Human Resources

Providing information and support for ACPS employees, retirees and applicants

The Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Department of Human Resources is dedicated to supporting our employees, retirees and applicants. The Department is overseen by the chief of staff.

The Department of Human Resources recruits, selects, develops and retains exceptional employees who exemplify the vision and goals of ACPS in meeting the educational, emotional, and social needs of the students of the City of Alexandria.

The Department also handles all aspects of personnel and payroll programs including Employee Engagement and Relations, Compensation and Benefits, and the Office of Recruitment.

Important Information

• Audit of the Human Resources Department
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Wellness Program
• Forms
• Internships
• Licensing and Certification
• Staff Perks
• Work Calendars

Audit of the Human Resources Department

As of April 2021, HR has completed 18 of 25 recommendations listed in the HR Audit. Please see the reports as shown below.

The HR Audit Updates to the ACPS Board of Education:

• HR Audit Update - April 22, 2021
• HR Audit Update - December 4, 2020
• HR Audit Update - June 5, 2020
• HR Audit Update - September 26, 2019
• HR Audit Update - June 6, 2019
• Employee Retention - March 1, 2019
• HR Audit Update - February 7, 2019
• Human Resources Audit Report - October 11, 2018

Employee Assistance Program

Employee support, resources and information

The Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Employee Assistance Program provides support, resources, and information for personal and work-life issues. Confidential services are available to employees and their dependents, including immediate, no-cost assistance for emotional or work-life counseling, financial information, and legal support and resources. The ACPS Employee Assistance Program is through The Hartford.

Call ComPsych Guidance Resources at 800-327-1850, or go online to the GuidanceResources® Online webpage, for confidential assistance.

• Coronavirus webinar with coping tips
• Health and safety resources
• A webinar to help navigate remote work and tips for staying healthy at work
• Utilizing your Ability Assist program
• An interactive experience to employees who are feeling stressed about recent events
• Assistance navigating financial resiliency

Travel Assistance and Identity Theft Protection Services:

• Employee Assistance Program (PDF)
• Employee Assistance Program - Spanish (PDF)
• Guidance Resources Overview (PPT)
• 24/7 Support, Resources & Information (PDF)
• 24/7 Support, Resources & Information - Spanish (PDF)
• Travel Assistance and Identity Theft Brochure (PDF)

Employee Wellness Program

ACPS Finding Fit is an Employee Wellness Program that provides resources and encourages employees to live a healthy and active lifestyle.

• Review the Taking Care of Yourself webinar that was offered in November by Kaiser Permanente. You must register to view the webinar.
• Review the Chair Yoga webinar, free for all employees: Chair Yoga
• Physical activity and brain function are connected for students of all ages. Learn techniques to keep students active and engaged with Running Brooke - Move2Learn-at-Home.
• Kaiser Permanente is offering Mindful Mondays (PDF).
• Kaiser Permanente is offering Wellbeing Wednesdays (PDF).

Employee Assistance Program

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) offers an Employee Assistance Program through Hartford. This program, Ability Assist Counseling Services, offers immediate, no-cost assistance for emotional or work-life counseling, financial information, and legal support and resources: 1-800-96-HELPS (1-800-964-3577).

Learn about the importance of resilience and managing your daily stresses: What is Resilience (PDF) and Resilience-Building Techniques (PDF).

The EAP also has helpful information to help prepare to return to in-person instruction: Back to School (PDF).

Health Insurance Carrier Wellness Resources

Free for Kaiser members

Find health guides on fitness, nutrition and recipes, preventive care, weight management, and more on the Kaiser website: Kaiser Health and Wellness

Services for United Healthcare members

• Not sure where to start? Take the Total Health Assessment Survey to help you see the big picture of your health and select focus areas to target for improvement: Total Health Assessment (PDF)
• Access the Calm app to help you work self-care techniques: Calm App (PDF)
  • Information about logging in to the Calm app here: Calm App Login (PDF)
  • Frequently Asked Questions about Wellness Coaching (PDF)

  Forms

  Internships

  Student teacher internship information

  Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) is committed to working with our academic institutional partners to optimize the educational experiences of students who are training to become professional educators, administrators or student support services staff.

  Internships, practicums and student teaching assignments are temporary arrangements and may end at any time at the sole administrative discretion of ACPS.

  Formal Request for Teacher Internship

  ACPS requires a formal request from the college/university's placement coordinator. The coordinator shall submit the formal request on behalf of the student.

  Supervising an intern is voluntary; therefore, we cannot guarantee a placement. Please allow us time to find your assignment of a suitable field supervisor. If and when an ACPS staff member agrees to supervise the fieldwork and meets the university's criteria, all parties will be notified with a confirmation email by the appropriate department lead. Please advise students not to arrange their own placements.
  

  Important Dates

  • Fall semester: Submit requests beginning on April 1 with a cut-off date of June 1.*
  • Spring semester: Submit requests beginning on Nov. 1 with a cut-off date of Jan. 31.*

  *First consideration for the placement of student teachers and practicum students/interns shall be given to students whose formal request is received by the due date. Late applications or requests will be considered case-by-case.

  Licensing and Certification

  Licensure information and services

  The Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Licensure unit within the Department of Human Resources works directly with all licensed educators and serves as a liaison to the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to provide multiple licensure services.

  The Licensure Unit provides support in the following areas:

  • Employment Screening
  • New Hire Licensing
  • Renewal of 5-year Educator License
  • Adding a degree and/or Endorsement(s) to Educator License
  • Guidance on VDOE Regulations
  • Salary Improvement for ACPS Licensed Educators
  • Student Internships

  To learn more about the VDOE licensure requirements and to access VDOE forms, please visit the VDOE’s licensure website.

  Details about the licensure process and licensure forms can be accessed by ACPS employees in Canvas.

  If you have questions regarding licensure, please email the Licensure Team at licensure@acps.k12.va.us.

  Staff Perks

  ACPS employees benefit from the following free perks:

  PerkSpot Employee Discounts

  PerkSpot is the source for ACPS staff discounts on thousands of products and services. Save on restaurants, groceries, car maintenance, and more. To access the discounts, sign up online at acps.perkspot.com and follow these steps:

  1. Set up a username and password. You can use your personal or work email address.
  2. Indicate your interests
  3. Opt-in for daily or weekly emails
  4. Search offers and discounts

  Free Use of Alexandria Recreation Centers

  All gyms at the recreation centers in the City of Alexandria, including the pool at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center, are free to ACPS staff. ACPS employees must sign in at the front desk and show their badge in order to use the facility. View a list of all the recreational centers in Alexandria.

  $45 Monthly Transportation Subsidy

  ACPS employees may be able to receive a $45 (up from $40) monthly subsidy in transportation benefits. The City of Alexandria provides a variety of incentive programs to encourage employees to walk, bike, vanpool, carpool or take transit to work. For detailed information on these programs, or for commute assistance, please contact the City of Alexandria's GO Alex Program at 703-746-4084 or visit the GO Alex website.

  For information on eligibility requirements, download the Transportation Benefits Application (PDF).

  Free Use of the Gym at Braddock Place for Full-time Central Office Employees

  If you work at Central Office full-time and have a building fob, you are eligible to use the gym located in the courtyard directly across from Sofia's cafe. The gym is open 24 hours a day. Please see Telly Byrd to request an application for access using your ACPS fob.

  Affordable Housing

  The City of Alexandria Office of Housing is now marketing Affordable Homeownership Units for first-time homebuyers who live or work in the City of Alexandria. For more information on the City's home purchase assistance resources and to learn about upcoming properties, visit the City of Alexandria Affordable Housing webpage.

  Teacher Loan Forgiveness

  The Federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program is one of three loan forgiveness programs available to teachers. Under the program, a teacher who has taught full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in certain elementary and secondary schools and educational service agencies that serve low-income families, and meets other qualifications, may be eligible for forgiveness on certain Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, as well as Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans. For more details, see Teacher Loan Forgiveness on the Virginia Department of Education website.