Academy Staff Get Head Start on Year with Training, Discussion

by Charlotte Humes, Academy Avatar

The Academy certainly understands the value of a little free time.  “It helps take the professional edge off things, which is healthy,” said Ian Oliver, fourth floor male Residential Counselor, but added that “it’s definitely hard to transition back into work mode.”

To help ease this transition, staff activities resumed on August 1, almost a full month before any students return to Schneider Hall.  “The purpose of training is to spend three weeks preparing the RCs to work with this unique population,” explained Beth Hawke, Assistant Director for Student Life.  “We focus on the traits and characteristics of gifted students, particularly the social and emotional aspects, and it allows the new staff to learn from the old.”  Overall, the staff seemed to think it was a very positive experience.

Veteran staffers, such as Laura Huff, second floor female Residential Counselor, praised it for having improved from last year.  “It focused more on preparing us on relevant topics, and on information we really need to know,” she said.

All the staff members agreed that it certainly helped them be prepared for this year.  “It helps me get back in the mindset of the job, and remember things I need to do.  It gives me ideas for the new year, a chance to hear how everyone’s doing things, and a time to think of new strategies,” shared Rachel Stewart, fourth floor female Residential Counselor.

Beyond just discussion with each other, staff were also given a safety session by the fire marshal, spent quite a bit of time learning from Assistant Director for Counseling Services Pokey Bowen about crisis communication, suicide prevention, and had Dr. Tom Hebert–one of the leading experts in gifted studies–come speak.

“I was able to learn more about gifted students and what makes them tick,” Sue Meador, third floor female Residential Counselor, said of the speaker.  The other staff members, such as April Gaskey and Derick Strode, came to explain their jobs, and, as Strode put it, “create unity with all the staff.”

Brimah Vonjo, who joined the Academy this summer as a Residential Counselor, said that, “the guest speaker and staff really came in and gave pieces to the puzzle.  It absolutely prepared me for the job.”

Staff members agreed it had been a productive time, and many offered their take on the most important accomplishment.  “We definitely created a stronger bond among staff, and work more as a unit now,” said Scott Wolfe, who recently assumed the role of Lead RC.

Sam Earls, the other new RC addition who will work with second floor males, mentioned that “it’s a tight community, so those goofy, team-building things really helped with unity.”

According to Stewart, this extended even beyond the scheduled training.  “A lot of really important bonding happened outside of training, when we were just going to meals and hanging out, and that’s definitely an important part of summer development.”  Staff development this summer has helped the Academy enter the new year well-prepared.

Charlotte Humes, Residential Counselors, staff development, student life staff