The 2017-2018 school year has kicked off and with a new school year comes the introduction of many exciting aspects of school, such as dress codes, schedules and brand new students.

However, the most intriguing aspect of the year’s start has to be the 13 teachers starting their first year at North Atlanta. When students received their schedules in advisement on the first day of school, buzzings of “I wonder who this teacher is?” could be heard around the room. A few weeks later, the new teachers have been able to settle into their respective routines, so how are they faring?

Michelle Luco is a fresh-faced teacher for the school year, coming in as an IB History of the Americas instructor, which is no small feat. It is her fifth year being a teacher and she has about 154 students combined, an amount similar to the number of students she taught at her last job in Miami Dade Public Schools. Luco said she enjoys North Atlanta so far, and she said she is appreciating the contrast she’s seeing compared to schools where she taught in Miami. The biggest change for her is teaching to the IB standards, which require an extra effort on the part of the instructor. “Sure, it’s a little more difficult to teach something I’m only just learning myself, but I really like IB,” said Luco. “I like how it doesn’t require that you know everything under the sun, but that you learn new skills and how to apply those to everyday life.”

Not only do the first-year teachers at North Atlanta have to learn about the school, but students must also take time this year to get to know these instructors and how they run the classroom. Unlike students of veteran teachers, students of new educators have no idea how the class will play out under unfamiliar instruction. Junior Alex Starnes is in two classes being taught by new teachers, and the most difficult aspect for her is getting used to the different dynamic between the teachers and herself. “I really like my new teachers, and I think it will be fun to get to know them over the school year, but it’s always difficult initially because I am unfamiliar with their teaching styles,” said Starnes. “It is new ground for everyone.”

For teachers at an unfamiliar school, getting to know their students, colleagues, and a brand new setting is daunting task. The same holds for students getting new to someone new in the classroom. New school year. New teachers. They go hand in hand, just like piles of school work and late nights. Welcome to 2017-2018, Warriors!