In many parishes new DREs begin on July 1 or August 1.

What advice would you give to a new DRE (either new to the profession, or new to a parish)?

Looking forward to your wisdom!

Here's my top 5 (some of which I wish someone had told me before I started)
1. Find time for prayer, Being a DRE can be full of lots of crazy hours that make it hard to maintain a schedule but you can't do it if you don't remain connected to the reason why you're doing this job.
2. Make time to get to know your student's parents/ guardians. Don't just talk to them take time to listen to them. About 2 years after I started my current position we invited everyone to make an appointment with a member of the pastoral team to enroll their children. Some people just showed up to hand in forms but many had pastoral concerns they had never had a chance to be addressed it really built bridges for them to know that someone cared enough to hear their stories.
3. Change nothing that doesn't urgently need to be changed for 1 year so you can see the pros and cons of what is happening. Your idea for change may be the best thing since sliced bread but change isn't always easy on those who are on the receiving end. Give people time to begin to trust you before your changes say (even if your words don't) that you think things just werent they way they should be before you got there.
4. Accept help! Volunteers are a gift from God. If you constantly turn them down they will get discouraged and stop volunteering. Help them find the best use for their gifts.
5. Remember you have been called and gifted for God's service. You will not do the job exactly as someone else has and that is o.k. God has given you the unique gifts you will need for your situation and He is with you through it all.

I would second everything Maura has said.

*Spend the first year listening and observing: change as little as possible. Get to know the culture of the parish, get to know the people of the parish, get to know the issues, struggles, and burning questions that are a part of peoples lives.
*IF, after a year, you belive something needs to be changed, plant small seeds early and often: use as many vehicles as possible to subtly present the positive benefits of the change you would like to propose. Use symbol and story in the process; begin to inspire a shared vision. Be patient.
*Remember that people are at the heart of everything you do: nurture and appreciate volunteers, treat students with respect, do not judge parents for not being as involved as you would like them to be, develop relationships with the other members of parish staff.
*Work with parents. Remind them that you have the same goals for their children that they have for their children.
*Remember balance: you can't be of service to others if you don't take care of yourself. Find what works for you and commit to it!