Training highlights Institution Days

As a former educator, I can remember attending numerous Institute Days. Even after retirement, I still can return to schools in our area and see educators learning, reconnecting with their co-workers and preparing to serve their students.

One of the things I enjoy most is getting to work with some of my former students who are now educators themselves. There is something special about seeing former students begin their own careers in education and watching another generation take its place in our schools.

I work part-time as an Alabama Education Association professional organizer with Tracy Moore, AEA UniServ director for District 4. Moore serves educators in Colbert, Franklin and Lawrence counties as well as several city school systems and Northwest Shoals Community College. AEA field service directors work in the districts and communities they serve. They help educators understand school policies and employment issues and provide professional counseling, training and other support.

I have enjoyed working with Moore and other professional organizers. She is dedicated to representing the educators and communities she serves, and the work has given me another way to remain connected to education after retirement.

I enjoyed seeing everyone visit with co-workers and administrators at Franklin County Schools Institute Day at Belgreen High School. Superintendent Greg Hamilton welcomed personnel, and Heidi Evensen Temple opened the day with a devotion.

Much of Institute Day focused on the many responsibilities educators carry beyond classroom instruction.

Safety Director Barry Laster addressed safety procedures, mental health awareness and suicide prevention, while Lori Hardin discussed federal programs and requirements designed to protect and support students.

Jennifer Whitfield covered special education responsibilities, including confidentiality and the processes educators follow to meet students’ individual needs.

Chad Prewitt and lead nurse Diane Baker discussed health concerns educators may encounter at school, including seizures, diabetes, infection control and adrenal insufficiency.

Attorney Mark Boardman presented ethics training, while Natalie Bendall of the University of North Alabama spoke about the LEAD Initiative Program.

Listening to the different presentations was a reminder of just how much educators must know and be prepared to handle each day. Their responsibilities extend far beyond teaching lessons in a classroom.

The day also provided time for personnel to visit with one another and representatives from several organizations, including AEA, AMBA, Value Teachers and UNA. Some went home with door prizes, including gift cards.

Afterward, personnel returned to their local schools for professional development, while maintenance and custodial personnel attended asbestos training at Belgreen High School.

Franklin County Schools also held a mentee luncheon at Red Bay First Baptist Church for new teachers. Edmentum, Dr. DeeDee Jones and Moore provided the food.

I especially enjoyed Wesley Thigpen’s encouraging message to the new teachers. Thigpen has served as an educator at Red Bay, worked as a curriculum assistant, and served with the Alabama State Department of Education.

He urged teachers to notice their students, greet them at the door, try new methods and bring energy into their classrooms because that energy can be contagious. Those may sound like simple things, but sometimes the simplest things make a lasting difference to a student.

Brent Gillespie, secondary curriculum director, also spoke about the importance of communication and disproportionality in Alabama.

Moore discussed professionalism, grading and the Alabama Educator Code of Ethics. She explained the code establishes professional standards for teachers and school leaders while protecting the well-being and rights of students.

Teachers have many responsibilities, including planning lessons, managing their classrooms, assessing student progress, keeping accurate records, supporting students, and working with parents and fellow educators.

The Code of Ethics also addresses professional conduct. It calls on educators to act with honesty and integrity, maintain appropriate relationships with students, protect confidential information, and use public funds and property responsibly. It also reminds educators that professionalism includes how they treat their colleagues, fulfill their contracts and conduct themselves in positions of public trust.

All of those requirements come back to an important responsibility: Creating schools where students can learn, feel respected and receive fair treatment.

I also worked with Russellville City Schools to provide AEA information to new employees and explain their benefits.

Working with educators during these Institute Days reminded me that education requires both formal responsibilities and personal ones. Educators need to understand the laws, policies and procedures that help them do their jobs well. They also need to remember the students in front of them.

That is why Thigpen’s advice stayed with me: Notice your students. Greet them. Encourage them. Bring energy into the classroom. Those small actions can mean more to a student than we may ever know.