Rockingham County Public Schools

Dr. Carol Fenn, Superintendent, welcomes the new teachers to Rockingham County Public Schools.

Dr. Suzan Otto, Executive Director for Human Resources, speaks to the group.

Nearly 100 new teachers for the 2007-2008 school year gathered for New Teacher Orientation from August 13 - 15. Dr. Suzan Otto, Executive Director of Human Resources, directed the newly hired personnel through their first days of employment with RCPS. The program for August 13 included a welcome from Dr. Otto, Division Superintendent Dr. Carol Fenn, and 2007 Teacher of the Year Cindy Ferek.

The group then heard about technology in RCPS, learned about the RCPS FirstClass E-mail system, took a quick tour of the new RCPS website, and were encouraged to integrate technology with instruction by Joe Hill, Director of Math and Technology. Afterwards, the group met the Rockingham County School Board. New teachers also learned about the RCPS Benefits program, with information provided by Fran Justice from Layman, Diener, and Borntrager, Wayne Titmus from United Concordia, and Carrie Lucchetti from Southern Health Insurance. The group also met Payroll staff members Jim Almendinger, Susan Early, Jenny Meyerhoeffer, and Tommi Whetzel. Additional benefits information was provided by Dr. Otto and HR Staff members Dixie Davis, Brenda Moyers, Mary Lou Nipe, and Marcy Shirkey.

New John C. Myers Elementary teacher, Erin Branner, introduces herself to the group.	Sarah Hartley comes to Rockingham County to teach Physical Education at Peak View Elementary.

The program for August 14 included meeting the RCPS Central Office Instructional Staff including remarks by Ed Smith, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction. This was followed by a program presented by Kim Tate (Broadway High School) and Cheryl Reynolds (Montevideo Middle School) entitled Strategic Teaching and Learning. After meeting with the mentor specialists, the teachers heard a presentation by Deputy Corrie Bauserman from the Combined Harrisonburg and Rockingham Gang Enforcement Taskforce about recognition and identification of gang related activities. Then, the teachers participated in Leading for Learning presented by Dr. Suzan Otto and Dr. Dixie Davis. The day concluded with information provided by the RCEA from Kishia Nicholas and Susan Pollard.

There were several highlights of the August 15 program. School Board Attorney Doug Guynn presented Legal Tips for Teachers. The group then heard about Licensure, Teacher Evaluation, and Policies from Dr. Davis. Afterwards, all school administrators met with the group. The final program of the orientation was Let's Get the School Year Started led by Dr. Otto and Dr. Davis.