This year, an innovative mentoring program will provide teachers new to Montgomery County Public Schools with an effective way to refine their teaching skills and "learn the ropes" during their first year with the school system. In this unique program, a veteran teacher will be paired with each new teacher to act as a resource, guide, and friend.

As more than 800 new Montgomery County Public Schools teachers begin a three-day orientation program, they will be assigned a mentoring teacher from their home school. The pair will begin to get to know each other during a general orientation program at Sherwood High School beginning on August 20, followed by further orientation activities in their home school on August 23 and 24.

The general orientation at Sherwood High School will take place from 8:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on August 20 and from 8:00 a.m. until noon on August 23. Features of the orientation include an overview of the school system, curriculum expectations, and strategies for productive classroom management and effective instruction.

School-based orientation will take place on August 23 from 1:00 until 3:30 p.m. and on August 24 from 8:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

The new teachers also will participate in a series of training modules throughout the year called Landing on Your Feet, developed in collaboration with the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA). The modules are designed to provide the new teachers with ongoing information and staff development.