Dr. Frieda K. Lacey, Deputy Superintendent of Schools, is among those participating in ceremonies on Friday, August 19, welcoming more than 850 new teachers to Montgomery County Public Schools. The ceremony follows a week of orientation activities for teachers new to the school system. The program will take place at Walt Whitman High School, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Other participants include Matthew A. Tronzano, Associate Superintendent for Human Resources; and Bonnie Cullison, President of the Montgomery County Education Association. A videotaped welcome from Patricia B. O'Neill, President of the Board of Education will be featured, along with videos highlighting the experiences of two teachers during their first year with MCPS.

Among the newly hired teachers, 56 percent are new to teaching, 51 percent hold a master's or master's equivalence degree, 75 percent are from Maryland, and 17 percent are male. Eleven percent of the new hires are African American, four percent are Hispanic, and five percent are Asian American.