Tulsa Public Schools Training New Teachers, Looking For More

Tulsa Public Schools is welcoming new teachers to the classroom. The district still needs more, but those already hired now are in training.

The district has 128 new teachers this year, but before they start they undergo some training specific to TPS.

Wednesday was the last day of a three-day training course for the newest batch of teachers in Tulsa Public Schools. The intensive orientation is meant to bridge more of the gap between college training and the real world.

New TPS Teacher, Derek Phillips, said, "It made me more open to teaching in the district, rather than scaring me off."

Phillips said he can't wait to start teaching 8th grade algebra at Webster Junior High.

He's in class with experienced teachers who can help him with strategy; and he's got the passion for it already.

"I took just a basic intro to education class and got into a classroom and fell in love with it," Phillips said.

The training helps new teachers recognize some of the challenges of discipline and diversity they'll have in a big city school.

Many did their practice teaching in smaller settings, that's something their instructors would like to see change.

"We'd like to see them do more of their student teaching in an urban setting rather than suburban. There's a difference," said New Teacher Mentor, Claire Robertson.

Each new teacher has a mentor who will spend at least an hour a week in their classroom to help them improve.

Nasiba Chaboya is a first year teacher choosing to take on a challenge teaching history at Central High, after spending some time at Booker T.

"I had a great time there, but felt like these students were going to be fine without me, but when I was at Rogers and East Central, I felt like I was doing so much more than just teaching them the subject," Chaboya said.

The district is still trying to hire teachers. They need 98 more as of Wednesday with three weeks to go before classes.