GCH

The School Board recognizes that an appropriate orientation program can aid in the assimilation of new staff members into the school system and can also contribute to the continued growth of returning personnel. It will, therefore, be the responsibility of the Superintendent, or his designee, to provide for an annual orientation of all professional staff members.

The orientation of returning personnel will focus upon the changes which have occurred during the previous year and the general goals for the coming year.

Orientation of personnel new to the school system may extend over a longer period of time and will provide a broadly based effort to supply information and background details which will improve the new teacher’s understanding of the district’s framework—including policies of the Board, rules and regulations, and the instructional program.

The building principal or immediate supervisor shall assign a consulting teacher to every probationary teacher upon entrance of the probationary teacher into the school system. The consulting teacher, insofar as possible, shall be an experienced teacher and shall be engaged in teaching within the same grade, building, or discipline as the probationary teacher. The consulting teacher will assist the probationary teacher in acclimating to the teaching profession and the school system. The consulting teacher shall not be involved in the evaluation of the probationary teacher.

The building principal or the immediate supervisor shall orient all teachers to the evaluation procedures and standards during the first two weeks of their assignment to their respective building or program. No formal observations shall take place until such orientation has been completed.

APPROVED: October, 1994