Newly Hired Educator Events & Programs

Newly Hired? What to Know Before You Start

Human resources communication

Once you have accepted and signed your contract with Lake Washington School District (LWSD), you will be sent a Welcome Letter from Human Resources with important information including a welcome packet of resources.

An HR tech will be your point of contact for anything regarding the hiring and onboarding process.

Important dates

There are mandatory onboarding events in August for all new to the district certificated educators. You will receive an email with information about these events from Professional Learning. Be sure to save the dates on your calendar. The Educator Introduction Academy (EIA) and New Employment Orientation (NEO) are requirements of employment.

District Device Pick up at the Lake Washington School District Resource Center
Educator Introduction Academy (EIA) at Lake Washington High School
New Employee Orientation (NEO) at Lake Washington High School

New Teacher Support Program (NTSP)

The innovative and nationally recognized New Teacher Support Program (NTSP), is designed to provide focused support for novice educators as they enter the profession and experience the culture and standards of Lake Washington School District. Each first and second year educator is paired with a Consulting Teacher (CT), a fully-released certificated teacher who serves as a mentor and instructional coach. Participation in the NTSP program is required as a condition of employment.

New educators find this trusting, confidential relationship incredibly valuable. The learning-focused relationship provides new educators with opportunities to learn and grow from novice to more expert levels of performance through direct learning opportunities. Research shows mentoring during the first years of teaching accelerates the growth and development of both new educators and their students. NTSP works to provide new educators with just-in-time learning opportunities along with learning-focused conversations throughout the school year. New educators play an active role in their professional learning. In addition to one-to-one classroom support, NTSP offers other professional learning opportunities.

FAQ

What support is available for early career (first and second year) teachers?

Am I required to attend all the training if I have worked in the district before or if I am changing roles/positions?

If you have been separated from LWSD for more than three years, you will be required to attend all mandatory training. If you are transitioning from serving in an LWSD classified to a certificated role, you will only be required to attend the Educator Introduction Academy. If you have a unique role and are unsure if all the mandatory training applies to you, please reach out to Proflearn@lwsd.org for support.

When can I visit my building and classroom?

When can I get access to district resources and the portal?

To get access to district resources and the portal, you will need an LWSD email address. These are typically emailed to your personal email address in early August. When you pick up your district device, you will set up access to district resources. Completing your onboarding paperwork is required prior to being assigned an LWSD email address. If you have questions, contact your HR tech.

Who is Professional Learning?

Professional Learning is a department that supports newly hired educators, helping with onboarding to the district. Expect to receive communication via email from the Professional Learning Department once you have signed your contract. This email will provide important and time-sensitive information regarding next steps and important dates. You can contact Professional Learning at ProfLearn@LWSD.org.

What if I missed the mandatory training sessions or I was hired after August?

For more information about EIA or NTSP, contact ProfLearn@lwsd.org.