Orientation in the midst of extreme disorientation is like the eye of a storm; a derecho, perhaps, or a still spreading pandemic. It lends order at the center of chaos.

Orientation began Friday morning for the DMPS cohort of new teachers.

Roughly 2,700 returning teachers will be joined by 101 who are new to the district, including 68 rookies to the profession. Under circumstances which are unprecedented in let us count the ways, teachers everywhere are rookies this year, but the vets’ experience with administrative ways and means puts them ahead of the newcomers. Virtual sessions today and next Monday and Tuesday will narrow that gap and prep the frosh to jump into uncharted waters with both feet whenever and however they finally get to meet with their students and do what they trained and were hired to do – teach.

After a Friday morning welcome attended by everyone, the new recruits hopscotched through a battery of breakout sessions that covered everything from employee benefits (they are considerable and commensurate to the challenges) to how to take attendance (virtually).

Orientation is an annual rite for new hires but this time around it includes a distinctly experimental element in addition to what’s tried and true. Nobody’s done before what everybody’s trying to do this year.

Glenna Thomas Whiteman’s new job teaching high school social studies at Orchard Place is a homecoming of sorts. She’s a 2014 graduate of North High who last year served in AmeriCorps at Goodrell Middle School.

“I have a lot of mixed feelings heading into this year,” Glenna told us. “Nerves as it being my first year as a teacher and being semi-high risk teaching in person. There is also excitement of being part of a new team and having the opportunity to put my flexibility to the test. In university education classes (at the University of Northern Iowa), my professors stressed the importance of flexibility for educators.”

So in that generic sense she was forewarned about X factors like pandemics and undeterred. She sounds like someone DMPS is lucky to have back.

Mary Lamair landed the precise position she aimed for, teaching visual art at Roosevelt High School. Though she has prior teaching experience at DMACC and the Des Moines Art Center, Roosevelt will be her first post as a full-time public school teacher.

“To say that I feel fortunate to have gotten my dream position at my dream school would be an understatement,” she said. “Orientation this morning and working with my mentor this afternoon were both encouraging and I feel extremely supported. Being a new teacher in this time of uncertainty has its challenges, but in some ways I feel like it is probably easier for me…because I don’t know anything other than starting…as a high school art teacher amid COVID-19.”

Elizabeth Jones is anxious to start her career as a special education teacher at Hanawalt Elementary. “This is my first teaching position and school district since I graduated from Central College in May,” she said. “Personally, this whole experience has been one to remember. Trying to navigate starting a new job is difficult enough in-person, let alone virtually. I am looking forward to this year and all the opportunities it will bring.”

Prior to the pandemic, recruiting new teachers was already getting tougher. Joining healthcare professionals on the frontlines of a historic public health crisis figures to make it even more so but that’s also a factor that might make a tough but vital job more attractive to the sort of teacher every district wants to attract.

Congratulations and welcome to the DMPS teaching class of 2020-21! Thanks for answering our call and your calling.