Welcome to Columbus City Schools!  

We are excited to have you as a new member of our professional staff!   

New Educator Orientation (NEO) will be held August 5-7 and August 10-11, 2026

at Whetstone High School

4405 Scenic Drive, Columbus, OH 43214.

 Schedules vary based on your role, grade level, and content area. 

The agenda will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude no later than 3:30 p.m. each day. 

Daily schedules will be available in the Agendas tab.

Please make note of the following:

• Three of the days of New Educator Orientation are paid as part of your first-year contract with CCS. This compensation will be included on one of your regular paychecks towards the beginning of the school year. 

• Two of the days of New Educator Orientation will be paid through a stipend per day. This compensation is not received at the time of Orientation but is processed afterwards following the Board of Education policies. The total stipend amount will appear as part of your regular paycheck later in the school year. school year.

• Individuals can only receive the applicable contract pay/stipend for attending New Educator Orientation. Pay for partial day attendance will be pro-rated accordingly.

• If applicable, Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for each full day of attendance.

• You must sign in and out daily (on time) to document your attendance for the contracted pay, stipend and/or CEUs. Attendance sheets will be provided at the beginning and end of each day.

If you have any questions about the New Educator Orientation, please contact Stacie Dieffenderfer at sdieffenderfer4400@columbus.k12.oh.us or 

Rhonda Rice at rrice2924@columbus.k12.oh.us.