Dean Kratz to Motivate District's New Teachers

It’s common to hear about children having the first day of school jitters, but what about the teachers?  Dr. Dennis Kratz, Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities at UT Dallas, will offer a boost of exuberance to incoming Richardson Independent School District teachers on August 14 at the 50th annual New Teacher’s Luncheon.

The luncheon is hosted each year by the Richardson Chamber of Commerce to welcome new RISD teachers and to give them a chance to get acquainted with one another and the school system.  This year 500-600 teachers will be in attendance.  The event is scheduled to last from 11:30 am to 1 pm at the Renaissance Hotel.

Dr. Kratz’s talk, entitled “The Rose on the Machine” will center on energizing teachers to generate an atmosphere of curiosity in the classroom.  Dr. Kratz said teachers’ invigorating role is often forgotten.

“I really want to pump them up.  This truly is a chance to speak positively about the vivifying spirit that we forget is the key to everything,” Kratz said. “Without the teachers, the education lacks vital spirit.”

The Richardson Chamber of Commerce was established in 1946 to promote area businesses and meet the city’s economic needs.  The New Teacher’s Luncheon began as a part of the Signature Luncheon Series in 1958 as an effort to uphold quality education for students, faculty, and staff of RISD.