PPS Background Checks

The following resources and information only applies to Teacher Candidates who have been selected and placed in PPS for their student teaching experience. 

Background Checks

Once you have cleared your TSPC fingerprint based background check, your next step is to send in your completed Criminal History Verification Form here to the PPS Security Services department via backgroundcheck@pps.net. If you have not received placement confirmation from your University Placement Coordinator, you are not eligible to request a background check from Security Services. Please check with your school's Placement Coordinator if you are not sure if you have been placed at a PPS school and/or authorized to get a student teacher badge. Your background check can only be processed within 60 days of your start date. If you submit materials to Security Services earlier than this, you will likely be asked to resubmit within the appropriate time frame. For more detailed step- by-step instructions, please see the attached PDF.

Additional Information:

• While candidates must provide their full legal name for the background check, if they go by another preferred first name that they would like reflected on their ID badge, please let the Security Services office know.

Note: failure to follow these directions correctly may cause significant delays in getting the background check completed and could result in you missing valuable time in the classroom. If you have questions about the background check process please reach out to backgroundcheck@pps.net. 

IT Accounts

Once cleared with Security Services, a PPS account will be created for the Candidate, which will give them access to their Google account and Pepper.  A notification email will be sent to them once their account has been created.

Synergy

Synergy is our Student Management System. Once their IT account is created, the Synergy team will be notified and will give the Candidate their Synergy credentials. Candidates will receive a notification email once this occurs. Candidates will need to contact their Building Administrator’s Secretary to request access to their students’ records (attendance, grades, etc.). 

Pepper

Teacher Candidates will gain access to their Pepper account once their IT account is provisioned. Within 30 days of their start date, Candidates will need to complete the following Mandatory Online Trainings in Pepper. Detailed instructions will be provided with Teacher Candidates in the Fall.

List of Mandatory Trainings:

• (PC1051) Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting

• (PC1052) Discrimination, Harassment, Bullying and Retaliation

• (PC1053) Emergency Preparedness Training

• (PC1054) Employee Handbook

• (PC1055) Supporting Students and Families Experiencing Homelessness

• (PC1056) Risk Management and Hazard Communication

• (PC1057) Adult Sexual Misconduct: Staff to Student/ Title IX

• (PC1058) Professional Conduct Training

• (PC1059) Information Security Awareness training

• (PC1060) School Suicide Prevention Training

• (PC1061) Heat Illness Prevention Training

• (PC1062) Wildfire Smoke Protection Training