New Teachers Begin 2-Day Orientation at Montville Schools

“You have all experienced a rigorous interview process,” said Superintendent Dr. René Rovtar as she welcomed thirty new faculty members to the Montville Township Public Schools. “You should be very proud of this accomplishment. We are very proud of who you are and the skills, talent and commitment you bring to our district.”

Montville Township Board of Education President Charles Grau, echoed Rovtar’s sentiments. “The district has hundreds of applicants for each position. You have been chosen out of a very competitive field.”

Grau, who began his own teaching career 56 years ago, has served on the Montville Township Board of Education for over 25 years.

“I was thinking this morning,” Grau said, “about the impact each educator has on students. Teaching and listening are equally important. I am continually amazed by the memories my former students share with me 30, 40, 50 years later. It is an important profession. It has a profound impact on thousands of people in a community. We are excited you are here.”

In addition to new faculty and staff, The Montville Township Police Department has assigned Officer Scott McGowan to be the district’s School Resource Officer (SRO). McGowan will be based at Montville Township High School and will have interaction with all seven district schools. He will also implement the district’s new 5th Grade L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs) program. L.E.A.D. was piloted by McGowan in the district last spring at Woodmont Elementary. The program will expand to all five elementary schools during the 2018-2019 school year. McGowan will also be joined in the district by two part-time Class III officers. All three positions are funded through a cooperative initiative between the Montville Township Public Schools and the Montville Township Committee.

New staff includes: Annamaria Alcaro, Gabrielle Alfano, Allison Cherry, Jacqueline Cherry, Christopher Connolly, Kimberly Kao, Kathryn Keating, Sung Kim, Samantha Ivins, Jane Lefebvre, Edward Lippincott, Daniella Lopez-Anderson, Dorothy Lovenguth, Boris Lyashkevich, Officer Scott McGowan, Ryan Nardi, Matthew Paladino, Mary Pareti, Daniel Pasquale, Sonja Pedersen, Kelly Petillon, Daniela Petruzzella, Theresa Pizzo, Maya Rutledge, Kristen Schissler, Kathryn Slezak, Joseph Sussman, Kelly Van Horn, Marissa Van Koppen and Hillary Villarosa.

New teachers will participate in two days of training and orientation. They will also have time to prepare classrooms during the August 27 and 28 orientation.

The entire staff, faculty and administration will return on Wednesday, August 29. Students will begin the 2018-2019 academic year on Tuesday, September 4, following the 2018 Labor Day weekend.

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CAPTION – Photo by Sue Marinello

WELCOME NEW TEACHERS! 30 new faculty, staff and an SRO officer joined the educational team at Montville Township Public Schools on Mon., Aug 27, 2018. Pictured: (Row 1): Annamaria Alcaro, Gabrielle Alfano, Allison Cherry, Jacqueline Cherry, Christopher Connolly, Kimberly Kao, Kathryn Keating, Sung Kim, (Row 2): Jane Lefebvre, Boris Lyashkevich, Samantha Ivins, Edward Lippincott, Dorothy Lovenguth, Officer Scott McGowan, Hillary Villarosa, Ryan Nardi, (Row 3): Matthew Paladino, Daniel Pasquale, Sonja Pedersen, Kelly Petillon, Daniela Petruzzella, Maya Rutledge, , Kristen Schissler, Joseph Sussman, Kelly Van Horn, Marissa Van Koppen. Not Pictured: Daniella Lopez-Anderson, Mary Pareti, Theresa Pizzo, Kathryn Slezak.