New employees reported for their first day of work Monday at Mathews County Public Schools.

Although masks and social distancing were the order of the day, the division attempted to make things as normal as possible for the approximately dozen new staff members who took part in a brief orientation that morning at Thomas Hunter Middle School.

About 30-35 people in total gathered in the Brooks Auditorium, with school board chairman John Priest and superintendent of schools Nancy Welch welcoming the new employees.

Welch spoke of the “Mathews Way,” and of the supportive atmosphere within the division and the community as a whole. Principals, administrators and other veteran employees also provided words of advice and encouragement to the new teachers and support personnel. Lee-Jackson Elementary School teacher Stacie Wiatt, who serves as treasurer of the Mathews Education Association, gave the employees an overview of that organization.

Following the orientation, the new teachers were able to spend some one-on-one time with their mentors.
All other school employees were scheduled to start work on Tuesday, although the traditional employee convocation was not held due to COVID-19, with smaller group meetings held in the schools and virtually.

Teacher workdays/professional development is scheduled to continue through the end of the month. Students will begin instruction on Monday, Aug. 31. With the exception of in-school instruction on Aug. 31 and Sept. 8 (for students in Group A) and Sept. 2 and 10 (Group B) for K-8 students, the first nine weeks of instruction will be conducted online. Welch said that she’s “keeping her fingers crossed” that the second nine-week marking period may allow for increased hybrid instruction.