Unanimous votes followed by a celebration began Monday's Board Of Education meeting Monday, when four Lansing elementary school teachers and one high school teacher were awarded tenure.  School Board President Glenn Swanson congratulated the teachers, and Superintendent Chris Pettograsso spoke briefly about their accomplishments.

"I've gotten to see many of them as their principal at the elementary school," she said.  "They are great educators.  There are a lot of things we've been focussing on in the last couple of years: the 'Love Your People' campaign, and 'Caring and Kindness In Our Schools'.  The people here really embody that."



In five separate votes the board unanimously awarded tenure to Elementary Education teacher Jeanne Luker, Elementary Education teacher Rebecca James, Elementary Education teacher Kristen Bickford, ESOL teacher Nora McIver-Sheridan, and Special Education teacher Carrie Nielsen.

Pettograsso took time to explain district hiring practices to the board.  She noted that Lansing draws from a strong pool of candidates, typically drawing over 100 applications for each job.

"We're lucky that people want to come to Lansing, not just to get their first job," she said.  "People talk specifically about wanting to come to Lansing, and people leave their current places of employment to come to Lansing."

Jobs are posted on an OLAS (OnLine Application System) for educators Web site.  Jobs are posted for ten days.  Depending on the position administrators may decide to search internally, or consider applications from the general teacher population.  Pettograsso said that any Lansing teacher who wants to apply is given the courtesy of an interview no matter the circumstances.  Internal applicants are defined as being on one of the union contracts, so long term substitute teachers are not considered 'internal'.  Pettograsso also reaches out to professors in strong college education programs, including Ithaca College.  

A screening committee is formed in the school the position is posted for.

"We try to have a diverse population," she explained.  "Sometimes it includes students, parents, and members from each union.  Often the screening committee is the same as the interview committee, but not necessarily.  We make sure that all people on the interview committee can commit to every single interview."

The one to three final candidates selected by the committee are sent to Pettograsso for a final interview.  She recommends one or two to the school board in case they want to conduct a final interview.  

New hires work through a probationary period, generally three years, before being considered for tenure.  

"A quote that I always share with teachers is, 'A teacher effects eternity.  You can never tell where his influence stops'," Pettograsso said.  "It can be true in a negative way or a positive way.  I'm sure these teachers have no idea how much positive influence they have over the children.  So thank you so much for all you do for us."

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