- Cleveland Metropolitan School District
- New Teacher Handbook
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Welcome New CMSD Teachers!
SY2025-26
Our Talent Development team is committed to supporting your journey as a new teacher in CMSD.
We hope this handbook provides useful information and resources to promote your success!
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The Academics division works hand-in-hand with schools to ensure the constant delivery of high-quality educational experiences while closely monitoring the emotional and physical well-being of all CMSD scholars. Here you will find information about our Offices of Schools, Teaching and Learning, and Student Services.Academics
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Office of Schools
Information on our four PK-8 Networks, two High School Networks, and non-traditional educational offerings.
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Office of Student Services
Information about our Integrated Health, Multilingual Multicultural Education and Special Education programs.
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Office of Teaching and Learning
Here you will find resources related to curriculum, college and career readiness, testing, and professional learning.
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Excellence and Culture
The Division of Excellence and Culture supports the primary priorities of schools, which are the Core, providing Coherence and ensuring Clarity. Here you will find resources for creating a strong classroom culture, fostering positive relationships, and maintaining a safe environment.
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Talent and Human Resources
As a department within the Division of Excellence and Culture, we focus on recruiting, onboarding, and providing on-going supports for our educators throughout their careers with CMSD.
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Compensation
Help with class-size overages and continuing contracts. For payroll-related information, click here.
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Employee Perks
Find dozens of ways to save on dining, retail, travel, entertainment, and much more!
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Benefits
Information on Medical, Dental, Vision, plus other valuable benefits CMSD offers.
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Information Technology
Our mission is to provide innovative technology products and services that enable our students to succeed in a global society with support from our families, educators, partners, and community. Here you will find valuable resources on accessing IT support and using the most common classroom applications.
Key Technology Resources
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CMSD Help Desk
For immediate assistance with a technical issue, please call the CMSD IT Help Desk (216) 838-0440.
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IT Connect
IT Connect is a portal that simplifies the way CMSD educators request services from, and report issues to, the Division of Information Technology.
Want in-person help? IT Connect Center is a walk-in customer service center for CMSD students, families, and staff. We are open from 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and located on the first floor of East Professional Center (1349 East 79th Street).
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1:1 Program Services
Guidance on obtaining and/or replacing devices for your students.
Classroom Applications
Targeted Supports for Individual Apps and Software
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PowerSchool
PowerSchool is our Student Information System. It provides parents, students, and teachers with a tool to communicate student performance, grades, and attendance. For a brief video intro to PowerSchool, click HERE.
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Clever
Clever is a platform that helps teachers and students find available teaching and learning applications more quickly and easily.
Within Clever are exciting apps like Adobe Express and Canva.
For support with Clever-based software, please contact Thao Dinh(thao.dinh@clevelandmetroschools.org) and/or Shadonna Griffin (shadonna.griffin@clevelandmetroschools.org)
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Clevertouch
Clevertouch is an interactive digital board installed in every instructional space in every school.
For training support, please contact: Shylah Kobal (shylah.kobal@bluum.com) and/or Peter Sullivan (peter.sullivan@bluum.com)
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Microsoft 365
All educators in CMSD have access to Microsoft 365 In addition to Outlook email and the classic productivity tools of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, you also have applications like Planner, Sway, Stream, Translator, and Minecraft Education!
For self-paced training online, click HERE.
For live training support, please contact: Thao Dinh (thao.dinh@clevelandmetroschools.org) and/or Shadonna Griffin (shadonna.griffin@clevelandmetroschools.org).
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Schoology
Schoology allows teachers to add course content and assignments, and students to access and submit them online.
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Apple
Each scholar in K-2 in every school is provided with an iPad, per the 1:1 Program Services. Scholars and staff in some specific schools also have access to Apple devices.
For training support, please contact Thao Dinh (thao.dinh@clevelandmetroschools.org) and/or Shadonna Griffin (shadonna.griffin@clevelandmetroschools.org)
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Innovative Technologies
CMSD is proud to be one of the few districts in the country to have a multi-faced Fab Lab at the district level. Located at East Professional Center (Room 204), it is open for all CMSD educators to learn about Digital Fabrication through workshops, and open lab time.
Many schools in the district also house Fab Labs, makerspaces, 3D printers, laser cutters, VR headsets, and more!
For training support, please contact:
- Jordan Seigler (Jordan.Seigler2@clevelandmetroschools.org and/or,
- Shylah Kobal (shylah.kobal@bluum.com) and/or,
- Peter Sullivan (peter.sullivan@bluum.com)
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Appendix