New Teacher Orientation Slated for Next Week
Perhaps even more so than their more experienced colleagues, new teachers need to be able to jump off to a successful start to the new school year. Helping these incoming faculty members do just that is the focus of the Huntington School District's orientation program, which will be held next week.
The teachers have been hired to fill various positions left vacant by resignations and retirements or in response to increased student course enrollment. The new faculty members will begin the orientation by gathering in the Jack Abrams School library for a breakfast sponsored by the Associated Teachers of Huntington.
Superintendent James W. Polansky will speak during the induction program, as will Huntington High School Principal Dr. Carmela Leonardi and J. Taylor Finley Middle School Principal John Amato. Dr. Kenneth A. Card, Jr., assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, is scheduled to make a presentation on "Teaching in Huntington."
The Employees First program will include segments on personnel, payroll and benefits topics. There will be a 60-minute long opportunity to meet with district directors and department chairpersons. Joan Fretz, director of fine and performing arts will make a presentation on "Influencing Student Success through Messages and Mindsets."
The new teachers will also learn more about the district's professional development workshop series during the orientation program. The new employees will gather together as a group on Sept. 12 ("Your Digital Connection" – e-mail, automated substitute placement and absence management program, My Learning Plan), Oct. 11 ("Classroom Management"), Nov. 14 ("Using Data to Inform Instruction") and Dec. 12 ("Your Digital Portfolio") to discuss assorted topics related to their teaching career in Huntington.