Quality teachers in Ontario
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:37 AM PDT
It is clear quality teachers are essential to student achievement. In Ontario School District, we strive to hire the best teachers available and help our teachers improve their skills by providing high quality in- services and professional development programs. This training began before the school year started.
Over the summer a physical education leadership group met to design professional development activities, curriculum and a video for assisting elementary classroom teachers to improve their P.E. teaching skills. The leadership group’s hard work will be put in practice soon when our classroom teachers begin to receive these resources.
The 18 teachers who are newly hired in 8C attended a two and one-half day orientation at the district office in mid-August.
Topics included the district improvement plan, our literacy initiatives, positive behavior supports, culturally responsive teaching, basics on our migrant and homeless student programs, district demographics, volunteer and parent involvement information and guidelines to using district technology systems.
All of these topics were presented by building administrators and district office staff.
This was a great way for our new teachers to get to know leaders from throughout the district.
The new teacher orientation culminated with a luncheon at Alameda Elementary where the Ontario Chamber of Commerce welcomed our new staff members to the community.
Aug. 19 was our first professional development day of the year for all teaching staff. The program focused on mathematics.
In the past several years, we have made great strides in organizing an effective and successful model for teaching literacy skills.
Now we are applying similar strategies to the way we teach math. Part of this is providing training to all educators, regardless of the subject(s) they teach. One session stressed the benefits of encouraging “student discourse” to improve understanding of math concepts.
We look forward to seeing the results of our new teaching strategies in the area of mathematics.
I am always impressed that in a few short days, often filled with training and orientations, our teachers are able to organize their classrooms and prepare fun, exciting atmospheres for our students to experience on the first day of school.
We truly have quality teachers in Ontario School District.
Here’s to a great 2008-09 year!
Dr. Dennis Carter is the Ontario School District superintendent. He can be reached at (541) 889-5374
