The SCEA Advocacy Series, June 2012
New to Your School? Are you new to South Carolina, your district or your school? Each school has its own unique culture of faculty, staff, students and parents. We hope the information in this publication will help you prepare yourself and get off on the right foot.
Introd uction A teacher’s first impression of a new school, administration, and co-workers is strongly influenced by the impressions formed during the first week, and in particular by those of the first day with students. Likewise, the administration, faculty and staff form first impressions of new employees. Welcome back-to-school events or orientations for faculty and staff are important for employees who are new to the school. Teachers from other states have a unique challenge because of differences in culture, curriculum, teaching styles and all of those things that make one state different from another. We hope this information will help you make the transition.
Firs t Yea r Teachers
New to South Carolina?
Congratulations for choosing teaching as your profession. South Carolina needs educators like you to inspire, motivate, and shape our children into tomorrow’s leaders. You are beginning an exciting journey, but a very demanding one. Here are ideas to get you ready.
Each state has a religious, political, social, and economic culture that make it unique from other states. If you are new to South Carolina, give yourself enough time to set up your new home, handle personal financial matters, and familiarize yourself with the area. A great site to review is www.sciway.net. If you are from a bargaining or “union” state, you need to know that SC does not have a bargaining law for teachers. However, you do have rights and The SCEA/NEA is your voice in SC. We urge every school employee to be a member of The SCEA/NEA. While you watch out for them, we’ll watch out for you. To join, go to www.thescea.org/join.
Organize your papers. You never know when you may have to produce a document related to your job. Get your classroom in order. Make it inviting! Make sure equipment and technology is working. Use caution when bringing personal furniture, appliances or equipment to school. Get permission. Be prepared for special students and gifted students. You may have students with special learning problems or physical handicaps. Plan from the beginning how you will deal with them in the best interests of the student, yourself, and the rest of the class. Arrange your classroom so you have visual contact with students at all times. Have lesson plans ready for the first few weeks. Communicate with parents. Let parents know that you are available and how to reach you. If you are required to maintain a web page, get it up and running and keep it current. Join The SCEA - your professional partner.
Firs t Wee k Sur v ival Kit Pencils Paper Towels Journal for Your Notes Cough Drops Tissues Waterless Hand Soap Cookies or Crackers Bottled Water Band-Aids A sense of humor!
Visit Us Online at www.thescea.org 1
The SCEA Advocacy Series, June 2012
The More You Know Teachers sometimes find themselves in the midst of conflict because of things they didn’t know. School employees are held accountable for knowing many things that they are never told. This can be especially problematic for teachers who are new to a school. Teachers can avoid problems by becoming familiar with the following policies and procedures:
Employment Contract - hopefully a teacher read and understood his/her contract before signing it. Any questions or lack of clarity should be cleared up as quickly as possible. It is very important to understand how to fulfill the terms of the contract.
Employee Handbook - Some districts or schools have an employee handbook. Read it carefully and comply.
Board Policies - Each school district has a set of policies established by the school board. School employees can be terminated if they violate those policies. Teachers who are members of The SCEA should contact us for help in interpreting the policies.
Student Discipline Policy - Teachers frequently complain about chronically disruptive students and a lack of support by administration. Review the policy and follow it.
School Crisis Plan—School employees should be knowledgeable of the school’s crisis plan to ensure everyone’s safety.
Bloodborne Pathogens—Students cut by scissors during a class activity is just one of many examples of the importance of knowing how to handle exposure to bodily fluids. This policy is critical to safety.
School website—A district or school web site can provide a wealth of information.
Sub System—Teachers should become familiar with this policy before there is a need for a Sub.
School Calendar—The school calendar is a resource for planning personal commitments and for knowing about school events and commitments.
Yo u r A s s i g n m e n t & C e r t i f i c a t i o n
If you are new to SC, it is important to become familiar with SC regulations. The state certification link is http://ed.sc.gov/agency/se/Educator-Certification-Recruitment-and-Preparation/Certification/. This site has a wealth of information that is easy to find.
A National Board Certified teacher can lose NBC incentive pay by transferring to a position outside of the classroom. There are a variety of positions called “coordinator”, “facilitator”, “coaches”, “specialists”, and so forth. These positions are typically not classroom positions or they may be split between traditional teaching and other duties. To receive the incentive, the educator must be school-based, non-supervisory, non-administrative, work with classroom teachers in an instructional or curriculum coordinator capacity, or any other school based personnel not requiring principal/administrative supervisory certification. Review the new contract carefully to make sure the contract type is not “administrator”. If you sign an administrator contract, you may lose your NBC incentive, regardless of whether or not you will actually handle administrator duties. 2
The SCEA Advocacy Series, June 2012
W h o ’s W h o a t S c h o o l : G e t t i n g t o K n ow E ve r yo n e Meeting colleagues... Relationships with colleagues, parents and students are important to the success of a teacher. An entire year can be off kilter if the beginning doesn’t start out right. Take some time during those first days to interact with your colleagues. Get to know them and let them get to know you. If you are new to the district or the state, talking to them and observing cultural differences can give you valuable insight. Build relationships... Be nice to the school secretary and the custodian. They know the school, the students, and the neighborhood, and they can help you. Introduce yourself... Consider a bio for your web page or your classroom. This gives your students and colleagues an opportunity to learn what they have in common with you and it will encourage relationships. Who to spend time with… As you become familiar with colleagues, learn who to avoid, who to follow, and who to go to with questions. Find a shoulder... Look for a colleague to turn to for special advice or simply to unwind. Join The SCEA! We are always there for you. We’ve got your back! Make a good first impression... Whatever else you do, give the class the impression from the beginning that you are organized, prepared and competent. Credibility is important. Deliver your best work.
Instructional Coach/Team Chairs/ Department Chairs/District Consultants... Depending on the school and district, there are staff who have been put in a leadership role. Take time to clearly understand their level of authority and be clear on protocols. Secretary/Bookkeeper… Become familiar with rules related to fund raisers, field trips, taking sick leave and so forth. These school staff can be very helpful. Also, check district policy to make sure you comply. Your Principal… The principal of a school is the “boss”. The best teacher in the world will not be successful if she cannot meet the principal’s expectations. Take time to get to know the principal, what he/she likes and dislikes and keep him/her informed and involved. Your Students: build a climate for learning… From the first day forward, you can help your students decide whether school is not important or a serious step in their future. If you give the impression that being in class is a chore for you, that attitude will be reflected in your students. Never under-estimate the sophistication of students and what they interpret from your actions. Students are usually smarter than we give them credit for. If they hear you venting frustration or talking about your administrator, it can affect their attitude towards academics. Children learn what they live and then live what they learned.
ADEPT / GBE / SAFE-T / PAS-T / Teacher Evaluation
GBE is informal evaluation; SAFE-T is formal evaluation. Both are explained in the ADEPT guidelines.
Teachers must be notified BEFORE they sign their contract and no later than May 15, that the district plans to formally evaluate them during the next school year; otherwise, they will be on GBE.
South Carolina statutes allow school districts - at their discretion - to formally evaluate all new hires, simply because they are new to the district.
For information and guidance, visit our Evaluation site at http://www.thescea.org/formalevaluation 3
The SCEA Advocacy Series, June 2012
R E S O U RC E S STATE RESOURCES SC State Department of Education Regulations SC Code of Laws SDE ADEPT, GBE, PGPs SC Code of Conduct for Teachers SC Safe Schools Act SC Student and School Safety Laws Great Resource! Certification Retirement System Teacher Employment Dismissal Act THE SCEA RESOURCES The SCEA Member Advocacy Center Site The SCEA Formal Evaluation Help Center The SCEA Employment Help Page The SCEA Legislative Center District Personnel Policies
NEA RESOURCES & ARTICLES Go to www.nea.org for more NEA - Teach But Don't Touch by NEA The SCEA: Risky Teaching Styles Back to School Guide Students Ruin My Good Lesson Plans Cool Apps for Your Classroom Eight Classroom Disrupters: Getting Them Back on Track Advice for New Special Education Teachers 30 Questions to Ask During the First Days of School Creating a Professional Image More (and Free) Cool Classroom Apps 10 Approaches to Better Discipline Fighting the Stress of Teaching to the Test 5 Tips for Better Relationships With Your Students
The Importance of Joining The SCEA / NEA The SCEA provides a wide variety of services for its members, who work in South Carolina's public schools. The SCEA's works to protect and defend public education in South Carolina.
Our staff who assist members with day to day employment problems maintain two sites, one located on our main web site and an external Member Advocacy Center site. These sites provide resources related to your employment rights and how to handle mistreatment. These are Members Only sites.
Our staff who work with professional development, workshops and conferences strive to bring relevant and interesting sessions to educators. Check out our We have a Formal Evaluation Support Center dedicatProfessional Development page. ed to ADEPT. Once you sign in to the Member Advocacy Center, you will see the link to go to the Formal Our staff who work with the Legislative program mon- Evaluation Support Center. itor the activities of our elected officials and the Statehouse, and speak up for your interests. Visit our Teaching is hard work. Why go it alone out there? We Legislative page for updates during the Legislative ses- are here for you. Take advantage of these resources, sion from January through June. join The SCEA and have a great year! The SCEA Leaders work with the Department of Edu- To Join, go to www.thescea.org/join cation, CERRA and others, to improve education in For Help, send e-mail to help@thescea.org or call SC. 800-422-7232, Ext 4004
Visit The SCEA at www.thescea.org/help ~ Visit The SCEA Member Advocacy Center at www.thescea.org/ 4