Published Thursday, July 31, 2008

New teachers welcomed at breakfast

By Brenda Pedraza-Vidamour

The Times-Herald

Coweta County School System officials welcomed and offered encouragement to new teachers during the system's annual new teacher induction program last week.

School officials and administrators were on hand at the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts to welcome 160 teachers to the school system starting with a Tuesday morning breakfast that was sponsored by the local banking community. The system is one of Coweta's largest employers.

The three-day program continued through the week with orientations at the schools, curriculum work sessions and various informational sessions on topics ranging from the school system's code of ethics to parent conferencing.

Superintendent Blake Bass, who has been with the system for 37 years, welcomed the teachers "to the most understanding and caring group of people I know and that's the staff at each school."

Steve Bedrosian, a school board member and retired professional baseball player, had teachers laughing when he shared with them some advice he received from one of his former coaches -- "to make sure you keep your oar in the water."

Bedrosian explained the metaphor applied to teamwork, how everyone in the boat had to keep rowing and rowing together to be successful. He told teachers that when the inevitable frustrations with some students begin to pile up, "just remember that the oar you use ... it's just for rowing."

Carly Winstead, Coweta's 2008 Teacher of the Year, told the new teachers that "you are your student's teacher of the year and you only have one year," to make a difference with that student.

Winstead advised the new teachers to keep their eyes open to things that can be transformed as a teaching tool for the classroom.

The second-grade teacher at Elm Street Elementary said she whipped out her cellphone recently at the doctor's office to take a picture of something she felt could be used in her classroom.

She also advised teachers to trust and believe in their ideas and to try anything once. She reminded teachers to stay encouraged about their profession.

"Be as positive tomorrow and in May as you are today," she said.

Along with Bass, Winstead reminded the teachers that they were "hand-picked" by the Coweta County School System. Bass also thanked them for choosing Coweta to start and continue their careers.