THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9408260254
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Education
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
WHEN ROOKIE TEACHER Tammy L. Guarino steps into her Butts Road Intermediate School classroom for the first time Sept. 7, she won't be the only one venturing into new territory.
There will be 105 other new teachers citywide gulping down first-day jitters. And veteran teachers, administrators, school board members, parents and city officials will be pulling for their success.
That's the message Guarino and other new teachers, gathered at Indian River High Thursday morning for a welcome breakfast, heard from administrators, teachers, a PTA representative and City Council members.
``We are so fortunate in education that we always have new beginnings,'' said Linda Palombo, assistant superintendent for personnel. ``It's a new day. It's a new year.''
The breakfast capped a week of orientation for those among the 106 who have never taught school before. Monday through Wednesday, first-year teachers attended classes on various topics, including working with parents, first aid and classroom discipline. Superintendent C. Fred Bateman taught a session on the basics of school law.
The recruits also were assigned mentors - veteran teachers who will offer advice or just a sympathetic ear in the coming school year.
``It was really helpful,'' said Guarino, a recent graduate of the University of Virginia who will teach special education. ``We got to meet other teachers.
``They reassured us that we can do it, and that they're here to help us.''
Bateman praised city residents for their high level of interest in public schools and urged new teachers to welcome community and parent involvement in their classes.
Popular schools, however, have fueled enrollment growth. Bateman warned the teachers they may find themselves in crowded schools or inconvenienced by construction work to add space.
``It's hard to teach in Chesapeake and not work in a portable classroom,'' he said.
The superintendent assured the teachers that city and school officials are working hard to expand schools so they can do away with portables. by CNB