Coweta County Schools welcome 117 new teachers

From Coweta County Schools Press Release

The Coweta County School System, school board members and several community organizations welcomed 117 new teachers to the Coweta school system at an annual breakfast and orientation at the Nixon Centre for Performing and Visual Arts Monday morning.

New teachers were treated to breakfast by a number of community sponsors Monday, before being given an overview of the school system and returning to their schools for additional orientation. Monday’s annual Induction program was organized by the Coweta County School System’s Human Resources Department.

Superintendent Steve Barker and Assistant Superintendent Mark Guy introduced Board of Education members and system staff.

The new teachers were also treated to a rendition of “Over the Rainbow” by Northgate High graduate Sammy Morrison, who played Dorothy in last week’s Centre STAR performance of “The Wizard of Oz.”

The school system made full use of the still-set stage at the Centre.  Teachers were welcomed by Superintendent Steve Barker onstage, and Assistant Superintendent Vince Bass rode in on the Wizard’s hot air balloon to kick the program off.  Curriculum director Karen Barker began her presentation by riding in on Glenda’s pink bubble. She and curriculum director Schwanda Jackson covered Coweta County School’s Mission, Vision and Beliefs, and the county’s academic trends and priorities.

Public Policy Director Mark Whitlock gave teachers an overview of the county school system and its major initiatives, as well as the county’s history.

“You are in the best school system in Georgia and one of the most innovative in Georgia,” said Whitlock, citing numerous state championships, service academy selectees, and programs like CEC’s German Apprenticeship program.  “This is an amazing community.”

Teachers and their principals returned to their schools afterward for further training, to cover system policies and the teacher handbook, school safety protocols, school evacuation and emergency plans, student information systems, student confidentiality, teacher evaluations, and opportunities for collegial conversations before the start of pre-planning on Wednesday.

Coweta County Schools will begin the 2019-20 school year on Monday, August 5. School faculty report to schools for pre-planning on Wednesday, July 31.

Parents and students will be able to visit schools and meet teachers on Friday, August 2, before the start of the new school year. School Orientation will be held at separate times for Coweta’s middle, elementary and high schools on August 2:

Middle Schools: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (all middle schools)
Elementary Schools: 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. (all elementary schools).
High Schools: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (all high schools)

Orientation provides parents and students an opportunity to find their classrooms and meet their teachers before the start of school. Teachers will not be available for formal conferences during Orientation.

Many schools will hold additional back-to-school functions. School websites, linked at www.cowetaschools.net, will include updated information for these and other school-specific activities in the new year. All schools will hold student orientation on August 3, in addition to other school-based events.

Representatives from the school system’s transportation department will be available at all schools during the August 2 Orientation and on the first day of school on August 5, to provide information about bus schedules.  School bus routes for the new school year will also be posted on the school system’s website before the start of school.

Parents who wish to enroll their elementary-age children in the school system’s tuition-based After School Program will also be able to do so on August 1 and 2 at their child’s school.  Representatives will be available between the hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at each elementary school.

Parents who need to register their children for school can do so at the school system’s Central Registration Center, located at 167 Werz Industrial Drive in Newnan (770-254-5551).

Northside Elementary School Principal Dana Ballou, center, stands with her school’s newest 3rd Grade teacher Courtney Gordon, left, and new Pre-K teacher Tedia Reese, right.

White Oak Elementary School Principal Andy Miller, right, greets White Oak’s new special education In-School-Coordinator Candace Braumuller, left.