Wednesday, November 18, 2015
School Coordinator
Manual
Sponsored by
Foundation for Orange County Public Schools
445 W. Amelia Street, Ste. 901, Orlando, FL 32801  407-317-3261  www.FoundationforOCPS.org
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Teach-In 2015
Background
American Education Week is an annual, national celebration of public education first observed in
1921. It was created to inform the public of the accomplishments and needs of the public schools
and to secure the cooperation and support of the public in meeting those needs. This year’s theme
is Great Public Schools - A Basic Right and Our Responsibility. Americans should provide students
with quality public schools so that they can grow, prosper and achieve in the 21st century.
Teach-In highlights the importance of bringing together teachers, school staff, parents, students,
and communities in a unified effort to build great public schools. As a Teach-In Coordinator,
you play a vital role in the success of this event. Included in this handbook, you will find all the
information and forms you need for Teach-In.
The Foundation for Orange County Public Schools is proud to invite all Orange County Public
Schools and Central Floridians to commemorate this special week by taking part in Teach-In.
Community leaders are invited to be a "teacher for a day" to underscore the critical role
communities need to play in public education. Teach-In, which started in 1991, offers parents,
business people and community members the opportunity to enhance learning by going into
classrooms as school volunteers for an hour – or a day. They can read a book to pre-kindergarten
and kindergarten students; teach practical, personal skills to high school students such as
managing a checking account and using credit cards wisely or involve entire middle school
classes in projects like a mock election. Other options include: sharing an educational experience
or their career, talking about a favorite vacation, hobby or how a special teacher touched their
life. The time that volunteers spend with young people makes education better.
Thank you! The Foundation for Orange County Public Schools truly appreciates your
commitment to public education. If you have any questions, please call the Foundation office at
407-317-3261.
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Teach-In 2015 Timeline and Checklist
SEPTEMBER
 Prominently display Teach-In posters. If more posters are needed, you can download a printable file
from the Foundation’s website or call the Foundation office to receive more (407-317-3261).
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER
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Inform school personnel about Teach-In
Encourage teacher participation
Promote Teach-In in school newsletters and on website
Distribute the Teach-In Speaker Request Form (pg. 3) to your teachers; establish a form return date
Inform your school community about Teach-In and begin recruiting speakers (i.e., PTA, parents,
retired teachers, Partners in Education, ADDitions volunteers, and school retirees)
Instruct your volunteers to complete the ADDitions application. They MUST be an approved
ADDitions volunteer before you can give them their Teach-In assignment.
Use a recruitment letter and/or a school newsletter item (see sample on pg. 4)
Send the Speaker Registration Form (pg. 5) to prospective speakers. Use last year’s volunteer list as
your beginning database.
Received Teach-In materials (volunteer guide and certificate) via OCPS Courier from the Foundation
OCTOBER - NOVEMBER
 Respond to and schedule volunteers in a timely manner. The Foundation office will forward potential
volunteers from their online Teach-In registration page. If you cannot use the volunteers the
Foundation sends you, please let the Foundation know ASAP so the volunteer can be assigned to
another school. Volunteers are a valuable resource and we do not want to waste their time and
expertise.
 Promote Teach-In volunteer recruitment on school marquee during October when possible
 Confirm speakers and send them the brochure and/or confirmation letter (see sample on pg. 6),
speaker assignment form (pg. 7), and Teach-In volunteer guide.
 November 4: Send the preliminary school participation report (pg. 8) to the Foundation
 November 16-20: Celebrate American Education Week
TEACH-IN EVE
 Prepare staff and students to showcase your school during Teach-In
 Confirm parking arrangements for speakers
TEACH-IN DAY
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Promote Teach-In on school marquee
Set up a school “command post” where speakers sign in and can receive information, messages, etc.
Have a hospitality area for speakers to have refreshments, use cell phones, etc.
Provide speakers with name tags
Have student escorts available to accompany speakers to assigned classrooms
In the classroom, teachers should:
o Prepare students for speaker’s presentation and remind them the speaker is a school guest
o Welcome and introduce the speaker
o Remain in classroom during presentation to maintain control
o Assist speaker with equipment or materials
o Encourage student participation
o Thank the speaker and present speaker with an “Honorary Teacher for a Day” certificate
DECEMBER
 Send the final school participation report (page 9) via email, along with your volunteer spreadsheet
(pg. 10) to the Foundation by December 4, 2015
 Mail/email thank you letters (sample letter on pg. 11) to volunteer speakers and our sponsor - CFE
Federal Credit Union
 Send photos to the Foundation for posting on website and include student photo release forms.
 Pat yourself on the back for a job well done!
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Teach-In
Classroom Teach-In Speaker Request
To have your class participate in Teach-In on Wednesday, November 18, please request a speaker
using the form below. Please use a separate form for each speaker request.
PLEASE FOLLOW THESE SIMPLE GUIDELINES FOR A SUCCESSFUL TEACH-IN
In the classroom, teachers should:
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Prepare students for the speaker’s presentation
Remind students that the speaker is a guest at school
Welcome and introduce the speaker
Remain in the classroom during presentation to maintain control
Assist the speaker with equipment or materials
Encourage student participation
Thank the speaker and present the speaker with “Honorary Teacher for a Day”
certificate
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Classroom Teacher Speaker Request Form
Teacher:
Subject/Grade Level of Class:
Time Class Begins:
Time Class Ends:
Return form by:
To:
Date
Teach-In Coordinator
Return this form to ___________________________________ by _______________________
to request a Teacher-In speaker for your classroom.
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SAMPLE TEACH-IN Recruitment Letter / Email
(use school letterhead/email signature)
OR
School Newsletter Item
ORANGE COUNTY TEACH-IN 2015
Teach-In is presented by the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools and sponsored by CFE
Federal Credit Union. It is a perfect opportunity for parents, business leaders and community
members to let students know we care about them.
On behalf of (insert school name) School, we invite you to present and/or teach one class or two in
this community-wide effort - Teach-In 2015 - on Wednesday, November 18. It is simple – you can
volunteer the time that your schedule permits.
Teach-In highlights the importance of bringing together teachers, school staff, parents, students and
communities in a unified effort to build great public schools. We will do our part by giving you
some suggestions to prepare you for this volunteer experience with an informative Teach-In
Volunteer Guide. Simply fill out the attached Speaker Registration Form or call the school office at
(insert phone number) Monday through Friday, between the hours of (insert times), or register for
Teach-In online at FoundationforOCPS.org. You must also be an approved OCPS ADDitions to
participate in Teach-In. You can find the ADDitions application at OCPS.net and click on the
“school volunteer sign-up” to get started.
You won't regret your decision to be a volunteer teacher during Teach-In 2015. We can't wait to
hear from you!
Sincerely,
(Your Name)
Teach-In Coordinator
NOTE TO COORDINATOR: You can send the Speaker Registration Form (pg. 6) with a
recruitment letter, or reprint the form in the school newsletter with the above article.
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SAMPLE - Speaker Registration Form
Name:
Company/Organization:
Position:
Mailing Address:
City:
State:
Work Phone:
Zip:
E-mail:
Presentation Topic:
Times of Day Available:
Amount of Time Available:
am
pm
1-2 hrs.
3-4 hrs.
Other
Grade Level Preference:
List special equipment requests:
Do (did) you have children attending this school?
Yes
No
I am an approved OCPS ADDitions volunteer.
Yes
No
If no, have you submitted your ADDitions application?
Yes
No
If NO, you MUST become an approved OCPS ADDitions volunteer before you can receive a
Teach-In assignment
Signature
Date
Please return registration form to:
[Your Name]
[Teach-In Coordinator]
[Name of School]
[School Address]
[City, State, Zip]
Sponsored by
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SAMPLE Teach-In Speaker Confirmation Letter / Email
(use school letterhead / or email signature)
Date
Name
Company
Address
City, State Zip
Dear [Name]:
Thank you for saying YES! We are excited that you will celebrate American Education Week
with us by taking part in Teach-In at [insert name of school] on Wednesday, November 18, 2015.
Details of your school visit are enclosed. We are counting on you, so if you must change your
plans or cancel, please let us know as early as possible. If you have any questions about your visit
or your presentation, please feel free to contact me or the classroom teacher at [insert phone
number & E-mail].
CONFIRM IN LETTER THEIR OCPS ADDitions STATUS.
Enclosed is the Teach-In Volunteer Guide, which has helpful information and tips to make your
presentation / teaching experience a success.
Again, thank you for sharing your talents and expertise in support of education. We look forward
to seeing you on Wednesday, November 18.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Teach-In Coordinator
Note to Teach-In Coordinator:
Send Speaker Assignment (pg. 7) with this confirmation letter OR send the Volunteer Guide
brochure (be sure to fill in the volunteer’s schedule on the brochure).
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2015 Teach-In Speaker Assignment
Name of Speaker:
Company/Organization:
Phone:
Mailing Address:
City:
State:
School Name:
Zip:
Teach-in Coordinator:
School Address:
Coordinator’s Phone:
Ext.
E-mail Address:
Teacher’s Name:
Subject/Grade Level:
Presentation Topic:
Date of Presentation(s):
Number of Presentation(s):
Time of Presentation(s):
Students per Presentation(s)
Time Allowed for Presentation(s):
Directions to School:
We’re counting on you, so please call or e-mail us as early as possible if you must cancel.
Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you Wednesday, November 18 for Teach-In 2015!
Signature of Teach-In Coordinator
Date
co- sponsored by
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Teach-In 2015
PRELIMINARY School Participation Report
Due November 4, 2015
School Name:
Teach-In Coordinator:
Email:
Approximate Number of Speakers:
Approximate Number of
Class Presentations:
To help the Foundation promote your event, please tell us about some of your most exciting
planned presentations. (Please include estimated time of presentation in the event media would
like to cover.) Please do not handwrite.
Special Presenters / Events
Time
Please email (twanna.scroggins@ocps.net) the completed report to the Foundation by
November 4, 2015. This will help the Foundation promote media coverage at your school.
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Teach-In 2015
FINAL School Participation Report
Due December 4, 2015
School Name:
Teach-In Coordinator:
Total Number of Speakers:
Email:
Total Number of Class Presentations:
If you can produce a computer generated list of your speakers (name, company, email), you only need
to complete the top and attach that list (sample spreadsheet pg. 10) to this form and return via email.
If you cannot, please use this form to give the name, company and email address for each speaker.
Please do not handwrite.
First Name
Last Name
Company
Email Address – very important
Please email completed report to twanna.scroggins@ocps.net by December 4, 2015. This will assist the
Foundation in complying with our reporting requirements to CFE Federal Credit Union in a timely manner.
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School
2015 Teach-In Volunteer Spreadsheet
Volunteer Name
Company
Email Address
Page 10
Phone Number
TEACH-IN
SAMPLE Thank You Letter / Email to Speakers
(Use School Letterhead / school email signature)
Date
Name
Company
Address
City, State Zip
Dear [Name]:
On behalf of (your school), the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools and CFE
Federal Credit Union, thank you for participating in TEACH-IN!
Because of your commitment to education and the students of Orange County, and the
commitment of our generous sponsors - the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools
and CFE Federal Credit Union - Teach-In was a great success. Activities like Teach-In
help strengthen the bond between our school and our community.
We hope you will continue to support education and join us for Teach-In again next year.
To learn about other opportunities to support our schools through the Foundation for
Orange County Public Schools, call 407-317-3261 or visit the Foundation’s web site at
FoundationforOCPS.org.
Thanks again for your time and talent! Together, we are making a difference.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Teach-In Coordinator
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