This document provides information for new teachers attending the Gulf School District New Teacher Orientation on August 2, 2017. It lists key district administrators and their contact information. It also outlines certification requirements, tips for success, classroom management strategies, standards-based instruction, and the teacher development program. The overall purpose is to welcome and provide resources to new teachers in the Gulf School District.

1. Gulf School District
New Teacher Orientation
August 2, 2017

2. Superintendent’s Office
229-8256 or 639-2871
 Jim Norton, Superintendent
 Mary Lou Cumbie, Secretary
 Lori Price, Asst. Supt. for Instruction
 Susie McFarland, Secretary
 Bill Carr, Asst. Supt. for Business
 Angie Benavides, MIS Ex. Asst.
 Sissy Worley, Director of Finance
 Kathy Thomas, Payroll & Insurance

3. Office of Instructional Services
 229-6940 or 639-2422
 Lori Price, Asst. Supt. for Instruction
 Susie McFarland, Secretary
 Martha Weimorts, Director of Special Services
 Amy Palmer, Secretary
 Duane McFarland, Director of Assessment
 Debra Anderson, Personnel Specialist
Secretary

4. Technology Department
 Terry Thompson, Computer Technology
 229-8256 or 639-2871
 Marty Riley, Instructional Technology
 229-6940 or 639-2422

5. Transportation &
Maintenance Department
227-1744
 Woody Borders, Maintenance Director
 Diana Dykes, Director of Transportation

6. Certificates
 Temporary
 Requirements for Statement of
Eligibility
 General Knowledge Test
 Subject Area Exam
 Professional Ed Test
 Possible Coursework
 Professional
 Recertify every 5 years
 Through coursework or
120 in-service points or SAE
NEW REQUIRMENT- 20 hours/ 1 credit
in ESE

7. Things to ask for:
 Employee Handbook
 Student Handbook
 Course Descriptions
 Next Generation Sunshine State
Standards/ Florida Standards
 Test Item Specs for ELA, Math,
Science and EOC’s
 Classroom Emergency Procedures
Guide
 Other

8. Tips for Success
 Be friendly, but firm
 Be structured, not rigid
 Post goals
 Plan well
 Utilize resources
 Have a sense of humor
 Use walls for learning
 Have students apply knowledge
 Arrange room for learning

9. In the Classroom
 Be good classroom managers
 Eyes everywhere
 Limit referrals
 Dress appropriately
 Professional
 School t-shirts and jeans
 Contact parents
 Good news and bad

10. www.gulf.k12.fl.us

11. The Effective Teacher…
1. Is a good classroom manager
2. Designs lessons to reach
mastery
3. Has positive expectations that
all students will be successful
❖ (What you expect from your students is
exactly what you will get)

12. First Day of School
 The first day of school is the
most important day of the year!
 What you do on the first days of
school will determine your
success or failure for the year!
• (greet your students as they enter your classroom)
 You should “whip” your class
into shape by the last Friday of
the second week of school

13. Students Want To Know
 Am I in the right room?
 Where am I suppose to sit?
 What are the classroom rules?
 What will I be doing this year?
 How will I be graded?
 Who is the teacher as a person?
 Will you treat me as a human
being?

14. Learning Process
1. Good classroom management
2. Teaching how to learn
(demonstrate how to take notes…how to
write…how to read to learn…how to work
in small groups…how to find & research
information…)
3. Home & parent support
4. Teacher & Student
interrelationships

15. Creating Relationships
Students must believe
more than anything
else that the teacher
cares about them as
“HUMAN BEINGS”

16. Reasons for Assigned Seats
 Class roll is fast & easy (3 to 5 sec.)
 Students get situated quickly
and start assignment posted on
board (“Bell Ringer” posted each day)
 Easy to learn students names
 Separate problem students
 Students know when they enter
your room they are to sit and go
to work

17. Classroom Management
 One of the reasons students are
tardy is they know nothing
“important” will be going on the
first 5 to 10 minutes of your
class
 Teacher verbally calling roll
 No work posted for students
 Time is wasted

18. Classroom Management
 Students are greeted by the
teacher as they enter room
 Students sit in assigned seats
 Students start working on
assignment posted on board
 The “culture” of your classroom
is the minute students walk in
the room the class starts

19. STANDARDS
 How does the lesson’s purpose
connect to the standard for what
student should know and be
able to do?
 The PURPOSE should be clear
 The lesson should intentionally
be linked to other lessons
 Does the lesson match
purpose?

20. GREAT TEACHCERS…
 Set high expectations for ALL
students
 Have clear, written objectives &
essential questions
 Are prepared & organized
 Engage students and get them
to view issues in a variety of
ways

21. GREAT TEACHERS…
 Form strong relationships with their
students and demonstrate that they
care about them
 Are masters of their subject matter
 Communicate frequently with
parents

22. Great Teachers…
 Teach skills, mastery & passion
 Design & implement
instructional exemplars to guide
and inform teaching and
learning
 Realize that making mistakes is
the essence of learning.
Reflecting and focusing on
mistakes to become better

23. Rigorous Lessons
 If you do not “challenge” your
students, they will challenge you
 The degree into which students
enjoy “challenge” is a skill that
teachers need to learn
 Great teachers find a way to
feed their students’ passion

24. www.paec.org

25. Teacher Development Program
 Required for Beginning or First Year
Teachers in Gulf County unless:
 Has successful experience
 Successfully completed a
Beginning Teacher Program
 Successfully completed an
Alternative Certification Program
mastering the Florida Educator
Accomplished Practices

26. The role of the teacher remains
the highest calling of a free
people. To the teacher, America
entrusts her most precious
resource, her children…
Shirley Hufstedler (1925-)
American Attorney and
Former U.S. Secretary
of Education