ON-BOARDING
Why use an Online On-Boarding system?
International schools typically incur extensive costs related to on-boarding new employees. These costs are associated with face-to-face conditions and include extended room and board as well as administration and support staff requirements. An effective on-boarding program can facilitate early success, as well as satisfaction for the new teacher (and their family). On-boarding programs can include traditional orientation items such as visa requirements, registration with local municipalities, and payroll sign up, but should focus heavily on providing new staff with an understanding of the organizational structure, local culture, and relevant policies and procedures.
It is prudent for international schools to consider taking advantage of online conditions in order to on-board new teachers prior to them setting foot on campus. This has the potential to save both time and money for all parties.
Below is an overview of some of the concepts that should be considered to help new teachers quickly become fit for purpose within your school.
Online On-Boarding for Education
Welcome and Introductions
Get to know the new team
- Include specific forum for all new staff to start interacting
Introduction to a personal mentor
- Create a local mentor teacher support system and start conversations
Introduction to personal academic support: Meet your Head of Department
- Create a local academic support system and start conversations
Administrative Overview
School historical overview
- Historical Perspective: Turn over rates for international schools often leave gaps in school knowledge for teachers. A lesson explaining where they have come from and where they are going will help teachers all be on the same page.
- Teachers don’t know what they don’t know.
School Demographic Overview: Understanding the school culture and environment means understanding topics like the origin of school, mission statement, specific curriculum choices, unique programs and services, and the demographic makeup of students, parents, and teachers.
Connecting with the friendly support staff: Finance, HR, Admin
Introduction to the Head of Department
Local logistics
- Work permits, Drivers Licence, local banking, Visas
- Health Care
- Required immunizations
- Child Care: School-based or other
Digital Systems Training
Getting familiar with school’s existing digital platforms and communication systems
Student Information System
Required Grade book
- Introduce software
- Offer training on specific Grade book software
Teacher and school financial systems
Policy and Procedures
General Staff policies
- Create a new staff handbook that can be read and signed (officially collected as evidence of understanding and compliance)
Collecting necessary paperwork
Culture Training
Introduction to the local culture
School culture within the local context
- Consider a video overview
Local culture
- Language introduction for the whole family
- Create an introduction video to the local area
- Printable help sheets for commonly used phrases with translation
- Fundamental Language acquisition
- Food overview
- Printable food phrases with translation
- Overview with pictures of easily accessible restaurants
- Local grocery shopping
- Allergy information
- Local amenities
- Health and Emergency Services
- Transportation: Printable taxi instructions with translation
- Family activities available in the area
- Expat clubs/societies etc.
Family Training
On-board staff children and offer them a social connection via forums with the other new staff kids
- Overview of opportunities for staff children: Clubs, sports, etc.
Create school video walkthroughs giving the kids a sneak peek as to their new home
- Create online interactive games within the family section for the kids to be able to get to know each other and start building friendships.
Introduce the concept of 3rd culture kids: Creating a successful introduction and understanding for staff children goes a long way towards longevity and teacher turnover.
“4D Education helped us achieve “next-level” outcomes in our onboarding process. Without their leadership and consulting expertise, we would still be mired in an antiquated, sub-par model for recruitment and training. With 4D, we saved money, and new recruits completely understand all aspects of our culture and work processes, something we had always struggled to accomplish. We highly recommend 4D!”