Day-to-Day Schedule
Pay Schedule
Teacher pay is detailed in the linked document, and you can refer to our most recent pay schedule on our website or in CAST (Connecting ACCESS Staff and Teachers). The pay schedule is subject to yearly changes.
Equipment Needed
ACCESS teachers need a strong internet connection, a computer that connects to the internet and the ability to download and open external documents including PDFs and Microsoft Office files.
We also recommend having speakers and a microphone (either as part of a headset or a dedicated mic) in order to participate fully in remote meetings with ACCESS Support Center staff or record any needed supplementary materials.
Class Size
- Class size regulations shall be the same as for courses not taught via virtual learning. ACCESS seeks to maintain a teacher-pupil ratio of 1:29 or 750 student contacts per week. This guideline is designed to ensure that each teacher is able to respond adequately to student work and individual needs.
- The maximum number of enrollments for an ACCESS teacher to have at any one time during the school year will be as follows:
- Adjunct teacher – 60 traditional schedule enrollments, 60 virtual classroom instruction enrollments or 40 block schedule enrollments.
- Full-time (or retired) teacher – 150 traditional schedule enrollments, 150 virtual classroom instruction enrollments or 100 block schedule enrollments.
- If a teacher has a combination of enrollment types, the maximum will be determined by adding the traditional schedule enrollments to the virtual classroom instruction enrollments, plus 1.5 times the number of block enrollments. The total will not exceed the 150-student limit for a full-time teacher and 60 for an adjunct teacher. Support centers may choose smaller limits, but these maximums will be enforced.
Asynchronous Environment
ACCESS operates on an asynchronous learning model, meaning there is no livestreamed content and students and teachers are not required to be active in the course at the same designated times every day. This model allows students more flexibility in being adaptable to their school’s normal schedule and allows teachers more flexibility in grading and managing their own work time.
Schoology (General)
- Schoology is the current ACCESS learning management system, used for hosting course content including tests, quizzes, assignments and discussions.
- Schoology Support
PowerSchool (General)
- PowerSchool is the program the state of Alabama uses to view and process student grades, sometimes in coordination with Schoology.
- PowerSchool Support
Opportunities
Become a Subject Matter Expert
Mentor Teachers
Teachers new to ACCESS Virtual Learning will be assigned a staff mentor. The staff mentor will provide direction and supervision as needed.
New ACCESS teachers are expected to participate in additional required training provided by regional support centers via web conferencing, telephone, web-based instruction course shells and other instructional resources.
Professional Development Opportunities
New teachers are required to complete 6 hours of professional development by the end of May if they teach for the full academic year. Returning teachers are required to complete 2 hours of PD each academic year by the end of April. ACCESS Support Centers host live PD sessions from August to May, and these sessions are recorded so that teachers are able to complete their hours even if they aren’t able to attend sessions live. To receive PD credit, teachers must register on PowerSchool PL, complete the PD either by attending or viewing the live recording, and answer the PD quiz questions on the ALSDE Schoology Teaching and Learning site.
Is ACCESS right for you?
Teacher Expectations
- Flexibility: Flexibility is an essential skill for ACCESS teachers. Students may be working from various locations at various times, and teachers may need to be flexible with pacing and other aspects of their courses.
- Adaptability: ACCESS teachers need to be adaptable to be successful. Along with its rewards, virtual learning can come with new challenges!
- Communication: ACCESS teachers should be comfortable communicating with students, facilitators, administrators, counselors, parents and ACCESS staff regularly via email, phone and through Schoology.
- Grading Policy: ACCESS teachers are responsible for grading assignments according to ACCESS policy and syncing Schoology grades to PowerSchool for reporting.
- Student Engagement: ACCESS teachers teach students who are new to online learning as well as students who have taken many online courses already, and ACCESS teachers need to be able to engage students from all backgrounds in online learning.
- Interpersonal Skills: ACCESS teachers may need to communicate with facilitators, counselors, administrators and parents.
- Digital Literacy: ACCESS teachers need to be digitally literate, familiar with communicating over email and a learning management system, and familiar with or able to learn to use software including Schoology and PowerSchool.
- Internet Access: ACCESS teachers need a strong and reliable internet connection in order to teach effectively.
