despite this caution, acanfora was hired without further interviewing by the assistant principal of parkland junior high school in rockville, maryland, and entered into a one-year teaching contract. he was one of 719 new teachers hired in montgomery county in 1972, out of 10,000 applicants. acanfora commenced his duties as an eighth grade earth science teacher on august 29, 1972. his teaching performance was judged entirely satisfactory by his supervisor.