New educators head back to school

Twenty-four new staff members joined the Dartmouth Public School district, and on Monday, Sept. 9, they were welcomed to the community by the School Committee.

Superintendent June Saba-Maguire started the meeting by welcoming the new hires, which included a small reception with snacks.

“There’s so much positive energy that I can see is really going to make an impact on us here in the Dartmouth public schools,” said Saba-Maguire.

Of the new staff, nine are joining the elementary school staff, five are teaching at the middle school, six are teaching at the high school and four are joining at the district level. 

Most of the teachers were hired in special education and counseling roles while others were hired in general education such as grade teachers, English and math teachers. 

This district is  welcoming in the staff with Project T.I.M.E., which stands for Teacher Induction and Mentoring Experience. New teachers are paired with current teachers for advice and guidance. 

The experienced mentors help new hires acclimate to the Dartmouth public school system, answering any questions they may have.

“Project T.I.M.E. is a pretty strong program and again, the strength is because of our mentors,” said Ross Thibault, one of the Directors of Teaching and Learning, “Our mentors are excellent in supporting their newest colleagues and welcoming them to the district and helping to create a sense of belonging.”

This project is in place to recruit but also retain educators. The Dartmouth schools have a higher than average retention rate at 92%. The state average is around 86% according to Thibault, and the school district wants to retain talent in Dartmouth.

The good reputation surrounding Dartmouth schools is one of the many reasons that new educators decided to work for the local public school system.

During the School Committee meeting, Thibault introduced several teachers, including Nikie Ekholm, who is joining the staff as a high school special education teacher.

“When asked why Dartmouth, Nikie noted that she was excited to be joining a high achieving district that is invested in both teachers and students,” said Thibault.

Other reasons included Dartmouth feeling like home, having gone to Dartmouth schools and a commitment to student success. 

“It’s home,” said Alex Olliviere, the new district level music teacher and percussion specialist.