New Hire On-Boarding

Except as otherwise provided for in Florida Statute, applicants for teaching positions must be eligible for or retain a Florida Certificate and be qualified for the positions for which they are applying.

Appointments shall be made only by the Principal. SCS may offer employment to outstanding applicants as early as November in anticipation of openings for the following school year. Teachers who represent they have adequate professional competencies, but do not or cannot demonstrate them, whether deliberately or not, may be terminated at the discretion of the Principal. SCS may require newly appointed teachers to participate in staff development activities up to 40 hours related to topics that are essential to the mission and vision of SCS. Such training shall be given outside regular school hours at no cost to the teacher. 

Employment decisions shall be made by the Principal, subject to guidelines and requirements set forth by the Governing Board, the annual budget and applicable law.

Upon acceptance of a job offer and prior to beginning work, all newly hired employees must arrange to visit the Office of Human Resources located in the Monroe County School District Main Office (241 Trumbo Road) to ensure that documentation necessary for employment has been submitted.

Fingerprints will be taken at this time and the cost is borne by the employee.

Employees should be prepared to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or eligibility to work in the U.S. and to complete and certify accuracy of the Employment Eligibility and Verification Form (Federal Form I- 9), in addition to completing payroll-related forms. Form I-9 documentation must be provided within three days of hire. A School District ID badge will be provided that will be required to access the NASKW Sigsbee Annex.

Pre-employment documentation may include individual, family and beneficiary birth certificates, Social Security cards and U.S. Passports. Official education transcripts may also be required, depending upon the nature of your position.  All years of teaching experience must be verified by the district that the employee taught at.

The SCS employment verification process includes criminal record (FDLE) checks in addition to personal and professional references, educational and employment background checks. All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory results of these employment screening processes.  

SCS reserves the right to periodically update records for individual employees, employees in specific job categories or the school department staff as a whole. An unsatisfactory FDLE report may result in termination of employment. Employees who are involved in criminal proceedings (other than minor traffic violations) that may affect employment should promptly notify the Principal or Board President within forty-eight (48) hours of the arrest, charge, or conviction and provide SCS with any necessary documentation. 

New employees, who are eligible for insurance benefits and wish to enroll in benefits, must do so within thirty (30) calendar days from the employee's start date. Those who do not enroll within this specified time frame will not be eligible to enroll for insurance coverage or waiver until the next annual open enrollment period unless a “qualifying event” occurs.  Additional information about available benefit plan options can be obtained by contacting the HR/Office Manager.

Therefore, if an employee is interested in insurance and other coverage, he/she should take time to carefully review and promptly submit all employee benefits forms. 

As a new teacher, the Principal and mentor teacher will orient you to your teaching responsibilities and assist you in ordering books, supplies and other materials. SCS sponsors an orientation meeting/training for new teachers prior to the beginning of each school year. 

Professional development sessions are sponsored regularly throughout the school year. They are valuable sources of information about curricular and educational resources in addition to providing opportunities for sharing and networking with other professional educators. Information on these and other programs is disseminated to teachers in advance of each offering.

All teachers new to Monroe County School District, must participate in the District Induction Program within the first two years of being hired.  SCS will assign you a certified mentor to help guide you through the process.  It is the employee’s responsibility to complete all of the requirements of the program in a timely fashion and submit their evidence to the District coordinators when requested to do so.  We strongly recommend that new hires complete the Induction Program in their first year of teaching in Monroe County.

New hires should expect to meet weekly with their mentor, set up observations of the mentor’s classroom as well as times for the mentor to observe the new hire, and be prepared to complete professional development requirements.

Instructional coaches are provided to assist teaching staff in learning Sigsbee routines, curriculum and assessment strategies.  They are invaluable master teachers who are able to answer questions, provide innovative ideas, observe classrooms, and model strategies for new teachers.  Often, instructional coaches facilitate professional development.  These sessions are required for identified personnel.