New Teachers - The Job

The Profession        The Subject       The Job       The Basics

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*	AIPs (Academic Improvement Plan)
	During the first quarter of each school year, core subject teachers will be asked to go through a list of students in their classes, and asked to recommend students for A.I.P.s An A.I.P. is an academic individual plan, and is part of the safety nets available at each school in Duval County.  An A.I.P. is an academic plan for a student who is not part of E.S.E. (Exceptional Students Education), but is having academic problems in your class.  After going through your list of students and identifying students that you feel need an A.I.P., you’ll be asked to fill out an A.I.P. for each student identified.  Then you will be responsible for making contact with the student’s parents to discuss the A.I.P. and, specifically, what measures you have come up with to assist their child in becoming a successful student in your class.  At the end of each year, you will complete the A.I.P., documenting all the measures that you took in assisting your student and the degree of success that they had this year in your class.  Finally, you will make a recommendation to waive or continue future remediation with this student.
*	Collecting Money
	At any time that you collect money from a student for a school activity, you must contact your school bookkeeper.   Some schools vary in the procedures required for particular activities, so it is imperative to visit your bookkeeper for specific instructions in the steps to follow for any type of school activity or fundraiser.
*	Fire Drills
	Each faculty and staff member is issued an evacuation plan for his/her area at the beginning of the school year.  It is important to familiarize yourself and your students with the evacuation route and evacuation procedures.  During a fire drill or emergency evacuation, it is important to remember the following steps. When the fire alarm goes off, quickly gather your roll book, line your students up, and exit your room using your school’s evacuation plan.  Make sure that these students exit the building quickly and quietly, and remain with them as they wait in their designated area, and as they return to the building.  You must have your roll book with you during any evacuation or drill.  As soon as you reach your designated evacuation area, take roll.  It is your responsibility to account for all of your students. Keep your students quiet and calm during the drill or evacuation.  After the drill or “all clear” is announced, lead your students back to class in an orderly fashion.  As soon as you return to class with your students, take roll again, and make sure that all of your students are present.
*	Tornado Drills
	In the event of a weather-related emergency, it is vital that you take steps to protect yourself and your students.  Check with your school administration for detailed emergency information for your classroom.  Here are some general guidelines. Keep roll book with you at all times, and report any missing students. Move children to “safe area”- against the inside walls of a hallway or classroom without windows is your first choice. Close all doors and windows. If severe weather/tornado is imminent, have students squat under desk with heads covered until the threat passes. Remain until “all clear” is sounded.
*	Important Contact Information
	Click here to view frequently called numbers.
*	Important Dates
	Click here to view the School Calendar with student holidays, teacher holidays, and in-service days, planning days and other school related dates.
*	Open House
	Open House is your first chance to make a great impression and establish a strong alliance with your students’ parents.  Usually, Open House takes place during the first few weeks of school.  As the saying goes, first impressions are very important.  Pre-planning.  Take time to call all of your homeroom students’ parents and personally invite them to Open House.  Dress to impress. This is not the day to wear your jeans and Motley Crue T-shirt.  A nice business suit or dress creates the image of a professional educator who strives to make a difference in the lives of his/her students.    Be prepared.  Parents want to know what your class is about, what you will be teaching, your grading polices, discipline style, etc.  Have a class syllabus ready to pass out to your parents that covers this information, as well as a contact number where you can be reached.  In addition, keep a sign-in sheet of parents who attended Open House.  This is part of your documentation process and essential as the first type of communication between home and school.
*	Parent Communication
	Communication between parents and teachers is essential.  All teachers are required to maintain contact with their students’ parents through-out the school year.  There are several tools available to maintain strong parental contact. Midterm Progress Reports:  These reports are issued at the midpoint of each quarter, and apprise parents of their children’s current academic status. Progress Reports:  These can be issued any time during the year highlighting the performance of a student. Scholarship Warnings:  These can be issued at any time during the quarter when a student’s academic progress falls to a “D” or lower.  Report Cards:  These reports are issued at the end of each quarter. Other tools vital to maintaining parental communication include phone conferences, parent/teacher conferences, and parental newsletters (notes), and teacher websites.  All of these forms of parental communication should be documented by the teacher.  Always have your students sign for these items, and keep a running record of all attempts to make parental contact.  Unfortunately, you may be called upon to prove that you have made parental contact.  At this time, your record will prove to be invaluable.  Documentation is imperative!
*	Classroom Management
	You are responsible for our country’s greatest commodity: its youth.  As a teacher, it important to maintain a sense of professionalism regarding your students, but it is also important to develop a rapport as well.  You cannot be their buddy, nor can you be a bloodless taskmaster.  Find a happy medium that is comfortable for you, your professional integrity, and teaching style.  The first weeks of school are vital for establishing control over a classroom.  This means establishing a daily routine, a set of class rules, and consequences.  Most importantly, establish consistency!  From the first day of school until the last day of school, establish and follow with firm consistency a simple set of rules and consequences.  Your classroom discipline problems will be non-existent, and you can concentrate on curriculum and instruction.  A great resource that is available through the district is a classroom management program called C.H.A.M.P.S.  It is designed to help teachers develop or fine tune an effective classroom management plan that is proactive and positive.  Workshops for C.H.A.M.P.S are available throughout the school year.  Contact your school P.D.F. (Professional Development Facilitator) or the Shultz Center at 348-5757 for a listing of dates and times.
*	Student Conferences
	One of the tools that a teacher can utilize with students prone to behavior or academic problems is the student conference.  This is where the teacher sits down with the student and discusses what the student is doing well and what they need to improve.  Then the teacher and student draw up an action plan, or contract, together as an effort to set goals for the student academically and behaviorally.  This contract is then placed as a form of documentation and as a future reference within the student’s personal folder in the teacher’s classroom.
*	The Substitute Teacher
	You are responsible for calling the Duval County Substitute Automated Management System if you plan on being absent from school.  It is very important to try to call in your absence as early as possible in order to guarantee that you have a substitute for your class.  Sometimes, however, because of emergency situations or sickness, we are unable to call in as quickly as we’d like.  If you are going to absent from school and need a substitute, contact the Substitute Automotive Management System at: 390-2820.  If you are having a problem with the substitute phone system, you can contact the Substitute Help Desk at 390-2238.  When you are planning for a substitute, it is important that they are supplied with the necessary lesson plans to carry out classroom instruction.  Some other helpful things to provide are (1)  Class Schedule (2)  Room location - ex.  bathroom, cafeteria, gym, etc. (3)  Class guidelines (4)  Contact person for assistance This is a substitute feedback form that you may find helpful when you have a substitute in the classroom.  All you have to do is save it on your computer then you can modify it and use it as you like.
*	Teacher Supply Depot
	The Teacher Supply Depot is a warehouse of reusable materials donated by businesses and community members.  These materials are distributed free to school teachers to enhance instruction in their classrooms.  Some of the items that can be found at the Teacher Supply Depot include: Art, office, paper, and science supplies Student incentives Punch-outs End cuts The warehouse is open once a month for teachers to visit.  Your school secretary will be able to provide you with a calendar of Depot Opening days.  For more information click this link or contact:  381-7480.  The Teacher Supply Deport is located at:  2525 College Street, Jacksonville, FL 32205.

The information outlined in these sections is general information.  For specific detailed information about your school, contact your school administration.



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