with the district longer than one year, you are not required to attend these sessions unless otherwise directed by your principal.

All trainings will be held at the Professional Learning Center (PLC), 2003 Riverside Drive, from 8:00 AM–4:00 PM. Please plan accordingly.

K-2 and 9-12 teachers will attend the morning sessions from 8:00-11:30.

3-5 and 6-8 teachers will attend the afternoon sessions from 12:00-3:30. 

Training Dates:

  • September 1
  • January 12
  • March 9

Required Certification Information Sessions

All Certification Information Sessions will be held at the Thompson Complex (Training Room 102), 1210 Shurling Drive, from 3:30–5:30 PM.

These sessions are required for any Emerging Educator who is not yet enrolled in an approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP). Partnering EPPs will be in attendance to answer questions about their programs, enrollment requirements, and next steps. To accommodate varying release times from schools, these sessions are designed as drop-in events.

Session Dates:

  • August 26
  • November 18
  • April 28

Need Help Preparing for the GACE? 

Study.com can help! BCSD provides Emerging Educators with access to Study.com GACE Prep and Practice Resources. Participants receive four months of unlimited access, and a limited number of licenses are available each semester.

Learn More

Explore Educator Preparation Programs

Ready to take the next step toward certification? Visit the BCSD EPP Hub to explore Educator Preparation Programs offered by our college and university partners. Compare program options, learn more about admission requirements, and find a pathway that works for you.

EPP Hub

Virtual EPP Support Sessions

BCSD also offers virtual EPP support sessions, each featuring one of our partnering Educator Preparation Programs. While these sessions are not required, they provide another opportunity to ask questions directly to programs you may be considering and learn more about their enrollment process, program structure, and requirements.

These sessions will be held virtually during Certification Office Hours on the last Wednesday of the month from 4:00–5:00 PM using the Certification Office Hours link.

Session Schedule:

  • July 29 - Wesleyan
  • September 30 – Teach First - UWF
  • October 28 – Moreland University
  • December – No meeting
  • January 27 – TAPP
  • February 24 – Georgia College
  • March 31 – MGA

Linked resource: Certification Office Hours

Weekly Certification Office Hours

BCSD offers weekly virtual Certification Office Hours to provide Emerging Educators with ongoing support throughout the certification process. Office Hours are a time to ask questions, troubleshoot challenges, and receive one-on-one guidance related to certification requirements, testing, program selection, enrollment, reporting responsibilities, and next steps. Whether you need help understanding your pathway, determining what to do next, or working through a barrier, Office Hours are a convenient opportunity to connect directly with the Certification Office for support.

Wednesdays | 4:00–5:00 PM | Teams

Linked resource: Certification Office Hours

Certification Corner

Use Certification Corner for:

  • certification office forms and uploads,
  • MyPSC / GaPSC links, and
  • broader certification guidance.

Certification Corner

Helpful Resources

Need Help?

If you are unsure what to do next, please do not wait until you are behind. We are here to help.

Contact the Certification Office:

You may also attend Certification Office Hours for additional support.