18 New Staff Members Join Watchung Hills Regional HS

Eighteen newly-appointed teachers took part in Watchung Hills Regional High School’s annual New Teacher Orientation held in the school’s media center last week, prior to the opening of school on Wednesday.

New to the faculty are: Erin Donnelly, Susan Beodeker (Arts); Caitlin Impink, Maggie Violette-Birnberg, Cathy Landicho, Amanda Brown, Kristin Mannion, Daniel Larkins (English); Anthony Criscitello (Math); Sean New (Social Studies); Kevin Schafer (Phys Ed/Health); Cassandra Hunt (Science); Laura Adams, Alicia Russell and Jim Richards (Special Services), and Amelia Scruggs, Carmen Aparico, Ashley Notbusch (World Languages).

Longtime Watchung Hills teacher of  English, Mary Ellen Phelan, was introduced as the new chairperson of the English Department, said Eleanor Mathews, spokeswoman for the district.

The new school year will begin with an enrollment of 2201 as of the start of September, as compared with last year’s  registration of 2152 students, who come from the sending district encompassing Green Brook, Long Hill Township, Warren Township and Watchung Borough.

The annual new school orientation introduces the newcomers to all aspects of the school. Addressed were such themes as: Genesis (the Electronic Gradebook), curriculum and assessment, “Teachscape,” Mentoring, Outlook and Google, Mapping, Security, along with the opportunity to meet administrators and become acquainted with the physical plant. 

The teachers attending the orientation also reviewed  Danielson, a new Teacher Evaluation Model, a framework that focuses on four aspects of teaching: planning and preparation, classroom environment, instruction  and professional  responsibilities, Mathews said.

Pictured new teachers are, front row, from left, Kevin Schafer (Phys Ed/Health); Jim Richards (Business/ Special Services); Sean New (Social Studies) and Anthony Criscitello (Math) 

Second row, Laura Adams ( Special Services); Maggie Violette Birnberg, Cathy Landicho (English); Carmen Aparicio, Amelia Scruggs, Ashley Notbusch (World Languages) and Cassandra Hunt (Science).

Third row is Alicia Russell (Special Services); Kristin Mannion, Amanda Brown, Caitlin Impink, Daniel Larkins (English); and Erin Donnelly and Susan Beodeker (Arts).