Teacher Handbook
Brooks-Quinn-Jones Elementary School
now operates in a
“No Excuse Zone”
FOR EXTRAORDINARY
COMMITMENT TO EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS
Jonathan Kegler, Principal
BQJ isON THE ROAD TO COLLEGE with
NO EXCUSES
907 North Sanders Street, Nacogdoches, TX 75964~ (936) 569-5040~
NISD Board of Trustees
2013-2014
Mr. Ron Watson
Board President
Dr. Alan Sowards
Board Vice President
Mrs. Lisa Mize
Board Secretary
Dr. Fred Hays
NISD Superintendent
Board Members
Mr. T.D. Howarth
Mr. Steve Green
Mr. Tom Davis
Rev. James A. Ervin
All employees will be expected to be able to recite the
BQJ MISSION/VISION/THEME:
We are committed to creating a school that will educate and inspire all students to achieve academic excellence!
Every student without exception or excuse, will be proficient or advanced in reading, language arts and math!
“BQJ Way =Win The Day”
Brooks-Quinn-Jones Faculty and Staff
Principal / Jonathan Kegler / Principals Secretary / Livia PierceAssistant Principal / Jennifer Roach / PEIMS Clerk / Sandra Webb
Academic Coordinator / Celia Luna / Receptionist / Mikey Cates
Curriculum Specialist / Daphne Rhoads / Nurse / Mary Whitten
Bal. Literacy Coach / Delisha Jackson / Counselor / Diana Brister
Reading Specialist / Donna Burran / Social Worker / David Espinosa
ESL Specialist / Julie Madden
Instructional Tech. / Crystal Garcia / PE / Eric Hamilton
Music / Claudia Sifuentes
Pre-Kindergarten / April Solomon / Computer / Tanya Agnew
Janet Parker / Library / Linsey Taylor
Mirna Flores
Christina Saldana / Diagnostician / Julianne Davis
Claudia Gutierrez / Speech Therapist / Cindy Price
Rossana Sanchez / Dyslexia / Danette Wofford
Kindergarten / Diana Cruz / OT/PT / Nancy Elder
Jana Kimbrough / Andrea DeJean
Janie Morales
Belinda Ordaz / Special Education / Wendy Barnhill
Shekendrea Hewitt / Elsie Davis
Amber Donihoo / Wendy Wallace
Calvasha Summers
First Grade / Marisol Lara
Laura Middleton / Instructional Assistants / Rosalyn Davis
Hope Daniel / Imelda Garcia
Jessica Jones / Lisa Garcia
Dana Gipson / Raquel Hernandez
Eileen Acevedo
Second Grade / Amber Wilson / Veronica Arrona
Keirstin Anson / Tamra Kegler
Charlotte Wakefield / Connie Barbe
Brandy Hughes / Zach Chatman
Cynthia Bean / Ginger Parr
Kelly Rhodes
Third Grade / Erin McGee / Stepheny Sanders
Kellie Farr / Marion Ringhausen
Crystal Hooper
Kayla Walker / Custodial / Adolphus Maxie
Paula Hand / Nadine Johnson
Jo Brooks
Fourth Grade / Pam McClendon / Juwan Fletcher
Phyllis Upshaw
Stephanie Bates / Cafeteria / Christine Fry
Tara Koerner / Laura Byrley
Carol Odom / Dana Ellison
Adelina Garcia
Fifth Grade / Adrian Decker / Helen James
Megan McQuage / Shelia Patel
Bethany Jacobson / Sonia Rodriguez
Jaimee Pickens
Workday Hours/Days
*Teachers / 7:40-3:40* Instructional Aides / 7:30-3:30
Instructional Aides / 183 Days
Teachers
Instructional Technologist
Reading/Math Specialist / 187 Days
Counselor / 193 Days
Assistant Principal
CurriculumSpecialist
Diagnostician
PEIMS Clerk / 207 Days
Principal
Secretary / 226 Days
*Times May Vary
183 Days: August 21, 2013 through June5, 2014
187 Days: August 16, 2013 through June 6, 2014
193 Days: August 13, 2013 through June 11, 2014
207 Days: August 5, 2013 through June 23, 2014
226 Days: July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014
Master Schedule
Grade / Elective / Lunch TimePre-K / 11:30-12:15 / 10:30-11:00
Kindergarten / 12:20-1:05 / 10:55-11:25
First / 1:10-1:55 / 11:20-11:50
Second / 2:00-2:45 / 11:45-12:15
Third / 10:10-10:55 / 12:10-12:40
Fourth / 9:20-10:05 / 12:35-1:05
Fifth / 8:30-9:15 / 1:00-1:30
Brooks-Quinn-JonesElementary School
Campus Expectations2013-2014
ATTENDANCEPOLICY: STAFF
The academic day for ALL elementary students begins at 8:00 and ends at 3:15 unless otherwise identified by the NISD calendar. Each classroom teacher should pick up their class in the cafeteria promptly at7:40.
Support teachers and paraprofessional hours are 7:30 to 3:30 each day, unless otherwise set by the principal.
ATTENDANCE: ABSENCE FROM WORK
Faculty and staff are expected to be present at school daily. The teacher’s presence in the classroom with the students is vital to their academic success. Emergencies and situations may arise. If so, please contact Mr. Kegler as soon as possible at 225-2367 (cell). When it becomes necessary for you to be absent from work, you must follow the directions for calling the Absence Reporting System at 569-5790 or using the SmartFind Express on the NISD web page (found under Employees: Absence Reporting). Advise the principal as early as possible and secure permission to be absent for workshops and personal leave. Sick leave and personal leave are governed by state law and school board policies.
Personal leave should be applied for using the proper form at least two weeks in advance. You must have approval from the principal and an approved Personal Leave form before you use personal business as a reason for absence on the Absence Reporting System. The principal will limit the number of personal days granted on any particular day based on the necessity to conduct school in an orderly fashion. Refer to the attendance policy portion in the district policy handbook for additional information.
Teachers should not leave campus early or arrive late. If an emergency situation requires you to leave campus during the school day, you must obtain principal approval. This will allow us to coveryour class with a reliable substitute before leaving your students. You are expected to sign out when leaving and sign in when returning and notify the Principal or Assistant Principal.
If you have a situation arise and need to leave campus and are gone for more than 45 minutes you will need to put in at least a half day absence.
SUBSTITUTE TEACHER FOLDER
Each teacher must have a completed Substitute Teacher Folder. The Substitute Teacher Folder must be clearly labeled and remain on top of the file cabinet at all times. Include the following items:
- Your name and room number
- Campus Phone Numbers
- Name of a partner teacher
- Student roll list
- Attendance directions for completion
- Daily schedule
- Instructions indicating where to find teaching manuals, prepared worksheets, etc.
- Full day of emergency lesson plans or a copy of your weekly lesson plans
- Seating chart/lining up chart
- Discipline plan
- Special student information (medical, discipline, academic, etc.)
- Emergency Procedures (Fire, Tornado, etc.)
- Dismissal procedures/Duty assignment
- Nurse’s Forms
ATTENDANCE POLICY: STUDENTS
Please review the policy in the Attendance Procedure Booklet so you can answer student and parent questions about attendance. In Texas, children between the ages of six and seventeen are required to attend school unless otherwise exempted by law.
The first day of school you will receive your class roster with a list of students assigned to your classroom. Please send any student who is not on your roster to the office immediately. Put a “NS” (no show) for any student that does not come to your classroom.
Students will be tardy after 8:00 a.m. Those students should be sent to the office for a tardy slip. Attendance must be submitted electronically by 9:00 a.m. Please notify Sandra Webb should you have a problem completing your attendance due to a technology difficulty. Daily attendance on each campus and in each classroom is monitored by the central office. Students who are not in the classroom by 10:00 are considered absent for the whole day.
Students are to bring a note to their teacher when they are absent. The note should contain the following information:
- Date(s) of student absence(Please add the date if the note is not dated.)
- Reason for absence
- Signature of parent/guardian
*All absentee notes should be placed daily in the front pocket of the absentee folder. The absentee folder needs to be placed outside your door by 8:30 a.m. each day.
STUDENTS LEAVING DURING SCHOOL DAY
If a student must leave school during the day, the parent must come to the office to sign out the child. If the parent comes to the classroom to pick up the child, the parent must have a dismissal note from the office. Students who become ill during the school day should, with the teacher’s permission(and nurse referral completed), report to the school nurse. The nurse will decide whether or not the student should be sent home and notify the student’s parent.
ALARMS
Teachers have the option of working in their classrooms after school hours. The alarm system will be set each day. Please adhere to the following alarm time schedule:
Monday-FridayThe alarm will automatically set at 10:00 pm.
Saturday-Sunday8:00 am – 6:00 pm (Automatic-you will not need a code)
ANNOUCEMENTS
All K- 5th grade students will report to the cafeteria between 7:30 – 7:40 a.m. Morning Announcements will beginapproximately at 7:50.
APPRAISAL OF ALL EMPLOYEES
TEACHERS: All classroom teachers will be appraised using a district approved teacher appraisal system (PDAS).
PDAS: A file will be kept in the office for summative documentation purposes. Items including workshops, certificates, copies of lessons and other activities, etc., documenting exemplary service may be placed in the file throughout the year.
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF: Other professional staff members will be appraised by locally developed appraisal instruments.
PARAPROFESSIONAL STAFF: All paraprofessional staff members will be appraised by the principal in collaboration with your teacher supervisor using a locally developed instrument.
Your final appraisal will be evaluated according to your final test scores in all grades. Support staff will be evaluated according to growth made by students that you have worked with, and teachers that you have worked with.
- 85%-90% of your class must pass the end of the year assessment, STAAR or show one year’s growth.
- Elective classes will be graded according to subject area TEKS.
Example of scoring for Domain VIII on the end of the year Appraisal:
- Exceeds Expectations90% of your class passing or showing a year’s growth
- Proficient80% of your class passing or showing a year’s growth
- Below Expectations70% of your class passing or showing a year’s growth
- Unsatisfactory60% of your class passing or showing a year’s growth
Support will be provided throughout the year to ensure that students succeed.
BUS/DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
3:15Bus riders and day care vans will be dismissed.
3:20Car riders will be dismissed.
3:25Walkers will be dismissed.
Safety patrol will assist in monitoring students and remind them to be safe. Parents are asked to remain in their car in order to keep traffic moving. If a child must be picked up before 3:15, parents must report to the office for an Early Dismissal Slip.
DISMISSAL PROCEDURES CHANGE
Students must bring a note from home signed by the parent/guardian or have a phone call taken by a school official if there is to be a transportation change. If there is no note, the child will be sent home the regular way. The principal/assistant principal must approve notes when students are requesting to ride a bus other than their regular bus. A student must have a Bus Pass in order to ride a bus either for the first time or a different bus.
CAFETERIA PROCEDURES
Daily Pay Procedures:
The cafeteria will use a computer program for payment of daily lunches and prepaid lunches. Please line up students in alphabetical order before enteringthe cafeteria.
FREE/REDUCED LUNCH PROCEDURES:
Students who were previously approved for free/reduced lunch will be able to participate in this program for a 30-day grace period. All students must have their parents or guardians complete a form in order to qualify for this program. If a student has not been approved by the end of the grace period, he/she will have to purchase his/her lunch at the regular price. A student new to NISD will have to complete the proper form in order to qualify for this program. He/she will pay for lunch at the regular price until they are approved. Please send forms to the cafeteria immediately.
PRICES: Students: Breakfast FreeLunch $1.80
Staff: Breakfast FreeLunch $3.10
Teachers will not be allowed to charge.
BREAKFAST IN THE CLASSROOM:
Breakfast is available free of charge to all students as long as we maintain accurate record keeping. The classroom teacher is responsible for maintaining record keeping for this program. You may personally pick up your breakfast between 7:30-7:40. Please return your breakfast cooler and carton to the cafeteria by 8:15.
TEACHER RESPONSIBILITIES
Teachers are assigned a 30-minute duty free lunch. In order for our campus to run efficiently, teachers are expected to drop off students and pick up students at the proper time. Late arrival does not extend departure time. Please keep your clock/watch with the school time and stay on the daily schedule. Please help to make sure the floor and eating area are left ready for the next lunch group.
CLASSROOM PARTIES
In compliance with the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy, classroom parties during the academic day are limited to three days per year and are identified below. Parties are restricted to the end of the academic day beginning no earlier than 2:00 p.m. These dates and times are set campus-wide and cannot be changed, altered or substituted. “If a school permits restricted food at more than three school events per year, Texas Department of Agriculture will not reimburse the school for meals served for any days in excess of the three days permitted under the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy.” Further information regarding Child Nutrition guidelines may be accessed at
Three school-wide designated party days:
- December 20, 2013
- February 14, 2014
- June 5, 2014
CLASSROOM SNACKS
Elementary classrooms may serve one nutritious snack per day in the morning or afternoon (not during regular meal periods for that class) under the teacher’s guidance. The classroom snack should be at no cost to students. Prepackaged snacks must comply with the fat and sugar limits of the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy, and must be single-size servings. All snacks (homemade and prepackaged) may not contain any FMNVs or consist of candy or dessert type items (cookies, cakes, cupcakes, pudding, ice cream or frozen desserts, etc.) However, this does not apply to snacks students bring from home solely for their own consumption.
CLASSROOM BIRTHDAY PARTIES
Classroom birthday parties are scheduled at the discretion of the classroom teacher. If parties are allowed, each child must have equal access to this privilege. It is expected that all students participate and are treated fairly. Parties are not allowed before 2:30. Parents are not allowed to bring snacks, cupcakes, cakes, or the like during lunch time into the cafeteria. Doing so is a violation of Child Nutrition Policies and places the campus at risk of financial sanctions.
CLASSROOM ALTERNATIVE MEALS (PIZZA PARTIES)
Classroom celebrations that include the consumption of food not provided by the Child Nutrition Services are considered as a competitive food service. Prior approval from administration and notification to the campus cafeteria manager is required.
CAMPUS COMMUNICATION
All school events, meetings, and testing dates will be posted in the weekly newsletter. Check it daily. Please see the principal for scheduling of events. All other communication will be via email or telephone announcements directly to your classroom. Please check your email during your conference period and lunch.
Campus Safety
All exterior doors to the building are locked at all times. Each employee is provided with his/her own key to move about the building and property without restriction. Only the front door on Sanders Street is open to the public daily. A video surveillance camera is placed at the front entrance to monitor visitor traffic in the building. More cameras will be installed later at other entrances. If you have visitors, personal or professional, everyone is required to sign-in at the office and display the visitor’s badge where it is easily seen. No child/children are allowed to leave the main building unattended. (This includes returning to the playground for lost or forgotten items.)
CANDLES AND APPLIANCES IN CLASSROOMS
Individual appliances (refrigerators, microwaves, coffee/tea pots, space heaters, heat lamps, fans, etc.), are NOT to be in the classrooms. At no time will candles be permitted to be used in NISD school buildings.
CARE OF SCHOOL PROPERTY
Please teach students their responsibilities in taking proper care of school property. This includes floors, walls, furniture, books, restrooms, etc. When students leave the classroom each day, all papers, pencils, etc. should be picked up, desk tops and counter tops cleared, and students’ chairs stacked out of the way for cleaning. Teachers are asked to turn off lights each time the class is out of the room and at the end of the day. The door of the classroom should be locked and the windows checked to seethat they are locked before leaving the room.
CELL PHONE
It is recommended that you utilize your cell phone for EMERGENCY use only.
We all know that emergencies arise, but please use professional judgment with regards to personalcell phone use and if at all possible use it during your conference period or lunch.
BQJ students are not allowed to use cell phones on campus unless it’s been used for school purposes under teacher supervision. Any visible or audible phone should be confiscated and turned into the assistant principal for unauthorized use.
CHILD ABUSE
Any person employed by the district having cause to believe that a child’s physical or mental health or welfare has been or may be adversely affected by abuse or neglect shall report to law enforcement officials or Child Protective Services, in accordance with the law: Chapter 34, and Texas Family Code. Anonymous reports will be accepted and investigated, but anonymous reports are not encouraged.