Lansing USD469 was thrilled to welcome our new certified staff on Monday, August 5, for their first official day as a Lion. This year's orientation was designed to equip our new certified staff with the tools, knowledge, and network of support they need to start their first year with confidence.
The morning began with a warm welcome from Superintendent Kobza and introductions by our district office staff. Brian Burns, our Technology Director, offered the group valuable tips and tech support. Additionally, Miles Azzeh, Director of Teaching & Learning, along with Instructional Coaches Jenny Nickelson and Caroline Reynolds, presented an overview of our Strategic Plan and provided professional development, focusing on Lansing Teaching & Learning to align our new staff with our district's educational goals. Following this, our new certified staff heard a safety presentation by Emergency Preparedness Director Keven McCarley. Our Lansing Educational Association rounded out the morning by providing lunch for the staff and discussing the benefits of joining the LEA organization.
In the afternoon, first-year teachers and counselors gathered as a cohort for tailored support at the district level. This group will continue to meet monthly throughout the year to network and address timely topics such as parent-teacher conferences, classroom management, and self-care. We are excited about this new initiative to offer another level of support for our first-year certified staff, which aligns with several action items in our Strategic Plan's Positive Culture large goal.
That evening, Lansing Educational Foundation funded a new certified staff social hour at Ten & Two, which provided an opportunity for our new employees to get together in a casual setting and decompress from the day.
Support for our new certified staff members continued on Tuesday, August 6, with our Mentoring Kickoff event. Led by Greenbush representative Brett Fenton, this event aims to enhance professional growth, refine teaching techniques, and ultimately improve student experiences through mentor-mentee relationships.
As we look forward to the new school year, we are thrilled about the new talent joining Lansing USD469 and the positive influence they will bring to our students!
