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Teachers new to District 86 learn the basics
Hinsdale Central High School Assistant Principal John Bruesch speaks to teachers during Tuesday's orientation. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: September 17, 2012 12:10PM
DARIEN — Eighteen new teachers have joined Hinsdale High School District 86 this year. They’ve already begun working, participating in three days of orientation workshops from Monday to Wednesday.
“Their days are packed,” said District 86 Superintendent Nicholas Wahl.
The workshops cover everything from how to connect their computers to the wireless projector in the classroom to where the lunchroom is.
“Everyone gets the same training, whether they are new to the profession or new to the district,” said Bruce Law, the district’s assistant superintendent for instruction.
The first day is devoted to introducing the teachers to the computer software they will use.
“Everyone comes in with different levels of technology knowledge,” Law said. “When I started teaching, they gave you a grade book and you wrote all the students’ names in by hand. Now all that’s on the computer.”
The new teachers, taught by experienced District 86 teachers, practiced recording student attendance, grades and other data in their computers. The first day of school is Aug. 22.
They won’t be left on their own,” Law said. “There’ll be techs in the building to help them and opportunities to follow up.”
The third day of their orientation the teachers spend in the schools where they will teach.
“The focus is to acclimate them to the building,” Law said. “They need to know, ‘where is my mailbox? If I need to make copies, how do I do that? Where is the lunchroom? Where do I park?,” the practical bits of information anyone starting a new job needs to learn.
