V O L U M E 5, O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4 Duplin County Schools Human Resources Department Inside This Issue Employee Assistance Program Employee Recognition Benefits Update Volunteer Background Checks Our Employees Are Invaluable Resources The Human Resources Department is committed to supporting and strengthening our most important resource our employees. Through the Employee Assistance Program, short-term counseling and referral services are now available for all eligible employees and immediate family members. Employees facing personal issues interfering with job performance can utilize this service to resolve such problems in a manner that most benefits the employee s overall well-being. For more information regarding this service, please contact Human Growth and Training Associates at (910) 791-5719. Beginning Teacher Support Program Licensure Update Master s Pay Important Reminders HR Staff Contact Information
CONGRATULATIONS To the 2014-2015 Teachers of the Year, Support Staff of the Year, and Principal of the Year Teachers of the Year Scott Ballard, principal at East Duplin High School, was selected as the 2014-2015 Principal of the Year. Nicole Rose, teacher at North Duplin Elementary School, was selected as the 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year. Kathryn Miller, guidance counselor at Kenansville Elementary School, was selected as the 2014-2015 Student Support Staff of the Year. Britani Becher-Chinquapin Elementary School Margaret Coman-B.F. Grady Elementary School Josephine Williams-Charity Middle School Wandy Rodriguez-Beulaville Elementary School Shanika Murphy-Rose-Hill Magnolia Elementary School Sherri Whitman-Warsaw Elementary School Kelli Norris-Wallace Elementary School Corey Keffer-East Duplin High School Monica Wallace-Warsaw Middle School Edith Sosa-Wallace-Rose Hill High School Tori Brown-Kenansville Elementary School Tiffany Cassell-James Kenan High School Ericka Fountain-Duplin Early College High School Support Staff of the Year Amber Tuck Social Worker-East Duplin High School Laura Bryan Media Coordinator-North Duplin Elementary School Janet Jones School Nurse-B.F. Grady Elementary School 2
State Health Plan Annual Enrollment Annual Enrollment period will begin October 1, 2014 and end October 31, 2014, with benefits effective January 1, 2015-December 31, 2015. Enrollment is fully online through eenroll. Please remember to print confirmation statement when complete. TRICARE Supplement Plan The TRICARE Supplement Plan is being offered October 1, 2014-October 31, 2014. TRICARE is the health benefit program for the military community. This covers active duty family members, retirees, and their eligible dependents. For more details, please contact Tonya Kenan, Benefits Specialist, at (910) 296-6651. DCS recognizes the value of parents Volunteer Background Checks and volunteers in our schools. In efforts Submitting requests for a criminal background check is now quicker and more efficient! to streamline the required criminal background check process, volunteer background stations are set up at each school site. This will allow for quicker turn around time for parents and volunteers who would like to volunteer in schools or attend field trips. If volunteers or parents have any questions or concerns regarding the online criminal background, please contact the school or the Human Resources office at 910-296-6626. 3
Beginning Teacher Support Program school-based site coordinators continue to work diligently with our beginning teachers. Site Coordinators will provide support for mentors and new teachers at each school using specific coaching strategies. A sincere thank you goes out to each of our site coordinators and mentors for helping beginning teachers become more effective educators in meeting the needs of Duplin County s students. Beginning teachers and mentors should continue to visit the DCS Beginning Teacher Support Website on a regular basis for important information, forms, and guidelines! Upcoming Events October 21 National Board Information Session October 22 Purposeful Coaching (Part I) October 20 Site Coordinator s Meeting December 8 Purposeful Coaching (Part II) December 11 BTSP midyear Survey Licensure Update Reinstatement of master s degree pay for: a) Those who have taken a course toward that degree as of July 1, 2013. b) Those who have received a master s degree and are teaching in-field for at least 70% of their work time. c) Those working in their area of graduate work (e.g., social workers). Teachers and instructional support with an administrator s license are not eligible for the differential pay unless they have been paid on the M schedule prior to July 1, 2014. 4
Important Reminders: Praxis II and Tuition Reimbursement Request forms will be available on our website next month. The 2014-2015 Employee Handbook is now available online through the HR webpage. Not Pictured: Cindy Grady Felicia Brown Cindy Grady Chief Officer for Human Resources/Leadership Development Beginning Teacher Support Coordinator 296-6624 fbrown@duplinschools.net 289-2259 cgrady@duplinschools.net Brittany Knowles Gina Farrior Employee Relations & Recruitment Services Coordinator Beginning Teacher Support Coordinator 296-6667 bknowles@duplinschools.net 289-2259 gfarrior@duplinschools.net Bonnie Miller Carolyn Smith Licensure Specialist Beginning Teacher Support Program and National Board Certification Coordinator 296-6649 bmiller@duplinschools.net Tonya Kenan Benefits Specialist 296-6651 tkenan@duplinschools.net Annie Kirby Human Resources Administrative Assistant 296-6626 akirby@duplinschools.net 289-2238 csmith@duplinschools.net