New teachers were celebrated by their union and the city's Department of Education at the Kings Theater in Brooklyn on Monday.

“I’m just excited to meet my students. I’m just ready to meet them and have a good start to the year,” said Brandy DeLeon.

DeLeon was part of the New York City Teaching Fellows program, which allows fellows to teach while earning their master's degree and certification.

“I’m excited to get back into the classroom. I was part of the Teaching Fellows, so we taught this summer, but I really want to have my own classroom and kind of teach my students the way I want to,” DeLeon said.

Many of the fellows, and many of those at the Kings Theater Monday, are coming from different careers.

“I said, ‘I can handle this. I’m a tough guy. I’m a construction worker. There will be no problem.’ By Oct. 31, I was passed out. The kids were kicking me in the butt,” said United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew, who came to teaching from the construction field.

But, he thinks the career change was worth it.

“That first year was really tough. But it was one of the most rewarding years I’ve ever had in my life,” Mulgrew said.

Ben Siegel, a new teacher, is a graduate of the city’s public school system. He is looking forward to giving back.

“I got bit by the bug — the teaching bug — when I was substituting, and I realized this is what I want to do. I love making learning accessible to all students,” Siegel said.

City Schools Chancellor David Banks, who noted he originally planned to be a lawyer, offered the new teachers advice Monday.

“Teachers help their children to learn, and recognize that they’re not robots. And not one of them is the same. That’s why teaching is hard. If you’re really good at this, you spend hours, countless hours, thinking about your kids, thinking about new strategies and techniques to hone your craft and get better,” Banks said.

Teachers return to school Sept. 6 — the first day of class for students is Sep. 8.