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OSSINING, N.Y. In less than two weeks, students will start flooding the halls once again in the Ossining School District. But before the kids head to the classrooms, their new teachers have to hit the books first.
New teachers in the Ossining School District started their own orientation program this week. Each day, the teachers with less than a year of experience in the district met in the Ossining High School library to learn about issues facing the district, unique characteristics of Ossining and its population, new technologies and the districts methods of teaching.
Each day has been something new and exciting because weve talked about everything we need to know from the basics like the philosophies of the district and even the tough stuff like racism or bullying, said Thomas Larm, a special education teacher who substituted at Ossining while working on his degree at Pace University. I really fought hard to come back here because of a lot of the great resources that Ossining has and the diversity of the district.
The rest of the districts faculty has made the transition much easier on him and other dozen or so new teachers, Larm said.
The staff has always been very supportive and is always willing to give a helping hand when you need it, he said. I definitely want to seek tenure here, but Im happy to take any position I can with the district.
Danielle Saldiveri, a new reading teacher at AMD Middle School, previously worked in Yonkers before layoffs and said she was excited to get to know the district and the community.
Im very proud of being an educator, and Ossining is a district that is really thriving with technology and great students and wonderful faculty, the Brewster native said. One thing that has really impressed me is how invested the administration is with our success.
Saldiveri said she was surprised that Superintendent of Schools Phyllis Glassman and Deputy Superintendent Ray Sanchez regularly met with them.
They really seem invested in giving us what we need to be successful. Its really refreshing, Saldiveri said. Ive worked in other districts, and you dont see the superintendent and deputy superintendent being there and making themselves available to you. It really helps to know you have that support, and I think it will encourage us to be our best.
The first day for all grades is Sept. 6. The middle and high schools have orientation earlier in the week for students.
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