FACULTY AND STAFF EXPECTATIONS
General Duties and Responsibilities
We expect that you will:
Respect your students, your colleagues, and all other members of the Whiteville City Schools Community as you yourself wish to be respected.
Maintain the lounge/workroom as a space for adults. The lounge is off limits to all children, including those of educators at all times. This includes before and after school hours.
Serve your duty as noted on the duty schedule. Duty assignments are necessary for the safety and security of our students.
Support colleagues as they enforce school policies with students and parents. If you have concerns about a colleague’s actions or interactions with students, please report this to the appropriate personnel.
Dress appropriately and professionally at all times. Perception is reality. If we want students to treat us with respect, we must appear to be the professionals we are expected to be. Teachers should not violate the student dress code.
Find a replacement for any assigned duties when necessary, (e.g. early morning or lunch duty) and inform the office of the substitute. Remember that if you have been assigned a duty, you bear the responsibility for fulfilling it.
Safety, Well-being, and Emergencies
We expect that you will:
Report any knowledge or suspicion of child abuse or neglect (this may include homeless students) to the appropriate authorities.
Escort students and guests to safety during drills/incidents of a fire, tornado, other weather emergency, lock-down, or school evacuation. All are to move quickly and quietly to the designated safe area. When leaving your classroom, always take your roll book and attendance sheets.
Remember that all Whiteville City Schools are 100% tobacco free. Adults are not to use tobacco in any form while on any WCS property or while attending any school event at another location.
Inform administration and the student’s parents immediately if an accident occurs. Complete an accident report, which may be obtained in the front office. This must be done on the day the accident occurs.
Never leave children in your classroom unattended. If you have an emergency, immediately inform an administrator or the office that you need coverage.
Design and implement an efficient classroom management plan for your classroom.
Never embarrass a student as a method of discipline.
Never yell, scream, or raise your voice to a student.
Never touch a student as a method of discipline except when required to break up or prevent a fight.
Never give a student your keys.
Escort students and guests to safety during drills/incidents of a fire, tornado, other weather emergency, lock-down, or school evacuation. All are to move quickly and quietly to the designated safe area. When leaving your classroom, always take your roll book and attendance sheets.
Remember that all Whiteville City Schools are 100% tobacco free. Adults are not to use tobacco in any form while on any WCS property or while attending any school event at another location.
Inform administration and the student’s parents immediately if an accident occurs. Complete an accident report, which may be obtained in the front office. This must be done on the day the accident occurs.
Never leave children in your classroom unattended. If you have an emergency, immediately inform an administrator or the office that you need coverage.
Design and implement an efficient classroom management plan for your classroom.
Never embarrass a student as a method of discipline.
Never yell, scream, or raise your voice to a student.
Never touch a student as a method of discipline except when required to break up or prevent a fight.
Never give a student your keys.
Communications
We expect that you will:
Make your first communication home for each student a positive one. Keep a record of every communication home for all students. Make good news calls to the homes of students frequently.
There are three main modes of communication within the school. Please check your voice mail, email and mailbox at least twice per day.
Except in emergency situations, limit all personal telephone calls to non-instructional periods of the day.
Attend all parent conferences as scheduled. Approach them in a positive manner. Remember that documentation and prior communication are the best ways to ensure that parent conferences are successful.
Never speak negatively of an individual student, or of any group of students among yourselves, in the office, or in the community. Teachers are the most important element in the image the community has of the school.
Keep your classroom and the entire school warm and inviting to all who may come onto our campus.
Be an effective, positive ambassador for Whiteville City Schools. Never talk outside of school about any internal difficulties our staff may experience.
Never ask parents or community members to communicate to administration, school board members, or the press for you. To do so is insubordinate, unethical, and a violation of procedure.
There are three main modes of communication within the school. Please check your voice mail, email and mailbox at least twice per day.
Except in emergency situations, limit all personal telephone calls to non-instructional periods of the day.
Attend all parent conferences as scheduled. Approach them in a positive manner. Remember that documentation and prior communication are the best ways to ensure that parent conferences are successful.
Never speak negatively of an individual student, or of any group of students among yourselves, in the office, or in the community. Teachers are the most important element in the image the community has of the school.
Keep your classroom and the entire school warm and inviting to all who may come onto our campus.
Be an effective, positive ambassador for Whiteville City Schools. Never talk outside of school about any internal difficulties our staff may experience.
Never ask parents or community members to communicate to administration, school board members, or the press for you. To do so is insubordinate, unethical, and a violation of procedure.
Curriculum and Instruction
We expect that you will:
Differentiate your instructional plan for every student as needed.
Participate in creating a community of learners by becoming a learner of the best instructional practices, by developing a collegial relationship with all members of the school community, and by continuing your own professional development and growth.
Write lesson plans and unit lesson plans that are aligned with the NC Standard Course of Study.
Communicate instructional plans to team members during any absence in order to maintain continuous instruction for students.
Reflect on your teaching practices regularly and share with administration as needed.
Attend and participate in all grade level, department, and staff meetings. Such meetings help us to continue to grow as educators.
Provide homework assignments that are opportunities for practicing skills learned in class, that enrich student learning, and that will provide a basis for authentic assessment of student learning.
Plan instruction based on data collected about your students. Be prepared to disaggregate your own data and to justify your instruction accordingly. Teaming is an excellent approach to completing this task.
Never teach the textbook. Teach students.
Actively participate in all staff development opportunities throughout the school year.
Strive to integrate technology into your instructional plan as much as possible.
Never use failure, or the threat of it, as a disciplinary tool.
Provide tutorial opportunities for students who need or who wish to improve their achievement. Keeping documentation of tutoring is a valuable tool to assist in assessment.
Keep informed of the best instructional practices by spending time reading professional journals, attending workshops or conferences, and participating in collegial discussions with the staff.
Connect field trips to instructional objectives. Do not use them as tools to enforce compliance.
Participate in creating a community of learners by becoming a learner of the best instructional practices, by developing a collegial relationship with all members of the school community, and by continuing your own professional development and growth.
Write lesson plans and unit lesson plans that are aligned with the NC Standard Course of Study.
Communicate instructional plans to team members during any absence in order to maintain continuous instruction for students.
Reflect on your teaching practices regularly and share with administration as needed.
Attend and participate in all grade level, department, and staff meetings. Such meetings help us to continue to grow as educators.
Provide homework assignments that are opportunities for practicing skills learned in class, that enrich student learning, and that will provide a basis for authentic assessment of student learning.
Plan instruction based on data collected about your students. Be prepared to disaggregate your own data and to justify your instruction accordingly. Teaming is an excellent approach to completing this task.
Never teach the textbook. Teach students.
Actively participate in all staff development opportunities throughout the school year.
Strive to integrate technology into your instructional plan as much as possible.
Never use failure, or the threat of it, as a disciplinary tool.
Provide tutorial opportunities for students who need or who wish to improve their achievement. Keeping documentation of tutoring is a valuable tool to assist in assessment.
Keep informed of the best instructional practices by spending time reading professional journals, attending workshops or conferences, and participating in collegial discussions with the staff.
Connect field trips to instructional objectives. Do not use them as tools to enforce compliance.
Daily Schedule, Transitions and Meetings
We expect that you will:
Greet students at the doorway of each classroom at the beginning of each day unless you have morning duty. Stand at your classroom door during large student movements in the hallways.
Record as tardy all students who arrive after the designated tardy time for each class. Maintain accurate attendance records in compliance with the Whiteville City Schools attendance policy.
Attend all school wide, department and grade level meetings. It is essential for all staff members to attend meetings to ensure successful implementation of the school improvement plan. School wide meetings are designated for Wednesday afternoons, unless otherwise advised by the principal. Make every effort to schedule appointments at other times.
Record as tardy all students who arrive after the designated tardy time for each class. Maintain accurate attendance records in compliance with the Whiteville City Schools attendance policy.
Attend all school wide, department and grade level meetings. It is essential for all staff members to attend meetings to ensure successful implementation of the school improvement plan. School wide meetings are designated for Wednesday afternoons, unless otherwise advised by the principal. Make every effort to schedule appointments at other times.
Attendance and Leaves of Absence
We expect that you will:
Your attendance is critical for student success. Remember a substitute is no substitute for your instruction.
Use Time Keeper to sign-in each morning upon arrival.
If you are going to be absent without notice (sick leave), follow your school’s individual policy as to who to contact as soon as you know you will be absent.
Absences with reasons of “Personal Leave”, “Professional Leave”, “Civil or Military Leave” or “Staff Development” MUST be approved in advance by the principal. Decisions regarding leave are made in the best interest of the school and the students.
Request permission from the principal to leave the school campus for any purpose and for any time during the school day.
Use Time Keeper to sign-in each morning upon arrival.
If you are going to be absent without notice (sick leave), follow your school’s individual policy as to who to contact as soon as you know you will be absent.
Absences with reasons of “Personal Leave”, “Professional Leave”, “Civil or Military Leave” or “Staff Development” MUST be approved in advance by the principal. Decisions regarding leave are made in the best interest of the school and the students.
Request permission from the principal to leave the school campus for any purpose and for any time during the school day.
Grading, Reports and Discipline
We expect that you will:
Use comments on the report card of each student for each grading period.
Fairly and consistently discipline students within the guidelines of the school-wide discipline policy, your team conduct policy, and your individual classroom behavior system.
Maintain student and family confidentiality. Do not discuss any details disclosed in conferences or other meetings. Be mindful of the possibility of parents or students overhearing comments you choose to make. A breach in confidentiality is a violation of the NC Teachers’ Code of Ethics.
Implement all discipline policies fairly and equitably. Be consistent in all disciplinary matters. Without consistency, the system will never work.
Provide accurate and up-to-date interim reports per the interim report schedule found in the Staff Handbook. If parents request additional progress reports, make every reasonable effort to comply with their request
Fairly and consistently discipline students within the guidelines of the school-wide discipline policy, your team conduct policy, and your individual classroom behavior system.
Maintain student and family confidentiality. Do not discuss any details disclosed in conferences or other meetings. Be mindful of the possibility of parents or students overhearing comments you choose to make. A breach in confidentiality is a violation of the NC Teachers’ Code of Ethics.
Implement all discipline policies fairly and equitably. Be consistent in all disciplinary matters. Without consistency, the system will never work.
Provide accurate and up-to-date interim reports per the interim report schedule found in the Staff Handbook. If parents request additional progress reports, make every reasonable effort to comply with their request
Financial Records and Requisitions
We expect that you will:
Comply with all guidelines concerning school finances.
Receipt each child for all money collected. That money will be deposited with the treasurer on the day it is collected.
Request a purchase order (or requisition) before buying anything. Check with the bookkeeper in advance to determine account balance. Reimbursements require original receipts; all reimbursements require a purchase order. Items purchased on behalf of the school without proper authorization become the responsibility of the purchaser.
Ensure that you do not maintain a separate account outside the school to support any activity involving students. This includes depositing of money into your personal accounts. All money collected for students or student activities must go through the treasurer’s office.
Never take money you have collected from student’s home with you for deposit at a later date. Take it to the treasurer’s office even if deposit records are not prepared.
Never leave money you have collected from students in a classroom. You are personally responsible for any money you collect until it is properly receipted and deposited with the school treasurer.
Receipt each child for all money collected. That money will be deposited with the treasurer on the day it is collected.
Request a purchase order (or requisition) before buying anything. Check with the bookkeeper in advance to determine account balance. Reimbursements require original receipts; all reimbursements require a purchase order. Items purchased on behalf of the school without proper authorization become the responsibility of the purchaser.
Ensure that you do not maintain a separate account outside the school to support any activity involving students. This includes depositing of money into your personal accounts. All money collected for students or student activities must go through the treasurer’s office.
Never take money you have collected from student’s home with you for deposit at a later date. Take it to the treasurer’s office even if deposit records are not prepared.
Never leave money you have collected from students in a classroom. You are personally responsible for any money you collect until it is properly receipted and deposited with the school treasurer.
Financial Records and Requisitions
We expect that you will:
Prepare complete lesson plans for substitute teachers with information regarding general supervisory responsibilities.
Ensure a substitute teacher has been secured for all of your absences. This applies to everyone at all times.
Remind parents of the importance of signing in at the office EACH time they visit school. All visitors without badges should be escorted to the office at once.
Prepare a substitute folder that includes: General Welcome Letter, Daily Schedule, and Special Schedules (for students in resource and gifted classes; even upcoming assembly info), Daily Procedures for attendance, lunch, dismissal. Include statements of class rules/class climate, Class Lists, Special Procedures (fire drill, tornado drill, acts of violence), and School Floor Plan.
Ensure a substitute teacher has been secured for all of your absences. This applies to everyone at all times.
Remind parents of the importance of signing in at the office EACH time they visit school. All visitors without badges should be escorted to the office at once.
Prepare a substitute folder that includes: General Welcome Letter, Daily Schedule, and Special Schedules (for students in resource and gifted classes; even upcoming assembly info), Daily Procedures for attendance, lunch, dismissal. Include statements of class rules/class climate, Class Lists, Special Procedures (fire drill, tornado drill, acts of violence), and School Floor Plan.