Decatur teachers gather for welcome-back breakfast

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Steve Watkins, new Decatur superintendent, talks to an assembly of Decatur teachers and staff members during the welcome-back breakfast in the cafeteria at Decatur Northside Elementary School Aug. 8.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Steve Watkins, new Decatur superintendent, talks to an assembly of Decatur teachers and staff members during the welcome-back breakfast in the cafeteria at Decatur Northside Elementary School Aug. 8.

DECATUR -- Teachers and staff members gathered in the cafeteria at Decatur Northside Elementary School for the district's annual welcome-back breakfast Aug 8. About 60 board members, administrators, teachers and staff members attended this meet-and-greet event which is held every year at the elementary school.

Mixed within the ranks were 16 new teachers, including four new coaches. For many of these new teachers, the Decatur School District will be their first teaching job after college graduation.

Addressing the assembly for the first time since assuming the superintendent position in June, Steve Watkins welcomed everybody back from summer vacation.

After Watkins' address, the teachers and staff were given a 90-minute refresher course on educational health and safety before a short lunch break. Then it was time for the assembly to retreat to their individual schools for an afternoon of in-service meetings. The 2018-19 Decatur school year began Aug. 13.

General News on 08/15/2018