Overton Schools Supporting New Teachers

Experienced teachers serving as consultants across the Overton County Schools to support other teachers, especially those new to the classroom.

Federal Programs Supervisor Lesley Riddle said the change is part of the district’s efforts to increase teacher retention. Riddle said the consultants help new teachers get acclimated, guide them in classroom management, and provide additional support with curricula if possible.

“You know, we want to make them feel welcome and make them feel prepared, or help them feel prepared,” Riddle said. “And that’s our hope and our goal with these consultants, you know, answer the small questions, better prepare, and don’t let these new teachers feel like they’re out on an island. And they make them feel like they’re part of a family in each of those school buildings.”

Riddle said administration decided to take applications for every teacher consultant position in the district this year as a way to implement the focus on new teachers. Riddle said every school chose to keep their consultant the same even with the adjustments to the role.

“So at the district office I guess we were a little out of touch of what the principals really had in those spots.” Riddle said. “And so it really didn’t have any changes at all.”

Riddle said that helping these new teachers get more comfortable in their positions will also provide a better experience for students.

“I think if a teacher’s nervous or uneasy or doesn’t feel welcome in the school they’re in I think that students can pick up on that quickly,” Riddle said. “We want the students to feel that comfort and to feel like that teacher is being able to put one hundred percent of their effort into that student.”

Riddle said that higher retention would not only help with staffing issues but also improve the quality of the district’s teachers over time.

“Your first year teaching, your first few years teaching, you’re not as good as you are down the road,” Riddle said. “So if we can retain all these teachers and not have to have such turnover, I think having the teachers that have been there a while is going to be really, really good for our entire district.”

Riddle said most, if not all, of the consultant teachers have many years of experience in Overton County specifically.

“So they know all of the policies and procedures and the practices here in our county,” Riddle said. “And they work, like I said, the fifty hours is what’s allotted in that stipend.”