Each year, GCDS welcomes many new students to our community. However, as a new high school, we have also welcomed many new teachers. As a community, we focus on ensuring that our new students feel welcomed and included, but what do we do to ensure that our new teachers receive this same welcome? 

This year, new teachers were in the unique position of starting a new job in the middle of a pandemic. I’ve conducted two interviews to help us better understand their unique perspective.

The two teachers, both of whom were new to GCDS for the 2020/2021 school year, described a positive joining experience and felt that their teaching style, curriculum, and relationships with both students and other faculty members were equally effective under the school’s  “hybrid” model, though maybe required more thoughtful planning.

Although they describe the current situation as “less than ideal”, they both feel that everyone has maintained a very positive and collaborative attitude and have been able to adapt together. Mr. Heinz, a 10th grade American History teacher, explained that he tries to “bring a little bit of life” to online classes by keeping the class interactive. 

Mrs. Pepe, a language teacher here at GCDS, mentioned that it has taken teachers and students longer to get to know each other than it otherwise would have and that everyone is looking forward to the day when we are all in school full time. 

Similarly, Mr. Heinz explained that since he and other teachers are on campus every day, he has been able to effectively collaborate and get to know his fellow colleagues but that since his students are on only campus a maximum of three days a week, building those relationships hasn’t been as easy. Mr. Heinz added that the less formal, more social communication between the teachers has been more challenging due to the COVID-19 restrictions. 

As far as their curriculum is concerned, Mrs. Pepe and Mr. Heinz both felt that their curriculum was substantially unchanged. Mr. Heinz added that the lessons take a bit more planning, to incorporate more “conversational” aspects. Mrs. Pepe elaborated that she has been more conscious of the pace of lessons while focusing on the balance between keeping the lessons challenging while also “fun” and engaging.

Based on Mrs. Pepe’s and Mr. Heinz’s positive feedback, it is safe to say that GCDS places the same emphasis on welcoming new teachers and staff as they do with the student body.