50 New Livingston School Hires Gear Up For 2016-17 Year

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Almost 50 new hires to the Livingston Public School District got some valuable advice and healthy dose of local history during a recent four-day orientation session.

According to school administrators, from Aug. 22 to 26, the new educators took part in classes on “everything first-year teachers in Livingston need to know to be successful in the district,” including workshops on challenging issues in education, including elements of effective instruction, meeting academic demands, evaluations, laws surrounding special education and learning about a variety of district policies.

Other classes focused on the effective use of technology for instruction, creating an environment to engage all students, 21st century skills, best practices for parent communication and teaching English language learners, school administrators said.

Christina Steffner, the district’s new superintendent of schools, welcomed the new hires to Livingston, acknowledging her own place among the newcomers.

“As one of the new faces, I am excited about serving as your superintendent and will work hard to support your efforts to provide our students with an exceptional educational experience,’ Steffner told the new teachers.

As part of the orientation sessions, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Pat Boland and LHS Principal Mark Stern took the new teachers on a class trip aboard yellow school buses to share more about Livingston, its history and the places where their students play and live.

According to the district website, new faces to Livingston Public Schools for the 2016-2017 school year include:

• Superintendent Christina Steffner
• Supervisors Erin Borino, Educational Technology, and Mara Rubin, Visual and Performing Arts
• Heritage Principal Shawn Kelly
• New Supervisors Burnet Hill: Jaime Schultz, teacher; Dr. Mallory Seidman, school psychologist; Mary Smith, teacher.
• Collins: Rosa Ramirez, teacher.
• Harrison: Ellen Fishter, district elementary technology coach.
• Hillside: Teachers Chelsea Altchek, Jade George, Da Hee Kim, Dana Rosen, Gynine Suda, and Amy Vitale.
• Mt. Pleasant Elementary: Ashley Chandler, teacher; Frank Del Tufo, physical education; Mary Kate O’Brien, counselor; Gianna Pasceri, teacher; Taryn Rogalsky, teacher; Dean Smith, social worker/behaviorist.
• Riker Hill: Sarah Goldman, school psychologist.
• Mt. Pleasant Middle School: Lauren Bach, counselor; and teachers Jennifer Cali, Donna Ofstad and Laurence Seltzer.
• Heritage Middle School: Christina Woytas, first secretary; and teachers Stephanie Brunn, Kelli-Ann Cody, Krista Delia, Nicole Jordan, Mary Morano, Claudia Netti, and Anthony Rappa.
• New Teachers Livingston High School: Teachers Peter Astras, Brett Bisconti, Michael Coleman, Meredith Coviello, Andrew Deegan, Andrew Greenberg, Brooke Jenkinson, Johanna Klinman, Daniel Lombardi, Kristy Perna, Diane Powell, and Margaret Wohltmann; Jennifer Barrows, school psychologist; Sarah Joseph, counselor; Marni Latman, LDT-C; Heather Lowy, office support.
• Transportation: Lisa Marazzo, transportation manager.

Photos: Livingston Public Schools

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