New Huntington Teachers Participate in Orientation Activities
More than two dozen new Huntington School District teachers participated in a week of orientation activities as school officials expressed the hope that rookie faculty members enjoy long and successful careers.
At a brunch in the Huntington Intermediate School rotunda held in their honor, the new teachers met with administrators, teachers and school board members who helped kickoff the group’s introduction to the community.
“We are excited to have you here with us and happy you have come to our district to teach,” Superintendent John J. Finello said. “Ours is a challenging, but rewarding profession. We wish you good luck as you begin your career here.” Trustees and administrators told the teachers they were becoming part of a family and to never forget they have an important job to do.
The new teachers have been teamed with experienced faculty members who will serve as mentors throughout the year. Following Monday’s brunch, mentors and new teachers engaged in three hours of Project Adventure activities in the high school gym that were designed to emphasize team building, risk taking, problem solving and a lot of laughs.
Earlier in the day the group reviewed the district’s mission statement, discussed what would occur during the opening days of the school year, discussed classroom management techniques and general procedures and studied the New York State Standards.
Tuesday morning featured the “Employees First Program,” with presentations by assistant superintendents David H. Grackin (finance), Joseph Giani (personnel) and Michael O’Brien (curriculum and instruction), along with Dee Weinstock, president of the Associated Teachers of Huntington and Peggy Boyd, director of Huntington’s Family Service League. Following lunch, Project Adventure activities filled the afternoon hours.
On Wednesday the new faculty members attended a presentation by Teacher Center Director Joann Kavanagh and Teacher Center Board of Directors member Georganne White on the mentoring program, and a separate talk by School Heritage Museum Curator Jack Abrams, who brought the teachers through centuries of artifacts and history. The teachers also participated in three hours of instruction on internet resources and programs that can be utilized to enhance classroom education.
On Thursday, the new teachers met with department directors and their building principals and became better acquainted with their classrooms and schedules. On Friday the teachers spend additional time in their assigned buildings and worked in their classrooms, meeting with new colleagues.
Mentors will meet with the new teachers throughout the coming year.
All graphics, photographs, and text appearing on the Huntington Public Schools home page and subsequent official web pages are protected by copyright. Redistribution or commercial use is prohibited without express written permission. Comments or Questions? email the Public Information Office