Emanuel County Schools recently held a New Employee Orientation on July 25, 2023, at Swainsboro High School to welcome over 70 new employees, including 42 new teachers, to the ECS family. The day began with a delightful continental breakfast courtesy of the Nutrition Department at Swainsboro High School.
Superintendent Scotty Hattaway warmly welcomed everyone. He emphasized the significant influence that each ECS employee plays in the lives of our students and shared a heartfelt story of his life and the teachers who had positively impacted him. He encouraged everyone to take the time to get to know their students and be attentive to their needs. He revealed our 2023-2024 motto to “Stop. See the need. Meet the need."
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Denise Warnock provided another warm welcome and introduced the new employees to Emanuel County School Directors. Dr. Warnock said, “Our mission is to support teachers so they can support students.” Each director explained their roles, and many expanded on the superintendent's message of the importance of getting to know the students. Other special guests presented on various topics.
When asked about the orientation, Human Resource Director Valorie Watkins stated, “As we start the 2023-2024 school year, I am delighted to welcome all our new teachers and support staff members to Emanuel County Schools. I am excited that they will be a part of our ECS family! We want to support our new staff members as they become acquainted with our expectations, students, and their families. We are looking forward to learning and growing together for years to come.”
According to Tammy Gray, the ECS Teacher Induction Coordinator, it's important for new team members to understand the mission, vision, and core beliefs of Emanuel County Schools. “By doing so, they will grasp their significance to our educational system. To ensure they perform their best for our students, we offer them support and resources they can use,” responded Mrs. Gray.
Experienced, effective teachers who were selected as mentors for the ECS Teacher Induction Program attended the day’s luncheon. These dedicated mentors generously donated their time to support and connect with their mentees. Also joining the group were the Instructional Coaches, some administrators, and other staff members. Alexander and Company sponsored the delightful lunch prepared by All the Fixins.
As the day ended, everyone demonstrated a common excitement to work with students in Emanuel County.
