Welcoming new teachers and staff to your district is an important step in fostering a positive work environment. One of the most effective ways to onboard new hires is by creating comprehensive onboarding videos and showcasing them on your school website. These videos not only help new employees feel welcomed but also provide valuable resources as they settle into their new roles, accessible directly from your school’s website at any time.

In this post, we’ll explore best practices, provide examples, and share suggestions for creating impactful onboarding videos that support new teachers and staff.

Start with a Warm Welcome on Your Website

Starting with a personalized introduction from school leadership sets a positive tone and shows new hires that they are valued members of the team. Hosting this on your website ensures it’s easily accessible for new staff.

• Best Practices:
  • Leadership Introduction: Begin the video with a warm welcome from the principal, superintendent, or other key leaders in the district, easily embedded in a dedicated onboarding section of your website.
  • Highlight the School’s Mission and Values: Share the district’s mission and vision, so new staff feel aligned with the school’s goals from day one.
  • Virtual Tour: Provide a virtual tour of the campus and facilities to help new hires familiarize themselves with their surroundings before they even step foot on campus.

Integrate Policy Overviews with Online Access

New staff need to understand district policies and procedures. By embedding videos explaining these policies directly on your website, new hires have an easy reference point whenever they need it.

• Best Practices:
  • Key Policies: Include essential information on attendance, communication protocols, and workplace conduct.
  • Health and Safety Guidelines: Clearly explain safety protocols and emergency procedures, ensuring staff know where to find them on your site.
  • HR Policies: By making HR policies available alongside your videos, new hires can access everything they need in one spot on the school website.

Break Down Teaching Expectations for New Teachers

For new teachers, understanding district standards is crucial. Embedding instructional onboarding videos on your website gives teachers a convenient way to review expectations whenever needed.

• Best Practices:
  • Curriculum Overview: Provide new teachers with a breakdown of the district’s curriculum and standards in a clearly marked section on the website.
  • Classroom Management: Offer resources on classroom management techniques, and embed links to additional resources or downloadable materials.
  • Student Support Systems: Ensure teachers can easily find information about student support services, from special education to counseling, directly within the orientation content.

Offer a Technology Overview through Your Site

Schools depend heavily on technology. Including tech tutorials and guides in the same onboarding section of your school website ensures easy access.

• Best Practices:
  • Tech Tools Overview: Include tutorials on the main technology platforms used in the district, with simple navigation on your school website for easy reference.
  • Step-by-Step Guides: Walk new hires through essential tools such as grading systems, email, and learning management systems.
  • IT Support Information: Provide a contact link directly on the webpage where they can find tech support.

Centralize Key Contacts and New Teacher Support Resources

Using your website as the central hub for all onboarding resources allows new staff to quickly find and connect with key personnel.

• Best Practices:
  • Key Personnel Profiles: Feature profiles or brief introductions of important staff members, such as HR, curriculum coordinators, or technology support, easily accessible on the onboarding webpage.
  • Mentorship Programs: Highlight mentorship opportunities and include a section on your website where new teachers can apply or connect with a mentor.
  • Contact Directory: Create a contact directory on your school’s site with important email addresses and phone numbers for easy reference.

Accessibility and Engagement through Your School Website

Onboarding videos should be interactive and accessible. When they’re housed on your school’s website, staff can easily revisit them as needed, ensuring they remain engaged.

• Best Practices:
  • Quizzes and Interactive Elements: Embed quizzes and assessments in the video section of your website to reinforce learning.
  • Accessible Content: Ensure videos have captions and follow best practices for accessibility.
  • Resource Links: Provide additional reading materials and downloadable forms right alongside the videos, making your website a comprehensive onboarding hub.

Ease the Process for New Teachers

Onboarding videos are a valuable tool for helping new teachers and staff integrate smoothly into your district. By hosting these videos directly on your school’s website, you provide easy access to the information new hires need, ensuring they feel supported from day one.

At K12Press, we specialize in helping schools build engaging, user-friendly websites that enhance communication and provide important resources. Contact us today to learn how we can help you create an onboarding section that sets your new staff up for success.