The New Kid on the Block

Beth Maffei

The New Kid on the Block
I’m not going to lie. I am really going into this school year with major nerves!  I have taught for 16 years at the same school. I even student taught there!  Crazy, right?!?! These people are my family and have seen me through all the stages of my adult life thus far.  This year I am leaving them for new opportunities that will help me advance in the county.  I have cried and prayed over this decision and am confident it is the right one but change is so hard.  Necessary but hard.  As I’ve gone through the summer my anxiety has gotten worse with each passing day and I thought about what we could do as leaders in a school to help lessen the stress and anxiety that comes with being the newbie on the block. 

I’ve started a short list but would love to hear from you. If you are a school leader, how do you help teachers new to the school acclimate to their new surroundings?  If you are a teacher, what have you seen done for new hires?

*Ask for a volunteer to contact the new hire prior to the school year.
*Ask a teammate to volunteer to be the point of contact for potential questions.
*Provide a FAQ list for the new hire when hired and not on the first day of pre-planning.
*Personally check in to see if there are any questions to be answered. 
*Have custodian reach out to see if there are any special requests that can be accommodated.

*Send a spirit item in the mail—This one may seem weird but I NEED a spirit shirt to wear the first week of school!!! 

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