Ready for class
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 17, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Kimberly Stedner hangs up photos of her three children Izabelle, 11, Max, 13, and Mickey, 16, today along with her diploma and Star Wars memorabilia in her classroom at Dillard Middle School as she prepares for her first year of teaching. Stedner says, "I want to show them that I am human. I have a life after school."
With one week until school starts, Wayne County Public Schools is still filling openings for teachers and preparing the newest educators for the field.
It's a "mixed bag" this year, says Debbie Durham, director of human resources.
"We have 85 brand new and of those, I would say that approximately 45 are lateral entry and overall we have got 231 new teachers" with one to three years experience, she said. "We still have 32 openings. They're mostly everywhere, but I would say most are elementary education. This is the first year we have got P.E. (openings). We haven't had that in a while."
Most of the openings are in the typical areas, she said -- middle grades science, high school science and math, and exceptional children.
School officials are working to help principals find candidates, Mrs. Durham said, admitting there are some challenges.
"A lot that we have have graduated with elementary ed degrees but the state testing requirements have changed," she said. "Now, instead of preparing for two tests, there are three -- reading and math and general curriculum. They're just struggling because that's not something that the universities are prepared for and the teachers aren't prepared for.
"E.C. (teachers) have an additional test as well but they don't seem to be struggling as much as the elementary education folks are struggling because it's such a change for them."
While attempting to fill remaining slots before students return Monday, Aug. 24, the district has been making good use of the time to shore up the newest pool of educators.
"We did orientation, and then we used the Summer Institute, a three-day event required for first-, second- and third-year teachers," she said. "TLC's (Teaching Learning Coaches) do the majority of the sessions. Right now I have eight TLCs, down from 15.
"We lost some to other systems because of money and we lost some to become curriculum specialists and those kinds of things, which we have TLCs so they can move up the ladder. Right now we're in a holding pattern until all the budgets are settled."
Recruitment efforts have brought in teachers from in and out of state, she said, with representation from New York, Michigan, even California and England.
This year marks a spike in teachers entering through the lateral entry program, she pointed out.
Lateral entry is an alternate route to entering the profession, allowing qualified individuals to obtain a teaching position and begin teaching, while obtaining the professional credentials simultaneously.
"We just have more lateral entry than we have had before," she said. "Some schools have as many as 19 or 20 beginning teachers and then we have some that only have one (new teacher)."
The backgrounds of those new to the profession are interesting and varied, Mrs. Durham said.
"We have one that was a policeman and she requested Dillard Middle School," she said. "We have one that was a secretary at the central office that went back to school and is now an elementary ed teacher, so that's part of growing our own.
"We have several instructional assistants, which is part of what we do so that has helped our program."
In addition to training and orientation, teachers headed to their respective schools and began setting up their classrooms in time for open houses, which will take place later this week.
This past Tuesday morning also provided a morale boost, as the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce hosted its sixth annual New Teacher Breakfast.
"It's the business community showing them love and that we appreciate what they're doing," said Janet Brock of the Chamber.
Kimberly Stedner, a mother of three, went through the East Carolina University program for middle grades education. Her background includes having been a deputy sheriff as well as a firefighter and paramedic in the suburbs of Chicago. When she found herself at a crossroads of risking further injury on the job or pursuing her interest in teaching, she approached the school district specifically interested in working in a more economically challenged environment.
She chose Dillard, she said, because she wanted to make a difference. She will be teaching social studies and science to eighth-graders.
"I'm excited, a little overwhelmed, and I was informed I have to learn some different music because my children (ages 16, 13 and 11) told me my music was not compatible," she said with a laugh.
Jennifer Brinson had been an instructional assistant at Edgewood and Meadow Lane Elementary. A lateral entry teacher, she will work with exceptional children K-4 at Meadow Lane.
"I actually started in the middle of last year," she said. "I think seeing the children grow, that's the best part, seeing that I actually made an impact on them."
Carianne Winders also has six months' experience, having taught in Johnston County Schools. The second-grade teacher at Brogden Primary School is the youngest daughter of the late Sheriff Carey Winders, and joins her two older sisters, who are also teachers in WCPS. Jessica Winders Rouse teaches second grade at Rosewood Elementary, while Ashley Winders Sparks teaches art at Spring Creek Middle.
"It's really nice because my other sister (Jessica) teaches second grade," she said. "She's already given me so many ideas that I can use. We all sit down and talk about education."
Jennifer Rutledge has always wanted to be a teacher, having previously taught preschool. For the past three years, she worked at the central office as career and technical education administrative assistant. She will be teaching kindergarten at Carver Elementary in Mount Olive.
"I'm excited and I'm ready to get started in my classroom," she said. "I'm excited about working with the other kindergarten teachers, there are six of us, working collaboratively.
"I'm ready to get in there with those little minds. It'll just be a fun adventure for me."