Press Release: School Year Includes New Teachers

A total of 25 new teachers and support staff as well as four new administrators were welcomed to the Westfield Public Schools at a luncheon on August 30 during participation in the New Teacher Institute, the orientation and training program for educators new to the district.  

While the district eliminated more than 30 positions due to budget cuts earlier this year, the newly hired staff members are filling positions created largely by retirements, resignations or as leave replacements.  

Superintendent of Schools, Margaret Dolan; Board President, Julia Walker; President of the Westfield Education Association, Kim Schumacher; and Parent Teacher Council President, Rose Hughes, welcomed the new hires prior to the luncheon buffet in the Westfield High School Student Center.  Other Board members present included Vice President Ann Cary, Jane Clancy, Ginny Leiz and Mitch Slater.

The new teachers completed their one day program within Westfield's New Teacher Institute (NTI) followed by a district-wide In Service and a school-level orientation later in the week.  The NTI program, which traditionally had been held for four days, was reduced to one this year due to budget cuts in the district.  Meetings also will take place during the school year, as has been the practice.

The new teaching and support staff for the Westfield Public Schools includes:

Lauren Anderson, Franklin 1^st grade; John Brzozowski, Westfield High School - Vocal Music; Allison Bucciarelli, Special Services – Speech Language Specialist; Melissa Cook, Roosevelt Intermediate School - Science; Adrienne DeLee-Fleming, Edison Intermediate School - Special Education; Marissa Dragone, Roosevelt Intermediate School – Social Studies; Lindsey El Koury, Westfield High School – Physical Education; Christopher Flores, Westfield High School – Athletic Trainer; Erin Hurts, Special Services – Special Language Specialist; Danielle Kedzierski, Westfield High School – Mathematics; Dana Kickey, Westfield High School – Special Education; Stephen Markowski, McKinley – Music; Elizabeth Martin, Washington – First Grade; William Meixner, Edison and Roosevelt Intermediate Schools – Industrial Technology; Christine Mills, McKinley – 5^th grade; Julia Panos, Westfield High School – Special Education; Carol Petersen, Jefferson – 3^rd grade; Cristina Pianet, Tamaques – 4^th grade; Allison Roberts, Westfield High School – Mathematics; Jeanne Roughley, Washington – 4^th grade; Francis Santora,  Special Services – Psychologist; Nicole Scimone, Westfield High School – English; Joseph Tremarco, Edison Intermediate School – Special Education; Bailey Verdone, Westfield High School – English; and Shilpa Wakde, Westfield High School and Roosevelt Intermediate School – French.

Westfield welcomes two new administrators at Westfield High School for 2010-2011, including Richard Charwin, Supervisor of Pupil Personnel Services/Guidance K-12 and Derrick Nelson, Assistant Principal of Roosevelt Intermediate School.  In addition, Sandy Mammary, longtime Athletic Trainer for the district, was appointed Supervisor of Athletics, to fill the position vacated by Ed Tranchina upon his retirement.  Former Assistant Principal of Roosevelt Intermediate School, Matthew Bolton, has taken the reins as Principal of McKinley School following the retirement of Claudia Andreski.