Before the start of the school year, Gwinnett County Public Schools’ newest educators gathered at a districtwide event to learn about their new jobs and the support they will receive during their Gwinnett careers. The district’s New Teacher Orientation brought together nearly 1,200 educators, some of them fresh out of college and some with experience in other districts. While most are entering a GCPS classroom for the first time (as a teacher), those educators who were hired mid-year also attended the event. The day-long orientation included remarks from district, business, and community leaders as well as sessions on the district’s culture of teaching and learning, the critical role teachers play in supporting students on their quest to success, and more about GCPS’ curriculum, evaluation system, and instructional initiatives. In the second day of the orientation, new teachers convened for grade-level and curriculum-specific professional learning sessions where they learned about the digital and print resources provided by the district to support their teaching and learning efforts. These sessions are part of GCPS’ efforts to create a continual learning community that supports teachers, providing the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to be successful.
Not all 'new kids' are kids…
