31 New Teachers, Staff Join Westfield Schools

WESTFIELD, NJ — Newly hired Westfield Public School teachers and support staff attended the in-house New Staff Institute (NSI) on Aug. 29 to 30, receiving orientation and training to become familiar with expectations of the district and community.

Of the 31 attending NSI, the majority are new to the district, while a few stepped in as mid-year leave replacements during the last school year. To offer further support to both first year educators and to those veteran teachers who are new to Westfield, NSI meetings also will take place in the next two years.

At a NSI luncheon held on Aug. 30, Westfield Board of Education President, Gretchan Ohlig, welcomed the new teachers to the district and told them that they made the right choice.

Westfield Education Association President, Gail Alston, encouraged the newcomers to continue to seek help and draw from the knowledge and experience of veteran teachers in the district.

Superintendent of Schools, Margaret Dolan, explained that educating the next generation and working as a team to accomplish that goal was the focus of the Westfield Public Schools. She also urged them to share their suggestions.

Those attending the New Staff Institute included:

• Joseph Berardi - WHS, Social Studies
• Laura Capoccia - District, Social Worker
• Sean Carcich - WHS, Special Ed.
• Lauren Caruana - McKinley, 3rd Grade
• Jay Cook - WHS, Physical Education
• Nicolette Cranga - WHS, Math
• Frank Geiger - WHS, Social Studies
• Matthew Gironda - WHS, Math
• Dana Gottdiener - RIS, Special Ed.
• Marybeth Harte Harris - Franklin/WHS, Supplemental Nurse
• Jennifer Haughney - Franklin, 1st Grade
• Diane Iannacone - EIS, Special Ed.
• Elizabeth Keitell - RIS, Music
• Douglas Kohlenstein - EIS, Science
• Rebecca Labus - WHS, Guidance
• Gail Mackey - RIS, 2/5 French
• Jack Maranhao - WHS, Science
• Jillian Martinez - EIS, Spanish
• Kathleen McCarthy - Franklin, Special Ed.
• Kimberly O'Donnell-Pickert - McKinley, Special Ed.
• Elizabeth Palamara - WHS, English
• Julia Perrotta - District, Speech
• Kim Rivera - RIS, Nurse
• Shira Rivlin - Wilson, Resource Room
• Cheryl Schmid - District, Speech
• Mary Sica - McKinley, 5th Grade
• Aaron Staluppi - McKin/Frank, Inst. Music
• Maureen Stephen - WHS, Math
• Allen Vandergoot - RIS, Technology
• Lynn Weston - Lincoln, Wrap Coordinator
• Lauren Zales - McKinley, 2nd Grade

- By Lorre Korecky

(Photos provided)

Photo 1 - Westfield Superintendent of Schools, Margaret Dolan (at right) welcomed new teaching staff during the school district’s New Staff Institute. Among those in attendance were (l-r) Edison Intermediate School Science teacher, Douglas Kohlenstein; Westfield High School Social Studies teacher, Frank Geiger; Franklin Special Education teacher, Katie McCarthy; Franklin first grade teacher, Jennifer Haughney; and newly hired K-12 Science Supervisor, Thomas Patterson.

Photo 2 - Among those at the training were (l-r): Jennifer Haughney, Franklin first grade; Julie Perrotta, Speech Therapist; Kimberly O’Donnell-Pickert, McKinley Special Education; Allen Vandergoot, Roosevelt Intermediate Industrial Arts; Sean Carcich, Westfield High School Special Education; Frank Geiger, Westfield High School Social Studies; and Laura Capoccia, Social Worker.

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