Teachers in Albemarle County Public Schools are learning some lessons of their own even before students return to school. It's part of a new teacher orientation program that attracts educators from far and wide.
The Teacher Academy is a way to acclimate new teachers before the start of the school year.
The four-day program started Tuesday at Monticello High School. Teachers are learning about new technologies and how to incorporate resources like iPods and web-based programs into their curriculum.
There are about 100 new teachers this year, and this is the first time teaching for roughly 40 percent of them. Elena Lavrentyeva is one of those new teachers. She's from Russia and will be teaching kindergarten at Brownsville Elementary School.
"I think it's very useful because, especially for the teachers new to the profession, it's overwhelming when you come into the county, to any place, and you don't know what to do, so it's very useful," Lavrentyeva said.
Students in Albemarle County Public Schools head back to class on August 22.
