Lessons Learned

New educators to international schools around the world are arriving at their new homes with feelings of excitement and trepidation as they go through the transition process. Questions will come to mind…

“What will it be like living in this new country?” “What adventures await me?” “Will I connect with my fellow teachers?” “Are they open to collaboration?” “Will my creativity be allowed to grow here?” “Will we have a strong learning community?”

With human resources staffs working overtime to help new teachers set up their new homes and become familiar with their neighborhoods, it is important that we help with the emotional transition within our schools. The setting up of new teachers in their homes is just half of the transition process.

The second half of the transition is the supporting of new educators to feel accepted, appreciated and validated for what they bring to the learning community. This seems pretty obvious but think about how fast paced the start of school can be and how quickly we often start rolling without taking the time to build community and to reach out to new staff members to get their opinions.

We need to, from day one, ask our new partners in learning to share their backgrounds and to expand upon what they can bring to the collaboration table. What were some of their most successful lessons? What units of study at their previous school really hit a home run for the students? What areas of professional learning are they most excited about?

Then pull up the curriculum map for the coming year and share the first unit of study. What worked from last year? What do you want to improve? Does your new team member(s) have any ideas to help enhance the unit. Reach out and VALIDATE the new teachers. This effort not only helps improve your lessons but it supports the second part of the transition process by helping our new staff members feel valued.

To go a step further for coming years, think about setting up a professional development wiki each spring in your virtual learning environment/classroom management tool where returning staff members and new hires for the coming school year can post what they would like the start of the year professional development to be about and what they could possibly share with the community. Start asking the new folks for their opinions and expertise even before they arrive!

New eyes mean new perspectives offering opportunities to improve our schools. Work to make the most of them.