New Teachers Join the District

There has been lots of learning in Millburn-Short Hills schools this week, but it's not students who are learning. It's the teachers.

Specifically, it's the new teachers. About 35 new teachers have been participating in orientation programs this week ranging from learning the Millburn Instructional Model to learning how the district's technology model works. They also received their laptop computers during the week of instruction.

On Thursday afternoon, Lynne Ranieri, Millburn-Short Hills Historical Society Museum curator, led a session in the history of the community.

"You'll find this to be a tremendously rich experience as a community," said Hartshorn Elementary Principal Ron Castaldo.

The history of the town includes events from the Revolutionary War to a number of famous people that have lived here, he said, and it's why they find it important for the new teacher to learn the history and background of the town.

Ranieri outlined a number of major events in town, including the Battle of Springfield, but she mainly highlighted a number of notable figures from the town's history.

Included in her discussion was Stewart Hartshorn, who founded Short Hills. He was sick when he was younger and looked for a healthy place to live.

"He thought this area would be ideal for what he thought would be a short life," Ranieri said. "He lived to be 97 years old."

Both Ranieri and Castaldo described when they met Mrs. Hartshorn years ago. They both said the proper way to say the family name is "Harts-horn" and not "Hart-shorn."

Also living in Short Hills was John Henry Hobart, who was the Episcopal bishop for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Legend says he would be able to see a light in Trinity Church in New York to signal he was needed from his Short Hills home, Ranieri said.

There are a variety of new teachers joining the Millburn district's staff this school year, which opens on Sept. 8.

There are three additions to Deerfield School: Carol Barna-Emposimato, resource; Steven Plesnarski, music; and Carolyn Tomasello, world languages.

Five teachers join the Glenwood School staff: Gina Colucci, fifth grade; Maria Schaufler, kindergarten; Shea Stansfield, library/media; and Kimberly Zoddo, resource.

Mike Todisco will be an additional part-time physical education teacher for Glenwood and Wyoming schools.

Joining the staff at South Mountain School are Adrienne Blossey, music; Maureen Brennan, kindergarten; Natalie Puorro, second grade; and Carol Silberfein, third grade.

The 12 teachers joining the staff at Millburn Middle School are Vanessa Avci, resource; Melissa Batista, English; Lauren Crocker, math; Pauline Dobbins, Marsha Gepford and Alice Pei-Yu Wen, social studies; Frank Gontier and Lauren Hartmann, world languages; Stefanie Ortiz, Computer; Gina Ruggiero and Jacqueline Suchanski, science; and Theresa Willms, physical education.

Millburn High School welcomes 12 new staffers:  Anne Changeux, Lingwei Chiou, Antonia deVegh and Hui-Mei King, world languages; Jacqueline Finnegan, Raymond Henry and Kathryn Lemerich, math; Meghan Garland, guidance; Jenny Manis, social studies; and Susan Cicenia and Bridgette Nevola, special education. Kim Chapman is the high school’s new security officer.

There are also new administrators with the district. Administrators in new positions include Elaine Vislocky, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and technology; Scott Wolfe, principal, South Mountain School; Audra Berger, instructional supervisor, Deerfield School; Heather Fiory, instructional supervisor, South Mountain and Wyoming schools; and Leslie McCafferty, information systems manager.

Joseph Guarisco is the new supervisor of social studies. Christopher Mesopotanese will be a behaviorist for the district. Dr. Dahlia Hall will be the school district’s physician/medical inspector.