Students and staff in a dozen school districts are heading back to school Monday morning.
In Cobb County, students will be attending brand new schools and greeted by 700 new teachers.
Channel 2's Sophia Choi visited Hillgrove High School in Powder Springs where new teachers are being treated like rock stars.
"Cobb is just rolling out the red carpet for all of us. I've never seen anything like it, this is amazing," said new teacher Kara Horton.
The new teachers say they learned it's all about one team, one goal.
"Be customer-oriented. [Some could say] 'What? I'm a teacher, I don't have customers.' Yes, we do have customers. They are our students and our parents," said School Board Chairman Randy Scamihorn.
That message comes through loud and clear for these new teachers.
"These kids, I just know are bursting at the seams ready to go and I can't wait to get started with them, get them excited," said teacher Dennis Brown.
The new teachers got to meet with seasoned educators and vendors, during an initiation.
"I'm excited to be able to share some of the technology that I've learned through the years, but it's time to be able to share not only with students, but with teachers as well," said teacher Candace Queen.
New Technology To Help Students In Real-Time
Some teachers will also find new technology in their classrooms that will produce real-time data. The data will show how students are faring.
Channel 2 Action News was shown the new technology at Argyle Elementary School in Smyrna.
Students use a hand-held device called an iRespond system to answer questions.
Educators will immediately see who answered right and who got it wrong. That way they can separate students in groups, according to their needs.
"We can take the data from the responses and we use it to individualize our teaching," said teacher Jen Murchie.
Students say it helps them to stay focused and learn in a fun way.
"I like it because it has all the buttons, and when you, like, push them, it comes up on the screen," said second grader Kensington Cobb.
The district is rolling out the system 20 schools at a time after a pilot program last year showed improved learning.
"It's hugely successful. They were learning at much more rapid rates, so that they were grade level ready when they were moving on the following year," said digital transformation supervisor Janell McClure.
