{"id":1873,"date":"2013-04-26T21:47:23","date_gmt":"2013-04-26T21:47:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/?p=1873"},"modified":"2026-08-09T20:44:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T10:44:20","slug":"new-teacher-orientation-must-haves-at-international-schools-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/new-teacher-orientation-must-haves-at-international-schools-2\/","title":{"rendered":"New Teacher Orientation Must-Haves at International Schools: Resource person with a contact number and email address"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/a>
Image by stokpic<\/a> from Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In this blog series, we will talk about the ins and outs of an excellent new teacher orientation programme at an international school.\u00a0 A new teacher orientation programme can really play a very important part in the start of your new school, in your new host country.\u00a0 What are all the must-haves then?\u00a0 Check out our blog series here<\/a> to read all about the ones that we have discussed so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Must-have #9: Resource person with a contact number and email address
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is so much going on for international school teachers in their first days, weeks, and even months after starting at their new school.\u00a0 There is just as much going on for you before you arrive at your new host country.\u00a0 Being that there is so much to think about, one of the most important things that international schools can do for their new hires is set up so that they have a resource person.\u00a0 New teachers actually need to have a contact person from the moment they get offered their contract (e.g., when they are still in their home country or their current placement).\u00a0 There are so many things going on in the new teacher’s mind, and that person needs somebody to talk to and ask questions to as the time gets closer and closer for his\/her big move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember getting the chance to talk over the phone (now it would be done via Skype, I’m sure) with a contact person a few months before I moved.\u00a0 The contact person was another teacher at the school who had worked there for a year already.\u00a0 In turn, it was fresh in her mind all the things that a new teacher would want to know about.\u00a0 I had my list of ‘new teacher’ questions ready to ask her.\u00a0 She was very real and forthcoming with her answers, and it made me that much more comfortable, at the time, in my preparation for the big move, which was in 2-3 months.\u00a0 Sure, I got some information and answers from the director who hired me, but it is many times much better to get a different perspective on things.\u00a0 Also, there are some questions that you just might not ask a director (potentially your immediate supervisor). Once I got to the school, that initial ‘resource’ person then coordinated some new teacher orientation activities for the rest of the new teachers.\u00a0 But then, that was it.\u00a0 Also, I found out later that this contact person wasn’t actually getting paid any extra to do this; contacting and helping out the new teachers.\u00a0 A year later, they changed that and made sure to give an appropriate stipend for the teacher\/s that take on this role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other international schools have this initial contact person, but then that teacher turns into an official mentor. The mentor’s role is definitely to be the contact person for this new teacher.\u00a0 Some mentorship programmes at international schools are quite helpful; others not so much.\u00a0 Sometimes there isn’t a good match between the mentor and the new teacher.\u00a0 That new teacher just might find a better, more compatible mentor in one of the teachers in their immediate team at the school.\u00a0 It is nice, though, to have another contact person, an official one, if the other teacher isn’t available. Basically, anyone can be a mentor at a new school.\u00a0 Just because someone is your official mentor doesn’t mean that another teacher couldn’t turn into that role for you if you don’t think the first one is the best fit for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not all international schools are that organized, though, with regard to assigning contact people to new staff.\u00a0 It could be that the school doesn’t even have a mentor programme.\u00a0 But the problems could also be related to an existing, ineffective mentor programme.\u00a0 For example, there is nothing worse than when you email your ‘resource,’ and then that contact person never gets back to you.\u00a0 Maybe the person is just ignoring their ‘resource’ job, or maybe the school just gave you the wrong email address (for example, some teachers might not use their work email address very often or at all during the summer holiday).\u00a0 Either way, when you don’t have communication with your new school during these pre-move months, then you can easily start to get a bit anxious and nervous about whether you are preparing the best way you can.\u00a0 Some new teachers might even get “cold feet” and call the whole thing off; it can happen!\u00a0 The main point is, though: to keep the new teacher as comfortable and as informed as possible!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

******<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, does your international school assign a resource person with a contact number and email address to their newly hired teachers?  Please share your experiences!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this blog series, we will talk about the ins and outs of an excellent new teacher orientation programme at an international school.\u00a0 A new teacher orientation programme can really play a very important part in the start of your new school, in your new host country.\u00a0 What are all the must-haves then?\u00a0 Check out 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