Superintendent Welcomes Westfield Staff To New School Year

WESTFIELD, NJ - Superintendent Dr. Margaret Dolan welcomed back staff on Tuesday as the Westfield Public School District prepared for the return of more than 6,200 students on Thursday.

During the opening day ceremony, Dolan welcomed 26 new staff members, acknowledged three new administrators including Westfield High School principal Mary Asfendis, Roosevelt Intermediate
School principal Brian Gechtman, and Roosevelt assistant principal Keith Brunson. She also applauded the more than 900 staff members gathered in the Westfield High School auditorium.

“As I sat down to draft my remarks for today, I couldn’t help but think about the past year. And,
as I reflected on what was inarguably a challenging number of months, I was reminded of what
gets our district through times that concern us or frighten us or even make us cry,” Dolan told
the staff. “It is all of you. It is your steadfastness, your resilience, your professionalism, your
heart, and your willingness to work together for what is best for our students.”

Dolan outlined new security procedures in place for the 2019-2020 school year and expressed
appreciation for “our strong, cooperative relationship with the Westfield Police Department
which will continue to provide a daily presence in our schools.”

She also reiterated the district’s continuing commitment to Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and its five competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, responsible decision-making, and relationship skills.

“It’s not just a phase. It’s an ongoing commitment by our district to make sure that, along with
the wonderful education our students receive, their social and emotional well-being is looked
after as well,” said Dolan.

Westfield Education Association president Gail Alston, Board of Education president Peggy
Oster and other board members were on hand to welcome the staff. Alston praised the hard
work and dedication of the educators, while Oster recalled the first day of school as a student
herself and later, a mother of five who attended Westfield schools.

“There is something about the month of September that makes us all excited for change,” said
Oster. “Being in the district for 25 years, I have seen the education system in Westfield adapt to
our students facing an ever-changing society. The majority of these changes come from our
teachers and staff, who continue to grow and develop as educators to be the best that they can
be for our students and community and I’d like to thank all of you for that.”

Teachers and paraprofessionals gathered again on Wednesday for a full day of professional
learning organized by Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Programs Paul
Pineiro and facilitated by district administrators and a few other professionals. There were
sessions and workshops focusing on SEL, the new Standards-Based Report Card, digital
citizenship, mental health and behavioral issues, financial literacy, technology, and other topics.

On Aug. 27 and 28, the 26 new staff members attended a two-day, in-house orientation as
part of the New Staff Institute (NSI). The NSI is a two-year program designed to support first-
time educators and those who are new to the district. The comprehensive program is organized
by Human Resources Specialist Barbara Ball and her staff, along with a leadership team
comprised of seasoned Westfield educators.

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