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As the nation's eleventh largest school district, Dallas Independent School District serves more than 160,000 students who come from homes where 58 different languages are spoken.  Operating with a $1 billion dollar budget, DISD employs 18,613 employees including 10,000 teachers in 220 schools

Tools For Success Orientation Prepares New DISD Teachers For Classroom

26 Jul 2000

For three days, the new teachers hired by the Dallas Independent School District return to the classroom to receive additional training that will help them become more effective in educating students.

The orientation, designed for beginning and veteran teachers who are new to the district, is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 2-4 at Skyline High School, 7777 Forney Road. Providing support for new employees, the orientation familiarizes teachers with the DISD policies and procedures and introduces them to the subject or grade level curricular materials. By sponsoring the new teacher orientation, DISD hopes to ensure teacher and student success, said Shirley Hawkins, executive director–PreK-12 Professional Development.

“We are aiming to increase student achievement in Dallas Independent School District,” Hawkins said. “Any tools that teachers have to assist them in working toward that goal is vital. The new teacher orientation is one source for teachers to receive some of those tools.”

District officials expect more than 700 teachers to attend the three day orientation. Approximately 200 new teachers have already completed their orientation held earlier this summer.

During the first day of the orientation, teachers will attend six one-hour sessions including “Reaching to Teach in a Multicultural Nation” and “Classroom Management.” Hawkins said her staff included sessions dealing with classsroom management because it focuses on the main objective of the orientation: “giving the new teachers to the district some of the principles that will help them be successful in the classroom.”

“The session covers the key principles of classroom management such as first day activities, organizing your classroom and establishing classroom rules and procedures,” Hawkins added. Day two of the orientation focuses on curricular materials. On day three, the new teachers report to district offices in the geographic areas in which they will be teaching.

The training has been tailored to address the needs of both beginning and experienced teachers. In addition to the three days at the beginning of the year, teachers will receive on-going training, Hawkins said.

“Through the district's beginning teacher support program, beginning teachers are assigned mentors who assist them with curriculum, policy and procedures throughout the year,” she said. “The mentors also help the new teachers access resources from the district that will benefit them in the classroom.”

All teachers will report to their school assignment Wednesday, Aug. 9, for three days of staff development and classroom preparation. The first day of classes for students is Monday, Aug. 14.