Students aren’t the only ones that learn. Teachers at SHS now have a chance to visit their colleagues and observe techniques that they use in their classrooms. Teachers have until May 1 to schedule visits.

Before this school year started, teachers in Seminole County attended a meeting where they were asked what SCPS could do to be more supportive. The school board decided with a vote that teachers should observe each other to learn new teaching methods. They are using millage funds (property tax money that was set aside for education) to allow teachers to pair up with a mentor and observe one another.

English teacher Mrs. Mary Stokes said, “That’s how we learn. It’s important that we share ideas, strategies, and model the best procedure.”

Classroom visits have already started. A teacher who was recently hired and a veteran are paired together and spend one day observing four to five teachers for one period each. They spend the last period or two debriefing on what they saw and discussing how they can bring what they learned into their classrooms.

These observations are happening once during this current school year. If these visits prove successful they may be available next year.

Sophomore Gabrielle Plympton felt, “If a teacher observes a good teacher with good teaching habits for them to pick up, then that would be beneficial, but if they’re observing a bad teacher there’s the possibility of them picking up bad tactics, and if they implement it into their teaching, their students’ learning could suffer.”

Any teacher who is new to teaching can participate with any experienced teacher. To sign up, teachers must talk to an administrator, where they volunteer to be observed. Observed teachers are chosen based on expertise in classroom management, subject matter, and skills with technology, in addition to other criteria.

Sophomore Adriana Colón said, “[Observations] can help teachers learn new teaching methods and it can help their students learn in a variety of ways.”

Teachers can observe different subjects being taught and methods for other classes. They see many different styles of teaching and get to visually interpret the situation rather than reading about different methods of teaching.

This may present teachers with a new learning opportunity for which they have waited. SCPS is trying something new, and, if the observations prove successful, SCPS may implement them again.