Running Head: INDIVIDUAL PROJECT

Wendy L. Petersen Morse Individual project April 12, 2013 Education 2410 Salt Lake Community College

Running Head: INDIVIDUAL PROJECT

Each school and school district operates under a set of policies put in place by those who have a stake in public education, from state legislation to the local school board and the school district and schools; these policies protect the rights of all those involved and ensure students a quality education and staff a fair and reasonable working environment. Each set of policies varies, but as a general rule they are similar in addressing state and federal laws schools, teachers, administrators, district employees, parents, and students must comply with (Don Kauchak, 2011). Teachers, especially who are new to the classroom should read and understand the school and district policies as they will apply to their positions and the rest of the school, this will protect the teacher and ensure success in teaching. Salt Lake City School District policies that would be particularly important for new teachers to be well informed about start with the provisional teaching program, teacher responsibilities above and beyond the regular school day, class size requirements, and procedures to handle situations that may arise. In the first 3 years in The Salt Lake City School District a teacher is considered provisional and will be teamed up with a mentor teacher (career teacher) during provisional years (Salt Lake City board of Education, 2011-2012). The mentor teacher will assist in the classroom, with curriculum and lesson planning, as well as classroom management. A mentor teacher may assist a provisional by modeling good teaching techniques as well as assist with any other issues that may arise for the provisional teacher. What is great about this program is that it is not as much a sink or swim program, as opportunity to learn and improve as you go. In order to obtain career teacher status, a teacher must complete 3 consecutive years in the districts program, preferably at the same school. During provisional years teachers will have a

Running Head: INDIVIDUAL PROJECT

minimum of 2 conferences based on formal observations each year, as well as the mentor teacher to help guide the provisional through the first few years (Salt Lake City board of Education, 2011-2012). The school principal has the authority to make an offer of career employment before the entire three years has passed, but he will rely on observation as well as performance, and this is the exception, not the rule. New teachers enter the profession having a good idea what will be expected of them in the classroom during the regular school day, but there are many requirements for teachers above and beyond the regular school day. Teachers are required to be available for parents and students both before and after school, upon request of parents or students to meet at other times. This is clear policy in the Salt Lake City School District policy, so although many teachers may be busy in the morning preparing for the school day it is required that they make time for conferences if necessary. Teachers are also required to participate in a minimum of two SEP conferences per year, but this number may be increased by the school principal if needed, teachers will be compensated for their time, but this not optional. Faculty meetings are required either before or after school, times are set by administration, and prior notice must be given to the administration if a teacher will not be present. (Salt Lake City board of Education, 2011-2012) Although, there are often times a teacher will need to spend extra time, aside from the regular school day at school, all of the extra time is specifically for teacher improvement, and student support, keys of effective teaching. Another key policy to keep in mind as new teacher is professional development, it is required that teachers complete a minimum of 6 total days during each school year. Teachers are never done learning, each year time is set aside for them to attend professional development, this keeps teachers in the loop, and always continuing their education. There requirements for specific

Running Head: INDIVIDUAL PROJECT

professional development opportunities, some days will be used for district wide purposes, others for school or department, and some are set aside for individual development (Salt Lake City board of Education, 2011-2012). Teachers have lunch time to themselves, policy states a teacher shall be allotted a 30 minute duty free lunch time, they will not be required to supervise in the lunch room, or on the playground, or cover other classes during this time. Teachers with special education students in their class may be required to participate in the Individual education plan team and meetings, given the fact that a students teacher will have invaluable input into the childs education and offer great insight Every work place shall be suitable, offering storage for teaching supplies, have adequate space for teaching, be in good working order, as well as maintain proper temperature control. A new teacher should know that if a classroom does not meet these needs they need to make a site complaint, this complaint will be immediately evaluated, and the issue will be resolved. Academic freedom is an important part of effective teaching, and learning environment, the district supports protecting teachers from censorship, as well as allowing freedom to prepare, introduce new material, and carryout educational lessons, as long as they do so in an ethical manner considering educational relevance, and state and bored laws (Salt Lake City board of Education, 2011-2012) The policy manual for the Salt Lake City School District is quite thorough; each point has been carefully considered and addressed. Looking at points discussed in the text, such as student records, IEPs, due process, search and seizure; the policies address these issues as the book state (Essex, 2011) (Nelda H. McCabe, 2004). It also provides an immense amount of detail regarding

Running Head: INDIVIDUAL PROJECT

not only a teachers responsibilities but also teacher benefits, sick and vacation leave, health insurance, and retirement. What happens if you become seriously ill in the middle of the school year, this is covered in several different ways in the manual? It is critical for new teachers as well as career teachers to keep themselves educated on the school districts policies, to protect themselves s well as know their responsibilities within the school.

Running Head: INDIVIDUAL PROJECT

References
Don Kauchak, P. E. (2011). Becoming a proffessional: Introduction to teaching. Pearson. Essex, N. L. (2011). A teachers pocket guide to school law. Pearson. Nelda H. McCabe, M. M. (2004). Legal rights of teachers and students. Pierson. Salt Lake City board of Education, T. S. (2011-2012). Salt Lake City School District Policy agreement. Salt Lake City: Salt Lake City School District.