New MPUSD teachers attend two-day orientation

Monterey County’s largest school district wants to get new educators up to speed before the school year starts.

Monterey High School Academic Coach Aaron Sanders has been teaching for 12 years. He’s now using his experience to help acclimate teachers new to the district, answering any questions they may have.

“The questions,” Sanders explains, “”What kind of supplies to we have? What’s available to us? What technology is available to us in the classroom? Where do we find that?” Things as basic as that.”

Sixty teachers, all new to the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District are learning tools from other educators, hopefully to point them in the right direction this school year. It starts with a two-day orientation at Seaside Middle School, where they learn new tools and exercises that will help them with students’ needs specific to the Monterey Peninsula.

“The student population is different than in San Diego, Las Vegas, so what works with our students,” Sanders said.

These teachers aren’t just learning from their mentors, but also their peers.

“I think with as many takeaways as the presenters are giving us,” Aly Yeh said. “I’ve probably checked off two or three more that I got from colleagues that I’ve just met.”

Educators, doing their homework to make sure their students pass at the top of their class.

“Help them feel comfortable and secure so they feel successful when they’re teaching students,” Sanders said.