Greetings
All Staff,
Welcome back to another exciting school year! We hope you all had a restful and enjoyable summer break and are ready for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. As we embark on the 2024-2025 school year, we at the Office of Human Resources are committed to keeping you updated and informed on important HR-related matters through these quarterly newsletters.
In this Fall Edition, we are thrilled to introduce our newest team members who are joining the Hempstead Tiger family. Each of them brings unique skills and experiences that will undoubtedly contribute to the continued success of our students. As always, if you need any assistance or have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Office of Human Resources at 516-434-4021. We are here to support you! Best wishes for a productive and fulfilling school year ahead.
Sincerely,
Rodney Gilmore, Ed. D
Associate Superintendent for Human Resources
In This Issue:
- Welcome New Hires
- Updated Mandated Reporter Training
- District Mandatory Trainings
- Calling All Former Hempstead Graduates
- Frontline: Absence Management (AESOP)
- Re-Registration and Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) Requirements
- Teacher Residency Program
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- HPS Job Postings
- HR Contact Information
Welcome New Hires
On behalf of the entire Hempstead UFSD staff, it is my pleasure to welcome all new hires for the 2024-2025 school year. We are thrilled to have you join our dedicated team of educators and staff who work tirelessly to provide an exceptional learning environment for our students. As you embark on this new journey with us, we encourage you to take a moment to get to know your colleagues. We encourage you to take a moment to read their biographies and get to know the incredible expertise they bring to our district We are confident that their unique talents, combined with your own, will further strengthen our commitment to excellence in education. We look forward to a successful and collaborative year together.
Updated Mandated Reporter Training
The NYS Department of Education (per NYS Social Services Law 413) now requires updated training to assist in recognizing signs of child abuse or maltreatment. Accordingly, all mandated reporters, including those who have previously undergone training, must complete updated training by April 1, 2025.
Updated training related to child abuse and maltreatment is required for the following certificate areas regardless of the certificate or license type (e.g., Initial/Professional, Reissuance/Renewal, Permanent/Professional, Transitional):
- Classroom Teachers
- CTE Teachers
- School Building Leaders
- School District Leaders
- School Counselors
- School Social Workers
- School District Business Leaders
- School Psychologists
- School Nurses
- School Administration and Supervision
- Coaches
- Adult Education Instructors
Training is free, online, self-directed and can be completed through the NYS Office of Children and Family Services. They are offering the 9-module (2 hour) training through the Human Services Learning Center (HSLC) website at (https://www.hslcnys.org/hslc/). It is not required that the entire training is completed at the same time. Therefore, you can pace yourself and resume as you see fit prior to the April 1, 2025, deadline.
Documentation in the form of an authorized Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you by the training provider and must be submitted to the Office of Teaching Initiatives. When the training is completed, an -email will be sent to the e-mail address used to register for the training. That email includes instructions for sending your certificate of completion to the New York State Education Department. Make sure to click the link for NYSED submission and enter the information requested. This information must be exactly as it appears in your TEACH account.
Please call the Office of Human Resources at 516-434-4021 with any questions.
District Mandatory Trainings
We would like to remind all employees of their obligation to complete the New York State mandatory training modules for Sexual Harassment and Mental Illness. As of today, there are still some employees who have not fulfilled this requirement. In addition to this, we would like to emphasize that school nurses and employees in the Department of Facilities have been assigned additional training modules that must also be completed. Completing these training modules is crucial for maintaining a safe and inclusive work environment for all of our employees. We kindly request your prompt attention to this matter. If you encounter any technical difficulties or have questions related to the GCN training modules, please do not hesitate to reach out to either Mark Valerie at mvalerie@hempsteadschools.org or Jennifer Rodriguez at jrodriguez01@hempsteadschools.org for technical assistance. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated. Let's work together to ensure that all employees are up to date with their mandatory training requirements.
Calling All Former Hempstead Graduates
The Hempstead UFSD began an initiative a couple of years ago to publish an annual brochure highlighting former Hempstead High School graduates that have returned to give back as an employee or volunteer for the District. Click here to see brochure.
If you are a graduate who are now employed or volunteering for the district, we would like to showcase your success in our exiting brochure. Please complete the survey by clicking here, so we can include your profile to the brochure.
Frontline: Absence Management (AESOP)
The Absence Management System called AESOP, is an automated system that will simplify and streamline the processes of recording and managing absences and attendance records for district personnel. You can report your absences either by telephone, online, or app. The service is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week. For those who prefer access by telephone, the AESOP number to call to report an absence is 1-800-942-3736. All absences must be called in before 7:00 a.m. daily. The district strongly encourage all staff to download and use the app. Attached is a step by step guide for using the app to record your absences. If you have any questions and/or concerns, please contact Mr. Mark Valerie at mvalerie@hempsteadschools.org.
Teacher Residency Program
The Hempstead UFSD was awarded a two two-year $450,000 grant under the New York State Department of Labor Teacher Residency Program (TRP). This grant will target hard-to-staff teaching positions in the District. The Teacher Residency Program (TRP) recognizes the social, emotional, and academic needs of teacher candidates, as well as the importance of preparing those teachers to create inclusive, supportive, equitable, unbiased, and identity safe learning environments for their students.
During the week of September 23, 2024, the District in collaboration with professors from SUNY Old Westbury, facilitated a presentation on the implementation of our Teacher Residency Program at the Branch Education National Conference, held in Dallas, Texas. This innovative “Grow Your Own” recruitment initiative was well received and has garnered interest from various districts across several states.
The grant will fully fund the tuition for a master's degree for 15 current District employees who currently hold a valid bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Upon successful completion of the master's degree, the residents must commit to teaching in the Hempstead UFSD for two years. The residents will be assigned an in-district teacher mentor and will receive extensive classroom experience. They will also receive ongoing professional development and coaching from district staff in collaboration with faculty from SUNY Old Westbury.
By the end of the two years of teaching, mentoring, and professional development support, the teacher residents will have acquired extensive pedagogical and professional educational skills to positively impact student achievement. After the enhanced induction process is developed and tested through this initiative, the Hempstead UFSD will commit to implementing the process beyond the project period.
Congratulations to the following prospective Teaching Assistant candidates who have been selected so far for the Teacher Residency Program beginning in fall 2024: Dimitri Funderburke Ivey, Maariz Maasud, Sheleah Mayo, Cierra Fields, Tara Canady, Yessenia Calles, Dy-Asya Kebreau, Kerry James, Andrea Saavedra, Patricia Pacheco, and Juan Rivera.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
What is EAP?
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a workplace-sponsored program designed to assist in the identification and resolution of productivity problems associated with employees and/or family members impaired by personal concerns. These concerns may include, but are not limited to:
- Marital and/or family issues
- Financial or legal problems
- Child or elder care concerns
- Alcohol and/or drug abuse
- Emotional well-being
- Health issues
- Work related concerns
These concerns may be adversely affecting an employee’s job performance, attendance and/or safety. The specific core activities of EAP services include assessment, brief-focused consultation or referral for appropriate diagnosis, treatment and assistance. Additionally, EAP may assist in linking employees, their families with available community resources that provide necessary services, follow-up and wide range of employee support services.
More about EAP:
When you call the EAP, you will speak with an experienced and specially trained counselor who will assist you in getting you the help you need.
Contacting an EAP Counselor:
Call EAP for confidential Counseling and Assistance at 1-800-435-1986
Resources:
Need a question answered? Send us an email
Rodney Gilmore, Ed. D
Associate Superintendent for Human Resources
Tel.: 516-434-4021
Jane Fisher
Employment Manager
Tel.: 516-434-4034
Jennifer Rodriguez
Personnel Clerk
jrodriguez01@hempsteadschools.org
Tel.: 516-434-4022
Christina Brown
Senior Typist Clerk
Tel.: 516-434-4025
Sylvia Hargrove
Personnel Clerk - Benefits
shargrove@hempsteadschools.org
Tel.: 516-434-4035
Mark Valerie
Account Clerk
mvalerie@hempsteadschools.org.
Tel.: 516-434-4064
Don’t know who to email? Send comment to the Human Resources email address and we’ll get it to the right person: humanresources@hempsteadschools.org
HUFSD OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
The Hempstead School District employs over 1,200 employees dedicated to supporting the educational goals of the community. The Office of Human Resources is committed to supporting all employees in this mission. The District does not discriminate in employment or in its educational programs and activities against qualified individuals on the basis of race, color, weight, ethnic group, national origin, religion, age, sex, gender indent, sexual orientation or disability.