New Teachers Join Millburn School District

They wandered the halls much like freshmen will in two weeks, but they were guided by someone who knows the difference between Hallway A and Hallway B.

The eight new Millburn High School teachers got a tour with Principal Bill Miron on Monday afternoon. Miron told the group several times he thinks he and Vice Principal Robert Keenan are the only ones who know the hallways as their proper labels. Students and teachers will call areas the "old new wing" or the music wing.

"It's a real patchwork," Miron said of the school's layout. He said the teachers will mainly know their classroom, their office area and the main office.

There were plenty of questions ranging from senior privilege (seniors being allowed to leave for lunch) to copy machines (across from the main office) to parking (it's harder to find a spot the later you arrive). And their counterparts at the other schools received a similar tour at the same time.

The new teachers from all the schools have been taking part in new teacher orientation, which lasts through the end of the week. Among the things they learn is the Millburn Instructional Model in a workshop with Hartshorn Elementary School Principal Ron Castaldo.

The new high school teachers are: Roger Askins, Life Skills; Steve Breslow, part-time Mathematics; Ladawna Harrington, school librarian, Jane Kade, English; Laura Meade, Resource Room; Zareen Rahman, Mathematics; Candace Stout, transition coordinator, and Rodrigo Vega, Choral Director.

There are four additions at Deerfield Elementary School: Mary Donohue, kindergarten; Nancy Amster-Coull, fourth grade; Cara Edelbach, media specialist, and Carla Barna-Emposimato, a second-year leave replacement in the resource room.

Three staffers join the Glenwood Elementary School staff: Dena Gountis, one-year leave replacement in Art, and Kimberly Zodda, a second-year leave replacement for resource. Maria Boyes will be the School Psychologist for Glenwood and Hartshorn schools.

Also at Hartshorn Elementary School are four new teachers: Theresa Cullen, kindergarten; Eric Demel, technology; Kathleen Small, second grade, and Dana VanGinneken, ELL, who will also be teaching ELL students at the high school.

Joining the staff at South Mountain Elementary School are Bridget Reilly, pre-K, and Meredith Rymer, Music.

Rymer also will be teaching music at Wyoming Elementary School, along with three other new faces: Dana Previti, kindergarten; Cristina D'Alessio, third grade; and Gina Collucci, resource room.

The three teachers joining the staff at Millburn Middle School are Sarah Hunter, Music; William Rentiers, Physical Education, and Elizabeth Bankowski who is a one-year leave replacement teacher in English.