However Zema was nervous because she was taking on her first math class as a new teacher at Marysville Middle School. She just graduated from Pacific Lutheran with a master’s in education.

“I’m switching from student to teacher,” she said.

Conte was excited about working with therapy dog Zenith to help students emotionally at Shoultes Elementary School, where she is the new assistant principal. She also will work two days a week at Cascade Elementary.

The first day was hectic, as usual, with many students not knowing where to go, despite signs in hallways.

“This is so new,” one student said. “Too much,” one office worker said, as if suddenly realizing summer vacation was over. “The counselors’ office is jammed with parents,” one teacher said.

Despite the chaos, Zema kept her cool. She directed lost students like a pro. Zema said she has known since she was a junior in high school that she wanted to be a teacher. She got a chance to help at a junior high then and was hooked.

Zema said she knows a lot of kids are afraid of math, and those are the ones she likes best to teach.

“I try to make them comfortable and get them to believe in themselves,” she said. “It’s OK to make mistakes. That puts them in a place to learn and grow.”

As children filed in, Zema tried to make all of her new students comfortable by giving praise, talking about her family and telling kids to smile so they would feel better.

Zema said math is easier to learn than in the old days because online curriculum makes it more interesting.

“It brings math to life with animated slides,” she said.

Zema’s principal, Angela Hansen, said teachers will be spending the first day instructing students on positive behaviors, something the entire district is doing. By instructing how to act in class, hallways, the cafeteria, etc., the hope is to save problems throughout the year, creating more teaching time.

The school is using its initials, MMS, for a new slogan. Model Respect. Make Good Decisions. Solve Problems.

Hansen hopes to come up with even more teaching time by not using the school’s lockers this year.

“They’d be out of class because they forgot what they needed,” she said, adding this year they are using backpacks.

One concern from parents often about backpacks is they get too heavy with books. But Hansen said the school, like the entire district, will be using more technology and fewer textbooks. Hansen said students will be taught to use electronic tools for instructional purposes and not to use them inappropriately.

Zema took control of that right away.

“Turn them off and put them away,” she said. “Nobody wants to lose their phone on the first day.”

She also used the 3-2-1 method to get their attention, along with the word SALAME, which stands for Stop And Look At ME.

Meanwhile, standing outside Shoultes, Conte had an advantage welcoming students because of her friendly black lab. She used to take him when she taught kindergarten the past three years, while getting her doctorate in school administration at Seattle University.

Conte said she is excited about her new job helping teachers be passionate about their work. “I can impact more students in a different way,” she said.

Her principal, Lynn Heimsoth, said she’s glad to have Conte and Zenith at the school.

“Kids have behavior and emotional needs dogs can relate to in a way we can’t,” Heimsoth said.

She said a new housing development nearby has meant enrollment is up by almost 30 students this year. School district administrator Kyle Kinoshita, who was visiting the school, said attendance seems to be up all across the district. He attributed that to the improved economy.

Heimsoth was seen giving out hugs to dozens of students. “Hugs, that’s what I do,” she said with a smile.

But what about those who were shyly trying to avoid her. “They know better than that,” she joked.