Orienting new employees is important because it helps them adjust to their new work environment, understand program policies and procedures, and get familiar with their job duties. In addition, it helps new employees get to know others in your program and feel like they belong. A good orientation ensures that new employees are properly trained and equipped to do their jobs well. A well-organized orientation system will increase employee retention, which is the ultimate benefit to your program.

DIEEC has a number of experiences that can support you as the program leader in building your orientation system.

Additionally, here are some helpful links/resources to get you started:

• DIEEC Independent Study Website: Orientation
• Resources from McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership
  • Book: The Right Fit: Recruiting, Selecting and Orienting Staff – Kay Albrecht (part of the Director’s Toolbox Series)
  • The Director’s Toolbox / Orientation, Training, and Staff Development
  • Great Expectations: Tips for Preparing New Employees for Long-Term Success
  • The First Week and Beyond: Investing in Teachers’ Growth and Development

Key Content

A well-designed orientation program will include intentional support long after the employee’s initial onboarding. Program leaders initially focus on acquainting newly hired employees to the essential expectations of the program, such as licensing requirements. The next step is for the new hire to learn more about their day-to-day expectations that are unique to the program. This could be related to child-teacher interactions and/or curriculum and assessment processes.

DIEEC offers a variety of Professional Learning Experiences (PLE) focused on program leaders. All of our leadership-based PLEs include a workshop portion as well as a follow-up experience to support you in implementing what you have learned. In individualized one-on-one coaching of the following PLEs, you could tailor your experience to focus on the development of newly hired employees.

Some of our Professional Learning Experiences for program leaders

• The Business of Early Childhood: Your Purpose, Passion, and Position as a Leader PLUS
• The Business of Early Childhood: Your Influence, as a Leader, in Creating a Great Place to Work PLUS
• The Business of Early Childhood: The Art of Strengths-Based Observation and Feedback for Leaders PLUS
• Leadership: Promoting Safety, Trust, and Cooperation PLUS

Please view our Training Calendar for upcoming dates