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Whittier elementary School Staff Handbook

STAFF HANDBOOK
2023-2024
WHITTIER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
916 Oakes Avenue
Everett WA 98201
(425) 385-4300
Tony Wentworth, Principal
Eric Jennings, Assistant Principal
Everett Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
Designated to handle inquiries about nondiscrimination policies are: Affirmative Action Officer, Carol Stolz, 3715 Oakes Ave., Everett, WA 98201, 425-385-4106; Title IX Officer , Randi Seaberg, (at Oakes Ave. address), 425-385-4100; 504 Coordinator, Dave Peters, 4730 Colby Ave, Everett, WA 98203, 425-385-4033; ADA Coordinator, Kelly Clevenger (at Colby Ave. address), 425-385-5250. (Email address for each is FirstInitialLastName@everettsd.org)
What the Whittier Staff Can Expect From Tony and Eric
You can expect that we will:
Believe in your ability to facilitate the growth of students.
Trust that you are using your talents to the greatest benefit of Whittier’s students.
Strive to build a relationship of mutual support with each of you.
Support you in your efforts to do your job by:
Listening to and respecting your ideas and concerns.
Keeping you informed of events that occur within the school and district.
Engaging in collaborative dialogue about effective instruction.
Providing support for all students.
Providing feedback on your performance.
Following through on common school-wide expectations.
Work to maintain a perspective of school issues that takes into account the views of students, teachers, support staff, administration, school board, families, and community members.
Hold you accountable to stated expectations and teaching to the State Standards.
Hold ourselves accountable for helping you grow and develop by living up to our stated expectations.
Believe that all adults are responsible for all students and that we need to build a partnership with our families and our community so that we will have a school based on collaboration and strong relationships.
Provide leadership as a life-long learner: engaging in, demonstrating, and modeling the behaviors we want the staff and students to adopt.
What Tony and Eric Expect of Whittier Staff Members
We expect that you will:
Maintain a focus on students:
Believe that all students can and want to learn.
Employ active listening and empathy towards students’ social emotional well-being.
Strive to build positive relationships with students.
Celebrate the diverse backgrounds of each student.
Create a classroom culture grounded in the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Encourage children to do their very best while in school.
Develop and follow through with specific expectations for students.
Partner with families regarding their child’s strengths and opportunities for improvement. Consistently communicate with families throughout the school year if their student is not meeting grade level expectations. You will usually have stronger support at home if you keep them informed.
Collaborate with a Growth Mindset:
Meet regularly with grade-level team.
Use school time effectively and efficiently.
Expect the best from students and staff.
Provide positive conditions for learning and teaching.
Systematically monitor student progress: plan with district-adopted curriculum, implement common unit assessments, analyze grade-level data, collectively implement interventions, and make instructional adjustments.
Share the responsibility for the total school environment through contributions of thought, time, and energy at in-service meetings, committee meetings, and staff meetings.
Be supportive of all Whittier staff members:
Look for and recognize the best in everyone.
Be sure your feedback to others is face-to-face.
Seek help from others who possess the appropriate needed expertise.
Continuously reflect and assess your teaching practice to grow as a professional.
Use all available resources within your power to ensure that Whittier is indeed a place where we all demonstrate “The Whittier Way: Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be your Best.”
Ensure that your behavior as a professional maintains the dignity of and respect for our students.
Respond to parent calls/e-mails within 24 hours after receiving communication.
Everett Public Schools Mission
Inspire, educate, and prepare each student to achieve to high
standards, contribute to our community, and thrive in a global society.
Everett Public Schools Vision
Our students will lead and shape the future.
They will be well-rounded, healthy, and flexible thinkers with a global
perspective who can access resources and collaborate. They will demonstrate empathy, pride, and advocacy for self, school, and community while respecting the diversity and worth of others. They will acquire the knowledge, attitudes and skills to adopt to the emerging needs of a changing world.
Everett Public Schools Core Values
Our core values drive our actions and behavior.
Learning: We believe each student has the ability to learn and achieve to high standards.
Equity: We honor and support each student’s right to learn and achieve.
Integrity: We act in good faith, serving others with honesty and dignity. We serve as steward of the public trust.
Passion: We are passionate about teaching and learning.
Respect: We value differences among people and treat one another with respect.
Diversity: We embrace diversity as an essential asset: we are inclusive and treat our differences as a core strength.
Collaboration: We believe in learning and working together, the value of diverse views, and the power of collective wisdom.
The Mission of Whittier Elementary School
Whittier Elementary is committed to achieving academic
excellence that meets the needs of individual students within a positive, engaging environment. The Whittier community is dedicated to developing life-long learners who become responsible and productive citizens.
Whittier Wildcat’s Code of Conduct
Respect self and others at all times; keep hands and feet to self.
Attend school regularly and arrive to class on time.
Be prepared to work with all required class materials.
Listen and follow instructions of teacher and all school staff.
Apply best effort to classroom activities and complete assignments on time.
Respect and care for school and personal property.
Treat all guest and substitute teachers with respect and courtesy.
Paraeducator Competencies
Competency 4 Ability to practice ethical, professional, and legal standards of conduct, including the requirements of confidentiality.
Competency 5 Ability to communicate with colleagues, follow instructions, and use problem-solving and other skills that will enable the para-educator to work as an effective member of the instructional team.
Competency 6 (WA State Competencies 6 & 11)
Ability to provide positive behavioral support, management, and discipline techniques to motivate and assist students.
Competency 7 Knowledge of the legal issues related to the education of students with disabilities and their families.
Competency 8 Awareness of diversity among the students, families, and colleagues with whom they work.
Competency 9 (WA State Competencies 9, 10, & 13)
Knowledge and application of the elements of effective instruction and assessment and the use of technology to assist teaching and learning under direction of certificated/licensed staff in a variety of settings.
Competency 10 (WA State Competencies 10, 12 & 14)
Knowledge of and ability to follow health, safety and emergency procedures of the district.
Paraeducator Competencies
To work in education and related service programs for students, paraeducators will demonstrate:
Competency 1 Understanding the value of providing instructional and other direct services to all students.
Competency 2 Understanding the roles and responsibilities of certificated/licensed staff and para-educators.
Competency 3 Knowledge of patterns of human development and learning, as well as milestones typically achieved at different ages, and risk factors that may prohibit or impede typical development.
Competency 4 Ability to practice ethical, professional, and legal standards of conduct, including the requirements of confidentiality.
Competency 5 Ability to communicate with colleagues, follow instructions, and use problem-solving and other skills that will enable the para-educator to work as an effective member of the instructional team.
Competency 6 (WA State Competencies 6 & 11)
Ability to provide positive behavioral support, management, and discipline techniques to motivate and assist students.
Competency 7 Knowledge of the legal issues related to the education of students with disabilities and their families.
Competency 8 Awareness of diversity among the students, families, and colleagues with whom they work.
Competency 9 (WA State Competencies 9, 10, & 13)
Knowledge and application of the elements of effective instruction and assessment and the use of technology to assist teaching and learning under direction of certificated/licensed staff in a variety of settings.
Competency 10 (WA State Competencies 10, 12 & 14)
Knowledge of and ability to follow health, safety and emergency procedures of the district.

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

Table of Contents:
Mission, Vision , Core Values , Whittier Way Page 3
and Code of Conduct
EPS Strategic Plan 2021-26 Overview Page 4
Expectations from Tony and Eric Pages 5-6
Teacher Principal Evaluation Project (TPEP) Overview Pages 7–11
Paraeducator Competencies and Training Page 12–13
Everett Public Schools Staff Calendar & Events Page 14-15
Important Whittier Information Pages 16–22
Whittier Safety Evacuation Plan Page 23
Whittier Emergency Incident Command Chart Page 24
Whittier Emergency Phone Tree Page 25
District Policies and Procedures EPS Pages 1-48

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

Whittier Elmentary School Staff Handbook

Everett Public Schools Strategic Plan 2021-2026

Whittier Elmentary School Staff Handbook

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

SECTION 10.086 – ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTATION
Evaluation scores shall be recorded in and final evaluation reports shall be generated by a mutually agreed upon software tool. Each teacher may be required to create an account in the software tool. Further use of the software tool by teachers shall be optional.
Overall final evaluation scores shall be transmitted by the evaluator to the District Human Resources Office as required by law.

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

Paraeducator Calendar:
https://docushare.everett.k12.wa.us/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-88991/PARAED%20-%20185%20_12%20days.pdf

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

Whittier Information
School Events Calendar
Staff considering scheduling an event which will be a change from the regular school program should discuss the activity with administration and receive approval, at which time the event will be added to the official School Events Calendar, which is kept by the office manager in the main office. Staff members are expected to consult the School Events Calendar for possible conflicts when planning events.
Events that will take place outside of the regular school day on the Whittier Campus require an approved Facilities Use Permit (FUP), which is available from Marci Cooper. A FUP must be submitted in time to effectively notify other organizations which use our campus.
Designated Meeting Nights for Whittier Elementary and all other elementary schools are the first and third Mondays, and second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Meeting on any other night requires approval of our middle and high schools.
Parent Teacher Conference Dates
Parent Teacher Conferences will be held in November and March. Students will be released at 12:20 p.m. on these days. The following dates apply:
November 3rd Early release, conference preparation
November 13th-17th Early release, Parent Teacher Conferences
March 22nd Early release, conference preparation
March 25th-29th Early release, Parent Teacher Conferences
Grading Periods
The academic year at Whittier Elementary School is divided into two semesters. The dates for the end of each semester is February 2, 2024 & June 20, 2024. These dates are subject to change barring inclement weather days that need to be made-up.
Voice Mail
To facilitate communication with parents, teachers are requested to update their voice mail regularly and to check their voice mail on a daily basis. Remember to answer voice mail within 24 hours of receipt.
Mailboxes in Office
Teachers are requested to check their mailbox before and after school. Only emergency messages will be delivered to the classroom. Teachers should not send students to the office to retrieve mail.
Email
Email is considered a central form of communication in the Everett Public Schools. “All messages on the Everett Public Schools email system are considered to be Public Records. No privacy is guaranteed for any message sent on this system. Never send a message that you would not want to see appear in the newspaper, court records, etc.
All staff are to check their email each day.

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

Whittier Information
Morning Announcements
Video morning announcements, recorded every day by the Principal or Assistant Principal, will be posted to the Whittier Staff Course in Canvas. Please ensure that your students get the opportunity to watch the announcement video each day.
Whittier Staff Bulletin
The Whittier Staff Bulletin is published and emailed to you by the first working day of the week. Staff members are responsible to read the newsletter carefully each week before the start of the school day. Schedules for the week, calendar changes, important news and other critical information is included. The information in the Whittier Staff Bulletin is for staff only; students and parents should not have access to this information. Please do not publicly disseminate this information.
Whittier Wildcat Parent Newsletter
Families will receive via email the school newsletter on the 1st WEDNESDAY of every month. In addition, Newsletters are posted on the Whittier Website. Information you wish to have included in a newsletter should be emailed to Marci Cooper.
Communicating Discipline Concerns
Staff must keep others informed when there are discipline concerns developing with a student. Staff should input behavioral issues into TAC. From there, issues can be elevated to referrals for Administrative or Counselor support. Work closely with the counselor and with the principal to develop appropriate, consistent interventions aligned to our PBIS Matrix. It is the teacher’s responsibility to communicate with families regarding on-going behavior concerns.
Fragrances
Fragrances should be worn in moderation so as not to distract, disrupt, or offend others and air scented products should not be used at all. Some members of the school community have health conditions that are negatively affected by fragrance.
Visitors
All visitors must sign in and out through the front office. All visitors going into classrooms must be district-approved volunteers. Please advise the front office staff if you are expecting a visitor to your classroom. For complete information, refer to EPS district policy.
Lesson Plans
Each teacher shall make adequate daily and long-term preparations and shall have adequate plans available for use by substitutes.
Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
The Whittier MTSS team meets once a week. The primary purpose of the team is to make decisions / recommendations about the students who are struggling academically and behaviorally at Whittier Elementary School. If teacher intervention produces unsuccessful results, the teacher should refer students through the MTSS Tier 2 referral process directed to our counselor.

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

Whittier Information
Sonitrol Security System
Our school is protected by the Sonitrol Security Company. This company has installed sensors in all outside doors as well as sensitive microphones throughout the building, and actively monitors our campus whenever it is unattended. Entering a building without first turning off the Sonitrol system will cause police to respond.
If it should become necessary for you to enter the building after hours, on the weekend or during holidays, Sonitrol, the district alarm company, must be notified. To do so, code into our building using the number provided to you by the administration. Instructions for use of the Sonitrol key panel are located in the Appendix. Never write your Sonitrol code number in a location where it can be found by anyone else. You are responsible for your part in protecting our building’s safety.
These procedures must be followed. If anyone enters one of the buildings on our campus without coding in, the Security Office will contact the police, and officers will be sent to the school immediately. Whittier is charged for every false security alarm!
Sonitrol: Turning the System Off (to enter the building)
When you enter through a designated entry / exit door, the keypad will “beep” to remind you to turn the system off.
Open the Sonitrol Box.
Push the far right arrow.
Enter your access code.
Press enter (#).
The WAIT light will illuminate briefly, then go off.
The OFF light will illuminate. This means the system is off and you are cleared to enter.
Sign in to indicate that you are in the building.
Sonitrol: Turning the System On (to leave the building)
Before you begin, check to be sure the OFF, SYSTEM READY and AC POWER lights are illuminated. Do not prop open any doors—this will keep the system from approving your request.
Open the Sonitrol Box
Enter your access code.
Press AUTO ON
Press ENTER (#)
The WAIT light will illuminate briefly, then go off
The ON light will illuminate. This means the system is now on. The pad will begin to “beep” slowly.
Leave the school immediately through the designated Entry / Exit door

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

Whittier Information
Lamination
There is one lamination machine available at Whittier for staff to use by the work room hallway. Please make sure to properly warm up the laminator. Due to the high cost of laminating materials and maintenance cost, please use Whittier’s lamination machine with caution and care and communicate with Marci Cooper for any lamination questions.
Learning & Information Technology Services Support (LITS)
Philip Holcombe is Whittier’s designated LITS field technician. All technology needs should be requested through a Help Desk ticket. However, you may contact Philip for additional support as necessary at pholcombe@everetsd.org.
Work Day
According to state law, district policy, and as stated in the Collective Bargaining Agreement [Section 9.01 A], “The normal working day for full-time employees shall be seven and one-half (7 ½) hours, inclusive of the duty-free lunch period, as assigned by the District.
At Whittier Elementary School, the normal work day for certificated staff is from 8:00 to 3:30 pm, except for those days with modified work schedules or when a work day extension has been scheduled.
Keys
If you do not have a key to get into the building, please see the Office Manager and keys will be issued to you with the approval of an administrator. Please follow these guidelines for school keys carefully:
Always keep your building keys with you. Keys are never to be given to students.
Sign a record for each key issued to you.
In the event of a lost key, the principal should be notified immediately. The principal is responsible for notifying the maintenance department immediately upon the report of a lost key.
Do not duplicate keys. This is a serious violation of district procedures.
Return all keys when you no longer have assigned school responsibilities for the areas of the campus for which you were issued keys.
Staff may request to retain their keys during the summer break, but must verify the numbers of their keys with the Office Manager annually.

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

Whittier Information
Substitutes/Guest Teachers
Guest Teachers are a critical part of the smooth operation of the education program at Whittier Elementary School. Staff are expected to carefully prepare for any absence, whether pre-arranged or sudden. You should speak frequently with your students concerning your expectations for behavior and activity at any time when the class is being taught by a guest teacher.
Each teacher will complete a substitute procedure form to be kept in the office. Location of lesson plans, current seating charts, class lists and other pertinent information should be clearly available.
All staff shall maintain up-to-date seating charts for each class and keep them in a place where a guest teacher can locate them easily.
Teachers shall make adequate plans to assist guest teachers in conducting learning experiences appropriate to their subject and the instructional goals.
Preferred guest teachers can be requested through the district’s automated substitute calling program. Staff with questions about this system should ask for help from Marci Cooper.
Staff are responsible for informing the district of any absence by calling the Automated Sub System or by logging in to the system from the district website. (See Appendix.) Staff must log in or call in to the system personally; the office can not call a substitute for you.
Late Start Procedures for Weather or Other Emergencies
Staff are expected to make all safe efforts to arrive at work at the usual time in the case of a late start.
Notification of Late Start Schedule
Whittier staff will receive phone call notification if school will be starting late at Whittier.
When inclement weather or other emergency conditions delay the start of the school day or cause a school cancellation, we highly recommend that you listen to the major area radio and TV stations. Most radio and television stations will announce any school schedule change or cancellation every 15 to 30 minutes.
Early Dismissal Procedures for Weather or Other Emergencies
In the case of an early dismissal from school for weather or other emergencies, staff are required by contract to remain on campus until all students have been safely dismissed.

Whittier Information
Substitutes/Guest Teachers cont.
To Call for a Substitute – Guest Teacher
Call 1–800–942–3767 for the Automated Telephone Substitute Request System
Enter your pin number
3. Follow the prompts to enter in your absence information
To Access Substitute – Guest Teacher Online System Frontline Absence Management (FLAM) is now online and live, accepting absence submissions for ALL employees. 1. Go to https://login.frontlineeducation.com/sso/everettsd
No log in credentials will be required within the district network using SSO (Single Sign On). Training is available in Docushare, including instruction for using the Mobile App.
Note: Absences the day before and the day after holiday breaks are limited to 50 per day. The substitute shortage is still a reality, state wide, so please pre-plan for your absences that require substitute coverage as is reasonably possible.

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

Whittier Information
Whittier Elementary School Substitute Shortage Plan 2024-25
Substitute Shortage at Whittier Elementary 2024-25: Filling Open Positions that are not filled on a given morning or when a staff member needs to leave is a high priority. If you are ill or if you are planning on an absence for whatever reason, please take the following steps to ensure proper classroom coverage:
Put your absence into the Frontline System.
If you are prearranging an absence, please enter your designated guest teacher into the Frontline system.
If your absence is unplanned, please email and text Marci Cooper (206-650-5895), Tony Wentworth (206-579-5656), Dawn Browne (662-216-0505), or Eric Jennings (425-275-2601) immediately so that we can begin the process of classroom coverage.
If you are uncertain that you will be able to work the next day, please enter an absence in Frontline the night before. You can still come to work, and the district will be able to use the guest teacher elsewhere.
The following options will be considered in the identified order to fill a position that is unfilled at the start of the school day:
Any staff participating in “on site work or district trainings will be directed and/or offered the opportunity to return.”
The following certificated staff members will be used, in a rotation, to cover for a classroom teacher (and their classes/program will be cancelled):
Allison Ballard (Instructional Coach)
Shannon Heininger
Jimm Kummerle
Leon Storla
Susie McNeal (PM only)
Sarah Thoreen (LAP and EL paraeducator)
Jackie Gomezjurado (Life Skills paraeducator)
Marci Cooper will contact Whittier teachers to identify specific planning time blocks in which coverage is needed. Staff will be time-sheeted for giving up their planning time to cover for a specific block of time.
Any specialist substitutes will be used to cover classroom teachers and that specialist (Library, PE, Music/Technology) will be cancelled. Teachers who miss planning time will be compensated.
If a certified teacher is planning to use a guest teacher for assessment coverage, and a position is unfilled, the classroom teacher will be asked to postpone their assessment (excluding state assessments) to another day, if possible, and there is time on the timeline. The guest teacher will be reassigned to the open position.
If the certificated teacher whose position is unfilled is away at a voluntary district training, they will be directed and/or offered the opportunity to return to their regular assignment dependent on the availability of the training at another time.
If teams are willing to divide up students and take them into their classrooms, this idea will take precedence over rotating in specialists to cover classrooms.

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

Whittier Elementary School Staff Handbook

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