August 27, 2014 at 4:04 p.m.
Welcome back, teachers
Welcome back, teachers
A group gathered before the start of the day for breakfast in the cafeteria and was then shuttled into the auditorium for an assembly. As the leaders of the assembly - in this case, School District of Rhinelander Board of Education President Ron Counter and Superintendent Kelli Jacobi - tried to quiet the crowd to start their presentation, one might have expected to see teachers walking up and down the aisles helping to get everyone settled. Only this time, it wasn't students playing on their phones and chatting with their neighbors. It was the teachers.
The group didn't take long to settle down though and listen to the introduction to the district-wide orientation for teachers.
The start of the new school year is quickly approaching, students are set to return to their classrooms on Sept. 2, and the district holds the orientation every year to prepare new and returning teachers to greet incoming young academics.
Various presentations are made, including a welcoming address from Counter and Jacobi.
This year, that speech focused on encouraging all district staff members to get to know one another and create a more familial atmosphere.
"We've got a lot of new faces this year," Counter said. "We're [the school board] looking forward to getting to know everyone and working with everyone to make for a successful year."
Jacobi began her portion of the speech by asking how everyone's summer went. She had people stand up if they went on vacation, had a baby, got married, became grandparents, or earned their master's degree, among other things. She said these things are important to know when cultivating new relationships throughout the district.
"There were so many things going on in your personal lives this summer. I would hear bits and pieces of them and try to find people to congratulate on all the exciting things going on because we sometimes forget to do that, to remember that it's all about relationships and that we all have lives outside of these walls," Jacobi told the group.
"Keep in mind that you as people are just as important as you as professionals."
It is those relationships that will make the district strong, Jacobi said.
"I hope that you will keep this activity in mind when you are back in your buildings and you see your colleagues," she said.
"This week is crazy, I understand that, but try to take a few minutes to reconnect with old friends and make new friends. Remember, we're a team. We're here to support each other."
And that support is going to be crucial during the stressful times to come.
"When times get tough or stressful - and they will - I remind everyone to not give up," Jacobi said.
"We're a team and we're going to get through whatever comes our way. As long as we stick together, we'll be just fine. We are Team SDR and we do amazing things."
Marcus Nesemann may be reached at [email protected].
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