Flint Hill Elementary School
Faculty Handbook
Dr. Lorraine F. Thomas, Principal
Mr. Michael J. Forehand, Assistant Principal
Mrs. Kelly M. Walker, Assistant Principal
Mrs. Joy Fielding, Instructional Coach
Mrs. Beverly Rodgers, Technology Coach
1300 Airport Road Oxford, GA 30054 (770) 784- 2969 (770) 784-2994 (Fax)
FLINT HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
1300 Airport Road
Oxford, GA 30054
Phone (770) 784-2969
Fax (770) 784-2994
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
Chair, Mr. Almond Turner, Vice-Chair, Mr. Eddie Johnson, Mr. Jeff Meadors,
Mrs. Shakila Henderson-Baker* & Mrs. Abigail Coggin *
ADMINISTRATION
Dr. Gary S. Mathews, Superintendent
Dr. Lorraine F. Thomas, Principal
Mrs. Kelly M. Walker, Assistant Principal Grades PK-2
Mr. Michael J. Forehand, Assistant Principal Grades 3-5
Mrs. Joy Fielding, Academic Coach
Mrs. Beverly Rodgers, Technology Coach
Mr. Chris Dean, Technology Specialist
* Represents the Flint Hill District
LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
Dr. Lorraine Thomas / Mr. Michael Forehand / Mrs. Kelly Walker / Mrs. Joy Fielding / Mrs. Beverly RodgersBudget Planning / Lunch Duty / Lunch Duty / Printing Report Cards / Analyze Student Data
Child Abuse / Child Abuse / Child Abuse / Scheduling in Campus / Benchmark Testing
Discipline (all) / 3-5 Discipline / PK-2
Discipline / Title I / Data Room
Evaluation / Evaluation / Evaluation / STAR Assessments
Fire Drills / Testing Coordinator / Media
Fiscal Matters / Grade Level Mtgs. / Grade Level Mtgs. / Informal Observations / Informal Observations
FTE / 3-5
Lesson Plans / PK-2
Lesson Plans / Modeling of Lessons / Modeling of Lessons
Handbook Development / ELL/ESOL / Monitor Individual Teacher Growth / Monitor Individual Teacher Growth
Maintenance / Pre-K Site Director / Professional Learning / Professional Learning-Tech
Partners in Ed / 3-5
Permanent Records / PK-2
Permanent Records / Teachers Observing Teachers
Personnel / Personnel / Personnel / Volunteer Program / Diggo Accounts
Policy Manual Updates / 3-5
Textbooks / K-2
Textbooks / Teacher Leaders / Implementation of Technology
PTO / Field Trips / Scheduling / Joy Days / Ensure teacher e-Learn accounts are updated weekly
Public Relations / Public Relations / Public Relations / Grade Level Data Competition
Purchasing / Assemblies / Ensure Lesson Plans are uploaded by noon on Mondays
SACS / SACS / SACS / SACS / SACS
Safety Plans
School Council
School Improvement / School Improvement / School Improvement / School Improvement / School Improvement
Severe Weather Drills
Staff Accident Reports
Staff Attendance
Teacher/Para of the Year
Special Education / Pyramid Administrator / Special Education
Mrs. Kelly Walker, Pre-K-2nd Grade Mr. Michael Forehand, 3rd-5th Grade
SECTION I
Basic Personnel Policies
Section I TABLE OF CONTENTS
Expected Standards of Professionals ...... 9
Attendance ...... 10
Hours of Work ...... 10
Absences ...... 10
Cancellation of School ...... 11
Responsibilities and Duties ...... 11
Instructional Program ...... 11
Interruptions of Instructional Time ...... 12
Classroom Celebrations ...... 12
Curriculum Requirements ...... 12
E-Learn Website/Student Agenda ...... 13
Grading ...... 14
Lesson Plans ...... 14
Computer Lab ...... 14
Substitute Teacher Folder ...... 14
Homework ...... 15
Other Responsibilities and Duties ...... 15
Supervision of Students ...... 15
Dismissal Duty ...... 15
Hall Duty ...... 15
Lunch Duty ...... 16
Professional Learning Communities ...... 16
Teacher-Parent Communication ...... 17
Conferences ...... 17
Faculty/Professional Learning Meetings ...... 18
PTO ...... 20
Conditions of Employment ...... 21
Performance Evaluation ...... 21
Evaluation Schedule ...... 22
Certification ...... 24
Professional Learning ...... 24
Paraprofessionals ...... 24
License Requirements for Paraprofessionals . . . . 24
Standards of Conduct ...... 24
Teacher Paraprofessional Relations ...... 25
Tips for Paraprofessionals ...... 25
Tips for Teachers with Paraprofessionals . . . . . 26
General Work Guidelines ...... 26
Confidentiality of Student Records ...... 26
Telephone ...... 27
Solicitations ...... 27
Keys ...... 27
Professional Organizations ...... 28
Mailboxes ...... 28
Emergency Drills ...... 29
Emergency Plan ...... 31
EXPECTED STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE
1. Report to work on time every day. Therefore, you should be in your classroom by 7:00 AM. Make appointments, whenever possible, so that you will be at school until 3:00 PM. Please ensure that you reserve ALL Wednesdays for Faculty Meetings. Approval must be granted by an administrator for early dismissal.
2. You are to “fob in” and “fob out” each day. No one else can “fob in” or “fob out” for you. If you arrive late or without your “fob” you must sign in upon your arrival with Dr. Thomas.
3. Students are not to be left unattended at any time for any reason short of an unavoidable emergency. If something happens, notify the closest adult, and one of you call for help. Proper supervision is required at all times.
4. Plan well. Make classes interesting and relevant and fun.
A. Use instructional time for instruction. Don't give the students busy work.
B. Grade papers during planning time. When students are doing appropriate seat work (guided practice), circulate among them assisting, supporting, and providing content related feedback.
C. Cell phones should not be on during instructional time.
D. Use Technology throughout your lessons.
5. Follow the school discipline plan consistently. Enforce rules and handle discipline in the classroom. Students are not to be put out of a classroom in the hallway for disciplinary purposes. Students are not to be sent to the STOP room without administrator approval.
6. Communication with parents is most important. Talk to them about their children and what they are doing, both positive and negative, in academic and behavior areas. Return parent phone calls as soon as possible. Send papers home weekly, and monitor agendas daily! Make a positive phone call home to each family during the first 2 weeks of school.
7. Talk with your students. Get to know them and their backgrounds. Read their permanent records. Check for medical problems, retentions, and problem areas. Involve the counselor when needed. Check your student’s birthdate and number of retentions to ensure that they are in the appropriate grade placement.
8. Communicate high academic and behavioral expectations to both students and parents. Act as a role model for the students at all times. Remember, you are always being observed by others. Don't expect students to follow rules and regulations which you are not willing to model.
9. Act in a collegial manner as a member of our team. A cohesive team will consistently out perform a group of talented individuals. Be willing to share ideas, materials, and provide any other support to colleagues. Respect speakers and others at faculty meetings, professional development meetings, and other places by paying attention and not bringing papers to grade or other work to do.
10. As a Flint Hill Elementary School faculty member, you have access to state of the art technology and are expected to utilize technology effectively throughout the school day. You should use your Activ Board technology as a tool for teaching which enhances instruction. The Activ Board should not simply be used as an overhead projector or only as a flat screen television. Identify how you will use the technology available to you throughout your lesson planning. (iPads, iTouch, Activ Votes, Activ Expressions, laptops, netbooks) Also, ensure that you use the microphone provided to you for appropriate sound in your classroom.
ATTENDANCE
Hours of Work
As established by the Newton County Board of Education, the official working day for elementary teachers and full-time paraprofessionals is 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. These times may be adjusted for staff members who are assigned duty outside these times. When employees must be late or leave early, they are responsible for notifying the principal or assistant principal(s).
Absences
Teachers and paraprofessionals who are required to obtain a substitute teacher when they are absent due to illness must contact the Sub Finder System by e-mail at https://newton.subfinderonline.com or by telephone at 1-866-729-0976 for any absence. Calls must be made by 6:15 A.M. If it is 6:45 A.M., call the school office to report your absence. Please note that it may be very difficult to obtain a substitute after 6:45 A.M.; therefore, please contact Sub Finder as soon as you know you are going to be absent. If it is a pre-arranged sick leave day, please notify Mrs. Sherry Griffin as soon as possible. Personal and Professional Leave must be approved in advance by the principal and those absences will be called in to Sub Finder by Mrs. Sherry Griffin.
Cancellation of School
School Messenger will be used for contacting employees when school is to be closed due to inclement weather or other emergencies. Television and radio stations will also carry announcements regarding Newton County school closings.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
Instructional Program
Teaching children is a very serious job. As a teacher, you are responsible and accountable for the academic achievement, the discipline, and the health and safety of the children under your supervision. You have a stake in the future of each of your students and you are, in some measure, responsible for their eventual success or failure. This means that you are expected to do the following:
1) Guard your instructional time closely, using it for active teaching rather than filling time solely with students doing passive seatwork activities;
2) Vary instructional methods to meet the needs of different learning styles;
3) Monitor student progress closely and use remediation and enrichment strategies for students whose rate of learning differs from the norm;
4) Develop a thorough knowledge of the students and subjects you are assigned to teach;
5) Convey to students your interest in their learning and your willingness to provide additional help when needed;
6) Provide a supportive classroom atmosphere in which learning is valued and in which students are not allowed to interfere with teaching or learning; and,
7) Be willing to ask for and accept help in improving instructional strategies and classroom management.
8) This year we are rolling out the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards. The county has mandated that all teachers utilize the units prepared by our curriculum specialists. Also, you are required to teach science (45 min) and social studies (45 min) each day.
Interruptions of Instructional Time
Both state and local board policies restrict the interruption of instructional time for non-instructional activities. Any activities, which are not related to the school curriculum and which have no instructional objective, are considered interruptions of instructional time.
Classroom Celebrations
Classroom celebrations may be held twice per year. One will be held at Christmas. The other will be held as an end of the school year celebration.
Curriculum Requirements
Newton County Instructional Time Guidelines
Grades K-5
Reading/Language Arts / K-5 / 120-135 minutes daily (Flint Hill)Math / K-2
3-5 / 90 minutes daily
100 minutes daily (Flint Hill)
Science / K-2
3-5 / 90 minutes weekly
135 minutes weekly
Social Studies / K-2
3-5 / 90 minutes weekly
135 minutes weekly
Health / K-5 / 50 to 60 minutes weekly
Physical Education / K-5 / 100 minutes weekly
K integrated into daily instruction if necessary
Art / K
1-5 / Integrated into daily instruction if necessary – at least 30 minutes weekly
30 – 45 minutes weekly
Music / K
1-5 / Integrated into daily instruction if necessary – at least 30 minutes weekly
30 – 45 minutes weekly
Character Education / K-5 / Integrated into daily instruction
Recess Guidelines:
Pre-K, K and 1st should have supervised “free playground” daily.
In grades 1-5, recess should be age appropriate: On days students have PE, it is appropriate to omit recess. On days with no PE, all students should be given opportunities for outside movement and play.
*300 minutes of instructional time required per day in grades K-5 per SACS standards
E-Learn Website/Student Agenda
As a teacher at Flint Hill Elementary School, you are required to maintain an E-Learn Website as an individual and/or Grade Level team. The website should provide links to all grade level textbooks, the OAS website, A.R. link, and homework assignments. Your homework assignments should be posted EVERY DAY, and should include scanned copies of any sheets sent home. Again, this should be posted DAILY before you leave.
You will be provided with labels, which you are required to type/write each students OAS login and password, electronic book login and password, your E-Learn site address, our school website address, the student’s login and password for Accelerated Reader, your e-mail address, and the e-mail addresses of each administrator.
Grading
Flint Hill Elementary School prides itself on remaining ahead of the curve: One example is our grading and homework policy. At Flint Hill Elementary School, we have a “Zero-Is-Not-an-Option” philosophy and mandatory retests for students who struggle. Teachers are expected to use the myriad of interventions available to guarantee students’ mastery of every standard. Additionally, grades should be posted to Infinite Campus two times per week.
Lesson Plans
Each teacher is required to prepare lesson plans. Newton County Schools is transitioning to the Learning Focused Schools Acquisition Lesson Plan Format. You will be receiving training and guidance throughout the Fall semester. Not only do plans make your work more purposeful, but they are required as records of what has been taught and are absolutely necessary for substitute teachers to follow when you must be absent. They should include the standard(s) for each lesson, essential question, procedures, differentiation, evaluation method, and class work and/or homework assigned for each subject that you teach. Additionally, each activity should have Common Core Georgia Performance Standards documented. Lesson Plans should be posted to SharePoint by 12:00 PM on every Monday.
Computer Lab
Flint Hill Elementary School has two computer labs with 30+ computers. The computer lab paraprofessionals will be following the technology curriculum map, which has been recently created by the county. Instruction will align to the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards.
Substitute Teacher Folder
Every teacher is required to prepare a folder of guidelines, information, and emergency assignments for a substitute teacher to use during the teacher’s absence. The folder should be completed by the first Friday in September and turned into your grade level captain. These folders will be held in your grade level workroom. The folder should include class rolls, schedule, reinforcement activities for previously covered material, the name of another teacher who is familiar with your class, teaching materials, seating chart, discussion of lunch procedures, emergency procedures, the name of a reliable student, and various duties. You may also note any changes in daily routine and update class lists as needed. This folder will help provide consistency for our substitutes.