Superintendent Jerry D. Weast and Board of Education Vice President Patricia B. O’Neill are among those who will participate in ceremonies on August 20 welcoming more than 1,000 new teachers to Montgomery County Public Schools. The ceremony follows a week of orientation activities for teachers new to the school system.

Teachers have been hired from 32 states and the District of Columbia, but more than half (65 percent) come from Maryland. Slightly more than half of the newly-hired teachers (55 percent) are new to teaching. Forty-nine percent have master’s or master’s equivalency degrees.

The new hires are approximately 15.1 percent African American, 5.4 percent Asian, and 5.1 percent Hispanic. Females comprise about 80 percent of the new teachers hired this year.

Because of the large number of new teachers, two separate ceremonies will be held. Teachers will be available for interviews before and after the ceremonies.

When:
Tuesday, August 20. Registration begins at 7:45 a.m.
First session program begins at 8:30 a.m.
Second session program begins at 11:00 a.m.

News media are urged to arrive early. Parking is limited.

Where:
Walt Whitman High School
7100 Whittier Boulevard
Bethesda, Maryland

Contact:
Kate Harrison, assistant director
Department of Communications Tel.: 301-279-3853

PROGRAM

Presentation of Colors
Col. Zadok Magruder High School JROTC

Introductions
Dr. Elizabeth L. Arons, Associate Superintendent
Office of Human Resources

Welcome
Mrs. Patricia B. O’Neill, Vice President
Board of Education

Introduction of Video
Dr. James A. Williams, Deputy Superintendent

Videotape: “Two New Teachers Tell Their Stories”

Comments
Mr. Mark Simon, President
Montgomery County Education Association

Closing Remarks
Dr. Jerry D. Weast, Superintendent of Schools

Videotape: “Students Tell Their Stories”