Administration and teacher mentors dedicate themselves to welcoming new teachers through the New Teacher Induction program (NTI).
NTI is a summer program tailored to new and incoming teachers. On August 13th through 15th, teacher mentors: Ms.Jordans, Ms.Klein, Ms.Briggs, Dr. Harvey, and others will help our new teachers learn how to effectively use our schools grading and attendance platforms, receive their new laptops, IDs, keys, and also give a tour of the school’s buildings. Overall, the goal is for new staff to get to know current staff and integrate themselves into our community.
Principal Daniel DeBryucker believes younger staff have the ability to connect and understand the role of Artificial Intelligence in education. Now that AI is introducing itself into district 204’s curriculum, these young teachers are a crucial part of guiding this platform into the lives of students. Three of the incoming staff are fresh out of college while some others are transfers. Transfer teachers come from Neuqua Valley High School and Granger Middle School. Administration expects these young teachers to bring with them a new energy and dedication.
The incoming teachers this year are filling spots of teachers who have retired, as opposed to the school typically introducing fifteen to twenty new teachers a year due to growth in enrollment. This is due to the fact that boundaries for schools have changed, therefore this incoming freshman class is a hundred less than last year’s.
Health teacher Meredith Jordan has spent five years mentoring new teachers.
“We cover everything from how to use the gradebook to what “The Mane” is. We do our best to provide them with information to help them fit in seamlessly,” Jordan said.
The program is intended to help new staff acclimate to the school environment.
“[The program is] really just getting their feet wet, because the first year is like a whirlwind,” DeBruycker said.
New teachers are often confused during their first year of teaching. Life as a student on a college campus is greatly different from that of a new teacher. Student teaching programs can prepare new staff, but only to some extent. It is challenging for young staff to rebuild and understand the new culture they are thrown into.
Having more supporters and mentors help incoming teachers see the building from a diverse viewpoint. Teachers will feel more experienced with the building and confident on their first day.
