The Schenectady City School District kicked off a three-day "New Teacher Orientation" with breakfast and a formal presentation on Monday, August 28 Key Hall at Proctors. More than 125 new teachers and clinicians, along with school and district administrators attended the kick-off event.

The formal program included remarks from Mayor Gary McCarthy, Superintendent Anibal Soler, Jr., Board of Education President Bernice Rivera, Schenectady Federation of Teachers President Michael Silvestri, Schenectady High School tenth grader Isaiah Roberts, who received a standing ovation, and Paige Instructional Coach Kathleen Ferguson.

Representatives from First New York Federal Credit Union announced that each new teacher will receive a $100 Amazon gift card courtesy of the credit union and Schenectady Educational Foundation.

Over the course of the three days, new teachers will attend sessions on technology, trauma informed practices, the student information system, school and district expectations, teaching and learning, student support services, reading, implementation of individual education pland (IEPs), human resource processes and procedures, and more.