From bare feet to book learnin’: School is back in session at TIS
It’s not easy for most kids on the first day back to school … or the first week … sometimes the first month. For teachers the struggle is real as well, but on Wednesday, August 10 all staff at The Island School put a smile on their face and their best foot forward to welcome 66 children into the classrooms.
This is Head-of-School Christine Oliver’s second year at TIS. She and the other staff members have been cleaning, straightening, prepping and taking mandatory classes themselves to get ready for what Oliver hopes is one of the best years ever.
Four new teachers will be working with students this year: Gretchen Hughes, who will teach kindergarten; Susan McKenzie, who will teach second grade; Lisa Brown, who will teach fifth graders social studies and ELA; and Cindy Mack, who will teach art.
Many of these new teachers have taught together before, some at Englewood Elementary, which will make the transition for them considerably easier.
Another big change in the staff is that TIS will now have an Assistant Head of School, Nicole Tillotson-Main.
“Tillotson-Main will assist the Head of School with administrative and instructional functions to meet the educational needs of students, and carry out the mission and goals of the school,” Oliver said. In order to take on new responsibilities as Assistant Head of School, Mrs. Main will be passing on the roles of Intervention Support Specialist and Reading Specialist Stephanie Shirback, who was our second grade teach last year.”
Shirback will be providing targeted reading interventions, including utilizing the Wilson Reading system, and she will be collaborating with teachers in the intervention process, professional development training, and instructional support.
Oliver explained why the school switched from music classes to art classes this year.
“Our music teacher resigned,” she said. “We found an art teacher instead. The PTO is going to be offering music afterschool, hopefully twice a week. This will be a new music enrichment opportunity for the school year.”
Oliver also explained that they will be continuing with their security measures that were in place last year. Students will enter from outside doors to their classrooms.
“This is in accordance with Florida House Bill 1421,” she said. “A lot of our procedures will continue to be utilized, to maximize security and safety.
“And, of course, Officer Willy will still be there.”
School Resource Officer Willy Radauscher has been with the school for quite a few years now, and is a favorite with the kids.
When asked what the community could do to help with any needs the school might have, she mentioned that good-quality reusable water bottles are always needed, as many kids either don’t have one or on certain days forget them at home.
“We definitely need extra water bottles for students that don’t bring water bottles,” she said. “As long as they aren’t glass. Those definitely help.”
If you can help, please contact Christie Stevenson at 964-8016.
Facing one of the biggest school sizes since its creation in 2006, The Island School staff appears to be ready for the challenge … the question is, are the kids?
