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OCTOBER 2011
Ch anging t h e Wo r l d … on e l ess on at a t im e
a publication heralding New Milford’s changing public schools New Milford, New Jersey
Meet the next generation of teachers —New Milford’s newest best & brightest
Read about the New Milford Crest, p.4
(p. 6)
1.1 A message from the superintendent
Changing the world…one lesson at a time VOL. 3, NO. 1
IN THIS ISSUE 1.1 A MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT ✦
1.2 BIG DREAMS AND SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION ✦
1.3 MOVING FORWARD: A LOOK AT SPECIAL SERVICES ✦
1.4 SCHOOL LEADERSHIP—AT EVERY LEVEL ✦
1.5 NEW MILFORD SCHOOLS’ NEWEST BEST & BRIGHTEST ✦
1.6 DISTRICT UNVEILS DISTRICT COAT-OF-ARMS ✦
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION Michael A. Polizzi Superintendent Michael Sawicz Business Administrator/Board Secretary Ray Dorso Director of Special Services Danielle Shanley Director of Curriculum & Instruction NEW MILFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION Daniel Conner, President Darren Drake, Vice President John Bigger David Foo Judith Rabinowitz-McSweeney Geraldine Mechler Paige Ryan Peggy Saslow Joseph Steele
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21st Century Students We open the 2011‐2012 school year with tremendous energy and enthusiasm. With 28 new faculty members to complement the exis>ng teaching staff, all strong in their skill, their vision, their openness to innova>on and progressive change, the District con>nues in its commitment to do what is best for kids. We are experiencing smaller class sizes, more elec>ve and enrichment choices for students, increased academic rigor, and opportuni>es for students to immerse themselves in more meaningful inquiry‐based classes that tap into personal interests and aspira>ons. It is no exaggera>on that the District is well on its way to establishing itself as a premier school system noted for crea>vity, imagina>on, and educa>onal innova>on. I recently saw Diane Ravitch, a historian of American educa>on, senior fellow at the Brookings Ins>tu>on, policy analyst and prolific writer, who spoke on a variety of cri>cal educa>onal issues. She describes the state of educa>on as being in a state of crisis as a result of many factors, not the least of which are emerging corporate interest in supplan>ng public schools with state and locally funded charter schools, and high stakes tes>ng that tells us very liLle about students on any comprehensive level. Ravitch also talked about the nega>ve consequences of NCLB that lead to narrowing of curriculum to focus mainly on test prep in the tested areas, elimina>on of programs in the arts, and other prac>ces as a result of a very misguided sense of school reform. As I listened, what was running through my mind was that the New Milford
School District is doing none of that. To the contrary, we are building our staffing, enriching our curriculum at all levels, insis>ng upon increased aLen>on to the arts and culture, and applying the limited resources that we have to a growth‐ oriented process that considers all aspects of the school experience. To that end, District Administra>on in collabora>on with the Board of Educa>on has begun to build a master plan that focuses on facili>es and grounds, educa>onal program design (more on p.2)
DISTRICT MISSION The New Milford Public School District provides relevant, innovative and rigorous educational opportunities to students at all grade levels. The District is resolute in its attention to the development of the whole child by providing a comprehensive range of experiences essential to building capacity for independent and responsible living. The program is designed to prepare all students to meet or exceed NJCCCS, think critically, master the challenges of life-long academic, cultural, social, economic, emotional and professional advancement, as well as constructive participation as citizens in an interdependent global society. The District embraces family and community as active partners in a unified effort to develop students into self-directed, self-confident adults on their journeys to becoming the next generations of entrepreneurs, builders, artists, designers, inventors, scientists, educators, caregivers, protectors, workers and leaders.
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1.1 (from p. 1) and development, technological resources, short and long‐term staffing needs, budget and finance. The master plan, which will emanate from the District’s student‐centered core mission, will also respond to ques>ons such as, What should schools in the 21st Century look like? How do children learn best? What are the requisite skills relevant to excelling as adults in a dynamically changing world? What life‐guiding principles must be ins>lled in students that lead to construc>ve par>cipa>on as ci>zens in an interdependent global society? As the District grapples with these ques>ons, community groups will be invited to par>cipate in forums intended to stage a broader conversa>on about District plans and to provide helpful input into the process. Un>l that >me, we’ll keep the community informed through other means. Please read on to learn more from Danielle Shanley’s ar>cle elabora>ng on District development over the past year and how big dreams can become reali>es. I urge you read Michael Sawicz’s piece “School Leadership at Every Level.” Raymond Dorso’s “Moving Forward” puts into perspec>ve the successes of the Special Services Department. We are also happy to present the newly designed New Milford Crest, a coat‐of‐arms that captures through numerous symbolic elements the spirit of the New Milford Public School District. Although the design has not been finalized, the end product will look very much like the version seen here.
CURRICULUM CORNER
ideal in every respect; then they work every day toward their distant vision, that goal or purpose. Brian Tracy —life coach, author of Maximum Achievement
Danielle Shanley Director of Curriculum & Instruction
All successful people, men and women, are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, 2
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The implementa>on of Professional Learning Communi>es for all faculty members and administrators. (more on p.3)
Over the past eleven months the administra>ve team within the New Milford public schools has been dreaming. Agreed, our dreams are big, ideal in every respect. We are and have been willing to work toward our purpose, together, to provide the students of this district with the most formidable educa>on possible. In a very short period of >me, the school district has seen many of those dreams transformed into significant ini>a>ves which have come to frui>on:
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The Academies @ NMHS,
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The Junior Academies @ DEOMS,
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Renewed flow charts for course offerings at the middle and high schools,
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The addi>on of more than 25 NEW courses for September between the middle and high schools,
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RoseLa Stone for 60+ English Language Learners,
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Increases in student achievement on 2011 HSPA scores in both mathema>cs and language arts,
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The addi>on of standards based math curriculum at the middle school,
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The official adop>on of Writer’s Workshop K‐8,
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A renewed focus on science at the elementary schools,
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Comprehensive revisions to the curricula to align with implementa>on of the Na>onal
1.2
Big dreams and school transformation
Common Core in Mathema>cs, the New Jersey CCS in Science, as well as
1.3 Moving forward… a look at special services 2010-2011
Raymond Dorso Director of Special Services
School years pass with such irony. The changing leaves of the fall come and go so quickly obscuring one year from the next. We observe how children grow and accomplish so much in one school year knowing that there is s>ll always so much more to learn. The Department of Special Services has made significant gains over the past twelve months. New ini>a>ves and programs from pre‐school to high school highlighted the 2010‐2011 school year. The Inner Bridge Crossing (IBC) program at Berkley Street Elementary School opened in September and has quickly earned a reputa>on as being an exemplary program. IBC opened to meet the needs of students (pre‐k through second grade) with Au>sm Spectrum Disorders and other disabili>es that nega>vely effect communica>on and social skills. Prior to this year, our district did not have an appropriate placement for students with these types of needs. Consequently, we paid more than $55,000 a student to aLend an out of district program. IBC has enabled the return of five students to district. These students now receive their educa>on where they should, in district with their peers. In addi>on to the out‐of‐district costs saved by IBC, we also receive tui>on from other districts whose children also benefit from our program. This is significant because in an area with mul>ple compe>ng op>ons, parents have selected IBC! (more on p.4)
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NMEF FOUNDERS & BOARD: Alison Fischer, CEO Joseph LoPorto, CFO Jose Camacho Marlenis Camacho Megan Farricker Stacey Sidorsky Joanne Spurlin Colleen Tambuscio
Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity, the New Milford Education Foundation (NMEF) is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching, enhancing and supporting New Milford’s public education system. The NMEF supports New Milford Public Schools in providing a challenging and enriching educational experience that maximizes the learning potential of every student and prepares them to succeed in the 21st Century. The Foundation provides incentives to stimulate excellence in the New Milford Public Schools by awarding grants for projects, programs and purchases that support the curriculum and facilities, by funding scholarships for students and professional development for educators, and by raising the profile of public education in New Milford. 1.2 Curriculum Corner (from p.2)
BIG DREAMS… These are merely the larger scale projects, with so many more improvements in the nooks and crannies the public may not see. Nelson Mandela has professed, “Educa>on is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” It is through our educa>onal Renaissance we hope to begin our change in the world by broadening and improving the educa>onal experiences of New Milford’s children, as well as enriching the educa>onal facili>es and suppor>ng the faculty members, so they too may achieve their own personal bests. The support from the faculty, the students, the parents and the community members must be recognized. There is a powerful, guiding force out there that cannot be contested. In The Alchemist, a novel by Paulo Coelho, an Andalusian shepherd boy named San>ago travels from his homeland in Spain to the Egyp>an desert in search of a treasure buried in the Pyramids. No one knows what the treasure is or if he will be able to surmount the challenges along the way. But what starts out as a journey to find worldly goods turns into a discovery of the treasure found within. One of the recurring themes in the novel is that all 3
things are one; all interconnected, and what we do has an effect on others. Another is the obliga>on to listen to our hearts, and recognize our full poten>al through the acknowledgment and pursuit of our personal des>ny. When we are in pursuit of a true, personal des>ny, the en>re universe conspires in our favor. There are many treasures within the school community of New Milford. Each of us has our own personal des>ny as well as our collec>ve des>ny as a district, as one. Our journey may, at >mes, seem like a trek to the pyramids on the back of a camel. However, right now, the universe appears to be conspiring in our favor.
1.4 School leadership — at every level
Michael Sawicz Business Administrator/Board Secretary
With all the nega>ve media about public educa>on in New Jersey and across the na>on, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s really happening in our schools each day. Amid the clamor for charter schools, tenure reform, teacher merit pay, pension plan funding and increased contribu>ons to health benefits, we hear far too liLle about the “good news.” Here in New Milford, a renaissance of sorts
To make your donation, please send your check payable to: “New Milford Education Foundation” and mail to: NMEF 145 Madison Avenue New Milford, NJ 07646 p: 201.639.6633 f: 201.639.6634 For information on how to give, please email: info@newmilfordfoundation.org Website coming soon: www.newmilfordfoundation.org
has begun. Despite having to weather a defeated budget in 2010, a monumental loss of state aid, and a reduc>on of staff and programs to begin the 2010‐2011 school year, the New Milford School District con>nued to transform itself into a leading center of 21st Century educa>on. Great leaders olen emerge in >mes of crisis and inspire the emergence of other great leaders. To understand the successes in the New Milford School District is to celebrate the accomplishments of not one or two, but many people at various levels and disciplines who each day have shared in making the district a beLer place than it was the day before. Good leadership is about leading by example. Good leadership is about vision. Good leadership is about becoming a benchmark, whether in Central Office, the school office or in classroom management. Good leadership is contagious. In >mes of crisis, great leaders accept new challenges. Doing more with less does not become an obstacle but a call to ac>on. It means u>lizing intelligent redeployment of district “human” resources to advance change. A new academy program and junior academy at
1.3 MOVING FORWARD…
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See the full story behind the crest on page 5. (… from p.2)
We also opened New Milford Knight School, a 21st Century career and alterna>ve educa>on program. This program serves high school students that benefit from an alterna>ve approach to learning. Core academic classes (English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Physical Educa>on) begin at 3:00 PM; this enables students to gain work experiences during the day. Knight School opened in January; we received our first tui>on‐based student in April, and had our first graduate in June. In addi>on to opening two new programs, we introduced a team teaching instruc>onal model as an alterna>ve to teaching in silos isolated from other teachers. This year we are offering two team teaching classes at Berkley and one at Gibbs. This is exci>ng because we are increasing our capacity to keep students in the least restric>ve environment. The final area I would like to highlight is the transforma>on of our special educa>on classrooms. To understand this transforma>on, first picture a special educa>on classroom in September of 2009. Picture a black board and an outdated teacher computer. Now for the fun part, a descrip>on of what every special educa>on classroom looks like as of September 2011. Black boards have been replaced with white boards and 3‐4 new computers are in each room., Each class now has an interac>ve SMART Board, and all K‐8 classrooms have leveled classroom libraries. In short, 21st Century learning environments have been created to foster maximum academic growth.
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1.4 ON LEADERSHIP
(from p.3)
the high school and middle school, respecmully, now means new and exci>ng opportuni>es for our students. Aler‐school enrichment programs, in‐ district special educa>on offerings, facili>es upgrades, new technologies, revised curricula and instruc>onal delivery are but some of the many things one sees. And, indeed, it requires the endorsement, coopera>on and most importantly, leadership of many. For it does take a village (en>re district) to raise (educate) a child (the student body). Great leadership must begin at the very top. The New Milford Board of Educa>on was one of only five (from nearly 600) school boards in the state to receive Master Board Cer>fica>on in 2011. District administrators and teachers are recognized con>nually in their areas of exper>se. These are the role models our students will follow. As our students become the leaders of
tomorrow in our communi>es, our state, our na>on and the world, they will emulate the “leaders” who shaped their lives. And that is why, as in so many other areas of society, the leadership we exhibit is so crucial. As educators, we must impart the values, integrity and quali>es that define great leaders. In New Milford we can all share in the pride of what we do and celebrate the many great leaders among us. Yes, there is quite a bit of “good news” in New Milford.
1.6 A new image for New Milford Schools
About the New Milford Crest
Two years ago, I began mee>ng monthly with a representa>ve group of high school students called the Superintendent’s Council. One of their projects was to develop a concept that could be used to create a district coat‐ of‐arms. Aler considerable discussion and some preliminary drawings by the students in the group, several predominant themes emerged. They wanted to maintain a connec>on with “The Knights.” They wanted students to be at the center of the design. They wanted to express ideas like chivalry, honor, courage, selflessness, caring, leadership, protec>ng, serving, giving, spirit, scholarship, pride, integrity, resilience, passion, possibility, purpose, community, open‐mindedness, loyalty, determina>on and unity. Where a crest cannot fully represent all of these, the terms, civitas, cogni*onem, and illumina*o, along with the slogan, “in service to others,” embody many of them. The New Milford Crest is a culmina>on of these students’ efforts brought together by the armul hand of high school art teacher Lauren Berni.
THE CROWN The crown sits at the top of the shield. It alone is saying that the crowning achievement of the New Milford community is its children. It suggests strength, leadership and an element of nobility as manifested by students’ interest in doing for others.
THE SHIELD & SWORDS These elements maintain a strong connec>on to the past when honor, integrity, loyalty and leading by example became the emblems of a high‐minded, progressive society noted for fairness and equality. New Milford school teams are called “The Knights.” And one can hear the unifying chorus in cheers proclaiming, “We are the Knights!” The knight is the New Milford mascot, which can be found in many forms on uniforms, logos and school apparel.
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THE HAWK & RIVER
THE BANNER W/SLOGAN
Both the hawk and the river are significant in that they situate the schools specifically in New Milford’s natural surroundings.
The banner presents three La>n words: civitas, cogni*onem, illumina*o.
The hawk is archetypically considered a messenger, protector and visionary. Keen vision is one of its greatest gils. Hawks see things others miss. Its message is to be open to hope and new ideas. It has a larger perspec>ve of what is going on below. The hawk is beau>ful, fierce, powerful and discerning. It soars in circles and suggests the importance of viewing life from a higher perspec>ve. Rivers are symbols of the self‐ replenishing, self‐purifying, life‐ sustaining cycles of maLer and energy on Earth. Basically all rivers are the same with very liLle differences. But because rivers are fluid in mo>on each one is ever changing. They transform the very face of the land over which they flow. The birth, growth and death of civiliza>ons are inextricably bound to the rivers and the valleys carved out by them. In another context, rivers show the way.
THE CHILDREN In the center of the shield are three children represen>ng students at three levels of educa>on: elementary, middle and high. They also represent community diversity and the no>on that New Milford schools not only embrace diversity, but also thrive on it by valuing mul>ple perspec>ves while keeping a clear focus.
THE HAND The three students are held in a hand. It is a caring, gentle and loving hand that reaches out to support them. The hand may be a parent’s, a teacher’s, a neighbor’s, a sibling’s. The point is that New Milford schools are suppor>ng and nurturing in nature.
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Civitas embodies the concepts of community, shared responsibility, and common purpose. Cogni*onem is knowledge, not just fact knowledge but awareness also. Illumina*o translates into enlightenment.
Taken together with the slogan, in service to others, they can be interpreted to mean “Communi>es enriched with knowledge lead to enlightenment in service to others.”
THE TRINITY OF RINGS The inner circle, depicted in gold represents the students unified in an unbroken ring. The middle and outer circles represent the schools—as in teachers, administrators and staff—and the general New Milford community respec>vely, enshrouding district children. The two outer rings serve as a kind of shell around a cocoon, protec>ng the inner layers, providing strength and nourishment un>l our children are ready to move outward.
1.6 PROFILES OF NEW MILFORD’S NEWEST FACULTY Berkley Street Elementary School Tiffany Gallagher Grade 4 Tiffany Gallagher is very excited to be returning to New Milford as a 4th grade teacher! She has her Master of Teaching degree from Fordham University in addi>on to a BA in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Jus>ce. Mrs. Gallagher taught for four years before taking >me away from the classroom to raise her two children, Jack, 10 and Grace, 7. She is a firm believer in the philosophy that ANY child can learn and as a result, her classroom is full of movement, discussions and a feeling of excitement. A self‐professed “math nerd”, she finds a way to squeeze a math concept into any lesson! If she does not have her nose buried in a book, she is cooking, watching her beloved Mets or Broncos, or aLending one of her children’s MANY spor>ng events. Kelly Archibald
Special Educa/on Kelly Archibald, our new IBC K‐2 teacher, is looking forward to an exci>ng and evenmul year at Berkley. Ms. Archibald earned her Master’s degree from Montclair State University and her undergraduate degrees in Educa>on and Psychology from Bucknell University. Ms. Archibald has been working with children with au>sm spectrum disorders for the past 6 years both in school and community serngs. She believes in the importance of providing students with social learning experiences to broaden their horizons. Outside of school, Ms. Archibald enjoys prac>cing yoga, watching the Yankees, and spending >me with friends. Deborah Gi#o
Grade 2 Debbie GiLo is excited to return to Berkley as part of the 2nd grade team. She earned a Graduate Cer>ficate of 6
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Advanced Study in Educa>on at St. Thomas Aquinas College and an undergraduate degree in Psychology at Rutgers. Mrs. GiLo previously spent 10 years teaching 3rd grade at Berkley Street School where she worked collabora>vely to create many engaging projects and ac>vi>es for 3rd graders. She is happy to be back where she can share her love of teaching with this year's second graders! Besides teaching, her passions include park‐hopping with her children, jogging, and leading Girl Scouts. Stephanie Pinto Grade 3 Stephanie Pinto proudly rejoins Berkley Street School as a 3rd grade maternity leave teacher. She is excited to have the opportunity to share her love of learning with her students and to help them reach their full poten>al. Mrs. Pinto earned a B.B.A. degree from Baruch College, CUNY in Human Resources Management. Aler working in the corporate world for over 15 years, she decided to pursue a career in educa>on, receiving her Masters’ degree in Childhood Educa>on from Hunter College, CUNY. Mrs. Pinto loves to travel and is always searching for that next des>na>on to explore and share with her students. She believes in hands‐on experiences and loves to encourage her students to take ownership of their learning. When she is not teaching or running around, she enjoys reading, spending quality >me with her family and going for long walks. Kelly Streicher Physical Educa/on Kelly Streicher, our physical educa>on teacher at Berkley Street Elementary, is excited to be back for her second year in the district. Earning undergraduate degrees from William Paterson University in both Communica>on and Physical Educa>on and Health, she is con>nuing her educa>on at New Jersey City University where she is working toward a masters degree in Educa>onal Leadership. When she's not working at Berkley, Miss Streicher is coaching the girls varsity volleyball program at Emerson Jr./Sr. High School in the fall,
and the junior varsity boys tennis team here at New Milford High School in the spring. Ka%e&ne Sudol Special Educa/on Our new Special Educa>on teacher, Ka>e Sudol, is thrilled to be joining the New Milford team this year! Ms. Sudol will split her >me between the Language Arts Resource Room at Berkley Street School and a 5th Grade Inclusive Classroom at B.F. Gibbs School. She is an alumna of Montclair State University where she earned her Bachelors’ degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Teaching with dual cer>fica>ons in Special Educa>on and Elementary Educa>on. In her down>me, Ms. Sudol can be found traveling to new des>na>ons. She has backpacked across both Europe and Hawaii with her favorite loca>ons being Cinque Terre and Maui. A&elle Slaff
Basic Skills Arielle Slaff is our new Basic Skills Language Arts/Literacy teacher at Berkley. She earned dual degrees from Rowan University in Elementary Educa>on and Wri>ng Arts. Ms. Slaff is a cer>fied Teacher of Reading (K‐12) and Elementary Educa>on Teacher (K‐5). Her experience includes ac>ng as the sole Reading Specialist for a K‐12 district and teaching Kindergarten. Ms. Slaff believes that reading should be an integral part of each day, no maLer what text you read! In her classroom, she strives to ensure that students have fun while they learn, par>cipate in interac>ve, hands‐on ac>vi>es, and feel safe in their learning environment. In her free >me Ms. Slaff loves to read, listen to music, and spend >me with her family. Kim Za'gian
Art Kim Zadigian, our new Art Teacher at Berkley Elementary School, is excited to be joining the team! She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design and aler working for an adver>sing agency for three years, earned a Masters’ degree in Art
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(from p.6)
New teacher profiles Educa>on from Montclair State University. Ms. Zadigian believes incorpora>ng community building and recycling into the art curriculum will teach children at an early age to become environmentally‐responsible ci>zens. Teaching students to think cri>cally, make decisions, and respect the diverse opinions of others, allows students the confidence to be who they wish to become. She believes the most rewarding benefit of teaching is being in a posi>on to help students grow from within and obtain the confidence they will need to prepare themselves for future life lessons. Aler school hours, she teaches adult ceramics, sculpture, and jewelry workshops and private art classes to children of all ages. When she has free >me, she loves to read, create her own artwork, and exercise.
B. F. Gibbs Elementary School Dana Tunick
Library Media Specialist Dana Tunick is incredibly happy to be joining the staff. She holds a Masters' degree in Library and Informa>on Science with a concentra>on in School Libraries from the University of PiLsburgh. Ms. Tunick also has a Masters' degree in Elementary Educa>on she received with honors from Saint Peter's College. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Lesley University where she majored in Literature and Wri>ng and minored in Early Childhood Educa>on. Having acted her way through high school and college, Ms. Tunick is a big fan of the theater. In her free >me, she can usually be found with her nose in a book, or two! Colleen Connolly
Special Educa/on Colleen Connolly is a new special educa>on teacher, currently filling in for Dr. Kass, at B.F. Gibbs School. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and received her elementary teaching cer>fica>on from Ramapo College. She is currently working on her master’s degree 7
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in special educa>on at William Paterson University. This is her first teaching posi>on, and she is enjoying it immensely. Her classroom is full of student work, as she loves to create projects with them. When she has free >me, she enjoys taking her dog for walks and spending >me with family and friends. Alice Nieves
Grade 3 Alice Nieves is excited to be working with a class of 3rd graders at Gibbs. She earned an undergraduate degree in Music from Bennington College in Vermont and has con>nued her studies in educa>on through New Jersey City University. As a former export project manager, Mrs. Nieves enjoys sharing the idea of a larger interna>onal community with young students. She encourages interac>ve learning by crea>ng team groups in the classroom and including student led ac>vi>es. Her favorite past >mes include reading classical literature, biking, swimming and spending >me with her family.
New Milford High School Kanchan Chellani
Mathema/cs Kanchan Chellani, a new math teacher at NMHS, is ecsta>c to be joining the team. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Villanova University in Finance and worked at JPMorgan Chase for 7 years. She realized soon aler that her passion was to become a math teacher, so she went back to school to obtain her degree in math and her teaching cer>ficate. Mrs. Chellani is a strong believer in making the learning process fun, interac>ve, and meaningful for students. She begins each class with an interac>ve review game, so the students can review prior material in an enjoyable, contemporary way. She infuses technology, real‐world applica>ons, and team/group assignments into her daily lessons, so students develop the key skills needed to succeed post gradua>on. Outside of school, Mrs. Chellani loves to play tennis, travel, and discover new restaurants.
Craig Hawkins MathemaOcs Craig Hawkins is a new math teacher at New Milford High School. He has six years of K‐12 teaching experience and several years of business experience. Mr. Hawkins is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Tuls University. As a lifelong learner, he has added computer programming to his skillset. Mr. Hawkins emphasizes the nearfield in student learning. That is, he con>nuously walks to each student’s learning area to carefully examine and discuss their work. Mr. Hawkins enjoys nature, sports and comedy programs, and learning new skills. Tahreen Chowdhury
Science Tahreen Chowdhury, our new physics teacher at NMHS is very excited to be joining a STEM community where inquiry‐based science learning is most appreciated. She earned her Master's degree in Physics Educa>on from Rutgers. Having worked for a few years in the corporate world, Ms. Chowdhury is new to the teaching profession. She likes to share stories with her students to mo>vate them with 'real‐world' connec>ons. Ms. Chowdhury teaches her students that mistakes are an inevitable part of learning, so they should not feel incompetent when they slip up. Instead, they should learn from their errors. In her spare >me, she likes to garden, spend >me with family and travel domes>cally and interna>onally. CONTRIBUTING STAFF Michael Polizzi Superintendent Danielle Shanley Director of Curriculum & Instruction Michael Sawicz Business Administrator Raymond Dorso Director of Special Services Walt Pevny District Webmaster
(from p.7)
New teacher profiles Rebecca Chabrow
Guidance Counselor Rebecca Chabrow is one of our new guidance counselors at New Milford High School. She earned her Masters’ degree from Montclair State University in School Counseling and her undergraduate degree in Communica>ons from the University of Delaware. She is also pursuing a Cer>ficate in College Admissions Counseling from UCLA Extension program. Ms. Chabrow’s passion for college admissions counseling is what drew her to a career in guidance. She has created many college and career readiness programs in the past that she looks forward to implemen>ng at New Milford. In her free >me, Ms. Chabrow enjoys traveling the world, cooking, running, and cheering on the Bal>more Ravens, New York Yankees, and the Delaware Figh>ng Blue Hens Football team.
Jennifer Levy
Social Studies Jennifer Levy, our new history teacher at NMHS, is thrilled to be joining the district. She earned her Masters’ degree in educa>on from Teachers College, Columbia University and her law degree from Fordham University. Prior to gradua>ng from Yeshiva University’s Stern College, she spent the first half of her undergraduate years studying the Middle East. Mrs. Levy is a passionate educator and lifelong learner who loves to u>lize technology and legal analysis in the classroom to get students involved in and excited about learning. In her classes, she challenges her students to think cri>cally and meaningfully about history from a variety of perspec>ves. As a seasoned teacher and lawyer, Mrs. Levy enjoys challenging students outside of their comfort zone and showing them their true poten>al. When she has free >me, she loves to go to her students’ games, get messy with her 3 year old daughter, rough house with her dog, and read really old history books. 8
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Michelle Harle
Guidance Counselor Ms. Harle comes to New Milford High School with experience in college admissions and corporate business. Recently, she was a Regional Admissions Counselor for Oswego State University. Before this she was an Interim Guidance Counselor at Nyack High School in Nyack, NY. Ms. Harle’s business background started aler she graduated Purdue University with a B.A. in Journalism. She landed her first job producing and wri>ng for Fox Channel 5 & Fox News Channel and later for CNBC. From there she joined Medialink Worldwide as VP of Media Rela>ons and Produc>on. Aler a successful career in media, Ms. Harle wanted to give back and help high school students turn their passions, dreams, and goals into reality. Earning her M.S. in school counseling, Ms. Harle takes pride in helping students uncover their hidden strengths and talents and is looking forward assis>ng them in their journeys as they travel towards their amazing futures. Elizabe% Horgan
School Nurse Elizabeth Horgan is the new school nurse at the New Milford High School. She has been a prac>cing registered nurse for the past 27 years. Nurse Horgan received her BSN from the College of New Rochelle and her school nurse cer>ficate from New Jersey City University. She has experience in several different serngs including Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, The Valley Hospital, Felician College and she spent the last ten years as the school nurse at Don Bosco Prep. Because she feels strongly that health educa>on is vital, Nurse Horgan focuses on promo>ng good health, preven>on of illness, and health safety whenever she can. She is very excited to become part of the New Milford community. Ser) Nadeau
French/Spanish Mr. Nadeau, the new French and Spanish teacher at NMHS, has lived several years in three very different countries: Spain,
Canada, and now America. His na>ve language is French; he learned English and Spanish later. Having taught for 7 years before coming to New Milford, M. Nadeau is looking forward to the new challenges of NMHS. M. Nadeau lives in Essex County with his wife, a school nurse, and their youngest son who is a recent Rutgers Ecology graduate. Their other son has been living in Spain for the past twelve years where he teaches English. M. Nadeau is the oldest of nine children and loves the NJ Devils. Abigail Bergoffen Physics Aler 20 years as an Environmental Engineer, Abby Bergoffen is thrilled to be teaching Physics, Chemistry, and Engineering at New Milford High School. She received her Educa>on degree at SUNY Cortland and her Masters in Engineering from ManhaLan College. Aler college, Ms. Bergoffen taught science for six years, and then moved on to engineering. Her engineering career focused on analyzing the fate of toxic substances in rivers and estuaries, and designing computer tools to visualize complex environmental data. Ms. Bergoffen enjoys gardening, ballet, Tai Chi, and most importantly spending >me with her husband, three adolescents, and luna>c rescue dog.
David E. Owens Middle School Nicole Ferl*e Mathema/cs
Math teacher, Nicole Ferlise, is thrilled about joining the DEO family. Previously, Ms. Ferlise taught in an elementary school and now enjoys the new challenges of middle school teaching. Ms. Ferlise aLended Ramapo College where she earned a BA in Psychology as well as dual teacher cer>fica>ons as an Elementary Generalist and Middle School Mathema>cs Specialist. Ms. Ferlise is pursing her M.Ed. at William Paterson in the “Teaching Children Mathema>cs” program and has a passion for making mathema>cs fun and relatable for every student. In her free >me, Ms. Ferlise enjoys going to the beach and spending >me with friends and family.
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New teacher profiles Ling Emily Luo DEO/HS: Mandarin As teacher of Mandarin at both the high school and middle school, Dr. Ling Luo is very excited to be the first teacher of this new program in our school district. Dr. Luo is one of those teachers who challenges students academically and entertains them at the same >me. She is very organized in the classroom, u>lizing differen>ated instruc>on and teaching strategies to improve >me spoken in the target language. In her class, you can see the students very engaged in learning, and gathering meaning from their experiences. Dr. Luo enjoys reading, cooking and traveling. But her favorite pleasure is spending >me with her family. Saman%a Orsi
Health & PE Samantha Orsi, our new Health and Physical Educa>on teacher at DEOMS, is thrilled to be joining the team. She aLended the University of Rhode Island, where she studied Health and Physical Educa>on, as well as Adapted Physical Educa>on. Ms. Orsi has always been an athlete, enjoys working out daily, and prides herself on bringing this passion with her to class every day. Her classrooms are full of life, variety, and fun. When she has free >me she enjoys outside ac>vi>es, photography, and shopping. Carolyn Be#iol
Special Educa/on LA Carolyn Berol, our new Language Arts Resource Room Teacher for grades 7 and 8, is honored to join such an outstanding community. She earned both her undergraduate and master’s degrees 9
from Saint Thomas Aquinas College. She believes all children are capable of learning, no maLer what their ability levels, and she provides the means and opportunity for learning to occur: a warm learning environment, posi>ve praise and the mo>va>on students need to help them discover their own individual talents. Ms. Berol is technologically savvy, and provides an interac>ve learning environment through the use of the SMART Board. During her free >me, Ms. Berol enjoys spending >me with her pug puppy, Roxy. Rebecca Williams Guidance Counselor
Rebecca Williams is our new guidance counselor at David E. Owens. She has a Master’s degree in School Counseling from Rutgers University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Music from Saint Olaf College. Ms. Williams is excited about helping students develop the study skills and problem solving skills they will need for later stages of life. She completed her school counseling internship at North Plainfield High School–Middle School. She has worked with children as a youth counselor in a group home, in a daycare teacher, and as a violin teacher. In her free >me, Ms. Williams enjoys cooking, hiking, and playing the violin. Raymond Co#iers
Social Studies Ray Corers, our new social studies/ current events teacher, is thrilled to be returning to the same middle school he once aLended. Born and raised in New Milford, Mr. Corers aLended GeLysburg College for his undergraduate degree before earning his Master’s of Educa>on at Seton Hall University. Before joining our team in New Milford, he completed two years of teaching at the middle school level. Mr. Corers also coaches wrestling and freshman football at the high school and is a member of the New
Milford Recrea>on Commission. He looks forward to u>lizing his close >es to the New Milford community to maximize service learning poten>al among the students. Terence Wall
French Terry Wall is excited to be joining the DEO team. He possesses masters degrees from FDU and Fordham, and lived, worked and studied overseas. He also holds a BA from Fordham and has completed addi>onal coursework at Montclair. Mr. Wall has many talents as do his students which olen result in some real world learning. Having taught most subjects at numerous grade levels from elementary through college, as well as func>oning as a corporate and government instructor and consultant, he is a seasoned professional. His students engage in some unique, cross‐ disciplinary ac>vi>es to increase the connec>ons between French and other content areas. In his free >me, he enjoys college sports and >me with his family, and he volunteers for many chari>es. Jeffrey Bl*s
Health & PE In his first teaching assignment, Jeffrey Bliss couldn’t be happier teaching in his home town. He aLended three of our four magnificent public schools (Berkley, DEO, and NMHS). Aler high school, Mr. Bliss aLended Montclair State where he obtained his Bachelors’ Degree in Physical Educa>on and Health. During his >me there, he also represented Montclair State’s football team as one of its captains, leading the team to a Conference Championship in his senior year. As a first‐year teacher, Mr. Bliss hopes to implement innova>ve strategies to mo>vate his students. Providing choices, student‐centered lessons and engaging ac>vi>es are just a few of his ideas to bring New Milford’s PE & Health programs into the 21st Century.