Batavia schools welcome new staff
Batavia Unit District 101 is welcoming 51 new educators into the district during an Opening Day Staff Gathering from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1201 Main St.
"BPS101 is a learning and growing organization for both the students and the staff. This continuous improvement mindset requires a commitment to problem-solving, innovation, perseverance, and, most importantly, teamwork and connectivity," says Superintendent Lisa Hichens. "These are the qualities we look for when hiring staff members, and each of the new educators embodies these important BPS101 values. I'm excited for our 2014-15 school year to begin."
The new educators recently participated in a two-day New Teacher Summer Academy, which is an induction and mentoring program that the district has offered to new schoolteachers, school psychologists, social workers, and related services employees for more than 20 years.
The new teachers and staff members attended workshops on topics ranging from the district's teacher appraisal system to establishing a culture for learning to parent communications.
During their induction, the new hires also had the opportunity to spend one day at their assigned building, where they met with their principals and mentors; had the opportunity to set up their classrooms; and worked alongside colleagues to prepare for the first days of school.
New teachers and staff members include: John Arduino, special education, Grace McWayne and H.C. Storm; Brett Bartos, math, Batavia High School; Sarah Benjamin, vocal music, Batavia High School; Tammy Boyer, math, Batavia High School; Jeni Camery, first grade, J.B. Nelson; Jennifer Chilicki, second grade, Alice Gustafson; Davia Christiansen, occupational therapy; Catherine Ciway, kindergarten, Alice Gustafson; Kristina Claghorn, ELL, H.C. Storm; Kimberly Deutsch, Job Coach, Batavia High School; Jilian Enguita, psychologist, Hoover-Wood and Louise White; Rebecca Fultz, special education, J.B. Nelson; Kaitlyn Grady, English, Batavia High School; Erin Hack, Guidance, Batavia High School; Brianna Harvey, special education, Rotolo Middle School; Barbara Hlavin, Psychologist, Grace McWayne and H.C. Storm; Jaclyn Huffnus, Bilingual/ELL, H.C. Storm; Molly Jackson, English, Batavia High School; Amber Jirsa, English, Batavia High School; Alexa Johnson, Spanish, Batavia High School; Julie Johnson, second grade, H.C. Storm; Mary Johnston, special education, J.B. Nelson; Lauren Karalis, math, Batavia High School; Marjorie Kresse, math, Rotolo Middle School; Ashley Lagesse, reading specialist, J.B. Nelson; Laura Lauderdale, music, H.C. Storm; Kathryn Lillig, Core Content, Louise White; Kelly Lotriet, Social Worker, Hoover-Wood; Sarah Malkowski, special education, J.B. Nelson; Peter Marzullo, Chemistry, Batavia High School; Cherai McCauley, Vocal music, Rotolo Middle School; Kaitlyn McGuriman, math/science, Rotolo Middle School; Troy Murray, English, Batavia High School; Theresa Owen, SPED, Batavia High School; Christopher Ozarka, math, Batavia High School; Suzanne Pepping, ELL, Early Childhood Center at Alice Gustafson; Lindsay Ripke, Speech Pathology, H.C. Storm and J.B. Nelson; Megan Saal, kindergarten, J.B. Nelson; Kenneth Saam, Business, Batavia High School; Nathan Sackschewsky, orchestra, Batavia High School; Allison Safran, reading, Alice Gustafson; Bridgett Schmitt, science, Rotolo Middle School; Emily Seyller, English, Batavia High School; Helen Shaughnessy, special education, Rotolo Middle School; Andrea Slenn, ELL, H.C. Storm; Michael Theriault, math, Batavia High School; Katelyn Truscello, orchestra, Rotolo Middle School; Brian Van Kley, band, Batavia High School; Lorraine Velez Lozada, Bilingual, H.C. Storm; and Gregory Ward, special education, Hoover-Wood.