ALDIE, Va. 鈥� Loudoun County Public Schools welcomed its newest teachers for orientation with a pep rally and a red carpet Friday.
鈥淪chool is not like any other business,鈥� Loudoun County Public Schools spokesman Wayde B. Byard said of the system鈥檚 newest employees.
鈥淭hey are very special. They are going to be teaching a precious commodity: our young people.鈥�
And to show how special the more than 700 new employees are to the system, the John Champ High School band blasted pep songs as the school鈥檚 cheerleaders welcomed the newest faculty members on a red carpet. Even Superintendent Dr. Eric Williams was dressed in a tuxedo for the occasion.
鈥淲e bring in about 700 [new employees] annually from across the country, mostly from Virginia,鈥� Byard told 草莓传媒. 鈥淎 lot former students of Loudoun County.鈥�
Loudoun County does a lot of teacher recruiting in Pennsylvania.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a union state that鈥檚 very hard to break into. We get teachers who go to school in Pennsylvania, can鈥檛 get into the system there, come down here very willingly and stay. We have a lot of Steelers fans in the district right now.”
With Riverside High School opening this year, more than 100 of the new hires will be going there. Other hires will fill vacancies throughout the district.
Loudoun County has seen rapid growth in recent years, rising from just over 86,000 residents in 1990 to more than 312,000 residents in 2010. That, plus the school system鈥檚 accolades, has attracted many teachers to work in Loudoun County schools.
鈥淲e have a chance for advancement here,鈥� Byard says. 鈥淥ur two youngest principals this year are 31. So, people know that if they come here, they鈥檒l get good training and a chance to advance.鈥�
