A Message from the Board of Directors
As we prepare to begin another school year, we hope the summer has provided you with a healthy, restful, and relaxing opportunity to enjoy life at a slower pace. This school year brings some changes, and with all change comes opportunity.
We want to welcome our new Superintendent, Dr. Paul Romanelli, to the district. He comes to us from Long Beach Public Schools, where he was Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. We look forward to working with him in the coming years.
We also welcome a more normal beginning of the school year, without many of the protocols and modifications of the past few years, but with the benefit of the many lessons learned. We found strengths we may not have known, came together, relied on each other, built bonds, and connected with students and staff under the most challenging circumstances.
This year we are also fortunate to welcome what promises to be an outstanding group of new teachers. The WITA Executive Board had the opportunity to meet eighteen of our new members at their New Teacher Orientation. This year we welcome:
- Katherine Bayern Paul J. Bellew Speech
- Seamus Burns High School Technology
- Kasey Connelly Bayview Special Education
- Danielle Crihfield Paul J. Bellew/Manetuck Art
- John Denninger High School Physical Education
- Annmarie Katzer Oquenock Reading
- Kelly Minicozzi Bayview/ Paul J. Bellew Counselor
- Stephanie Nicou Manetuck/Oquenock Music
- Kaitlin Palmieri High School Psychologist
- Ashley Pope Beach Technology
- Brittany Probst High School Mathematics
- Grixon Moreira Beach World Languages
- Tracy Suczewski Udall English
- Keri Magennis Bayview Kindegarten
- Danielle Barclay Paul J. Bellew Pre-K
- Ashley Caputo Bayview Pre-K
- Tiffany Kallman Paul J. Bellew Grade 1
- Marissa McAllister Manetuck Pre-K
- Danielle Sugumele Bayview Grade 3
- Alysha Walker Paul J. Bellew Grade 1
We believe their enthusiasm, energy, and ideas will add to our strengths, and we wish them success!
Superintendent’s Conference Day will see us gather as a district for the first time in a long time. The schedule is complete, and there is much to accomplish in a single day. While WITA was not included during the morning session, the leadership will be available to meet with any member who has concerns they would like to discuss or to catch up throughout the morning.
Some have reached out with questions about the continued use of IDs to swipe in/out each day. We have met with District Office on several occasions throughout the summer and obtained a two-hour reduction in the number of Professional Development hours required in exchange for the continued use of IDs to swipe in and out daily.
We want to thank you for your continued hard work, which has allowed us to overcome unimaginable circumstances. This was done by working together, during a time that required us to be separated. We wish you continued success and look forward to seeing you throughout the coming school year!
