New teacher academy helps Putnam City teachers adjust to district

She's learning the ins and outs of Putnam City's curriculum and other procedures during the new-teacher academy the district puts on each year.

The three-day academy is designed to ease the transition for new hires.

“We've done a lot of classroom management stuff,” she said.

“We're learning how to work with kids who aren't motivated, or who are acting up because they want attention.”

Programs Coordinator Ann Bishop said the district started the academy five years ago. The subjects that are discussed account for nearly everything a new teacher might face during the first year.

“They learn how to use the resources that are available to them,” Bishop said. “They spend a half day with our technology people. We show them how many buildings have things like iPads for classrooms and what they can do with those. We go over even something as simple as how we get our paychecks.”

That suits Karielle Rivadeneyra just fine. She's not only new to Putnam City Schools, she's new to the state.

“I'm coming from California, so it's all new to me,” Rivadeneyra said. “I'm just so impressed with this school district, the way they've stood by their new hires and offered us three days of learning. That's a big difference from where I'm coming from.”