The bell signaling the start of the Baltimore County Public Schools year will sound Aug. 29.
For two teachers in Catonsville, it will also be the beginning of a career as elementary school teachers.
Catonsville resident Christa Wheeler, who graduated with a teaching degree from Towson University in 2010, recalled going to the Baltimore County job fair after graduation and seeing signs on most every table indicating that the school had no open positions.
"It was a little disheartening," said Wheeler, 24.
After applying to teach in the school systems of Baltimore, Howard and Montgomery counties, she landed a position only as a long-term substitute at Hillcrest Elementary School and another school in Owings Mills.
Coming into this school year, Wheeler said she figured her experience from last year would help her get a job, but she still had doubts.
"I kept my fingers crossed, but I didn't hold my breath," Wheeler said.
Wheeler has wanted to teach since she coached youth soccer in Montgomery County while she was a Seton Keough freshman.
The wait finally ended in July when she landed a position as a third-grade teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School.
"When I got that call, my dream came true," said Wheeler, who was shaking when she got the news. "I feel prepared."
For Mike Leavey, the path to becoming a teacher has been a lot longer than Wheeler's — 12 years in the making.
Out of college, Leavey said he had thoughts of becoming a teacher before choosing a marketing career instead.
Then Leavey chose to revisit his passion by working toward his master's teaching degree at Loyola University Maryland, which he earned in May.
Only months after graduation, the Owings Mills resident quickly accepted a job as a fourth-grade teacher at Edmondson Heights Elementary School.
"Not a single regret," Leavey said after being asked about his decision to change careers. "I'm happy to have the opportunity to teach. It's a good profession that I'm super psyched about doing."
All that separates Wheeler and Leavey from the school year is setting up classrooms and writing lesson plans.
Wheeler had spent five days preparing her classroom by Aug. 17 and figured she would spend several more long days finishing it before school starts.
She said she must have everything prepared right down to laminating each of the letters that will go on the bulletin board.
While Leavey said he still hadn't configured his classroom, going through orientation and workshops made him excited to start.
Just as many students will have butterflies when the school year begins as Wheeler and Leavey.
"There's a lot in my hands, and I want to be sure I do the best I can to give the students the best education I can," Wheeler said.
"Any time you change a job or careers, there's going to be some nerves in it," Leavey said.
Both hope that their nervousness will eventually turn into exhilaration.
"I love just seeing where they come in at the beginning of the year," Wheeler said. "Just seeing the progress the kids would make is so rewarding."
"The best part about it is when I see something click when I'm teaching," Leavey said. "And realizing the moment they understand the concept."