School district hires 26 new employees

Wilton Public Schools will welcome 26 new employees this upcoming school year.“Many of the people we brought in have experience in other districts prior to joining us,” said Human Resources Director Susan Paley, who presented a list of the new hires during the Board of Education’s July 23 meeting.“Many of our competing districts have lost some very fine teachers and we’re very fortunate that they’ve chosen to join us.”As of July 23, the district still had nine open positions — three of which, Paley said, “have potential hires.” Special services Among the newcomers is Sharon DeAngelo, whose position as the new assistant director of special services goes into effect at the end of this month. DeAngelo earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut, master’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) and intermediate administrative (092) certification from Sacred Heart University. Superintendent Kevin Smith said DeAngelo, who previously worked for Stratford Public Schools, is “a wonderful fit with our administrators.” Miller-Driscoll Miller-Driscoll School will have three new employees this fall — Scott Dempsey, Jaclyn Sheridan and Sarah Rondini. Dempsey and Sheridan will work as elementary teachers, while Rondini will be the school’s new speech and language pathologist. Dempsey received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UConn and has experience working for New Canaan Public Schools. Sheridan, who received her bachelor’s degree from Central Connecticut State University and her master’s from Sacred Heart, has experience working in Wilton Public Schools. Last school year, she taught Andrea Packard’s first grade class from August to November while Packard was on maternity leave. Rondini received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont and master’s from UConn. She previously worked for Brookfield Public Schools. Cider Mill Five new employees will join the Cider Mill School community. Lauren Buckley, who previously worked for Greenwich Public Schools, will join Cider Mill’s guidance department. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Stonehill College and a master’s from SCSU. Cider Mill’s new music teacher, Chris Johnson, has a bachelor’s degree from Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) and a master’s from the University of Bridgeport. He has worked as a private teacher, as well as a substitute for Wilton Public Schools. Katherine Miller will be the school’s new speech and language pathologist. She has experience working for Gaylord Specialty Healthcare and Wallingford Public Schools. She received a bachelor’s degree from UConn and a master’s from SCSU. Abigail Searfoss will join Cider Mill’s special education department. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degree from UConn and experience working for Ridgefield Public Schools. Jennifer Vincent, who will also join the special education department, has a bachelor’s degree from Assumption College and a master’s from the University of Saint Joseph. She has experience working for Oxford Public Schools. Middlebrook Middlebrook School will welcome three new English teachers — Ashley Iwaskiewicz, Mary Kathryn Merz and Patricia Mulhall. Iwaskiewicz has a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University and a master’s from Sacred Heart. She previously worked for Milford Public Schools. Merz, who has a bachelor’s degree from Fairfield University and master’s from the University of Pennsylvania, previously worked for the Ocean City School District in New Jersey. Mulhall earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and 092 (intermediate administrator) certification from Sacred Heart. She previously worked for Milford Public Schools and West Hartford Public Schools. Palmer Metz and Wendy Sharon will join Middlebrook’s special education department. They both have worked for Darien Public Schools. Metz has a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University and a master’s from Manhattanville College. Sharon has a bachelor’s degree from Rollins College and a master’s degree from SCSU. Middlebrook’s new math/science instructional coach, Meghan Joyce-Lanese, has a bachelor’s degree from Salem State College, master’s from the University of New Haven and 092 certification from Sacred Heart. She previously worked for New Canaan Public Schools. Laura Thompson will join Middlebrook’s math department this fall. She has a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University and a master’s from Vanderbilt University. She has experience working for Wilton Public Schools. Middlebrook’s new social studies teacher, Maria Lateef, has a bachelor’s and master’s degree from WCSU. She is one of two new hires with previous experience in the Bethel Public School District, where Dr. Smith served as superintendent before coming to Wilton last year. Wilton High School The high school will welcome nine new employees this fall. Naomi Williams, the school’s new speech and language pathologist, has a bachelor’s degree from Leeds Metropolitan University and a master’s from SCSU. She has worked for Wilton Public Schools and Waverly Group. Gregory Champagne joins Wilton High School’s business department. He has a bachelor’s degree from Thomas College and a master of education degree from Bowling Green State University. He previously worked for Oxford Public Schools. Gertrude Denton will be the high school’s new math/science instructional coach. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida, master’s from New York University and 092 certification from Sacred Heart. She previously worked for Westport Public Schools. Wilton High School’s new math teacher, Michael Alfano, has a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Quinnipiac University and experience working for Cheshire Public Schools. Marc Feeley, who has worked in both the Weston and Wilton school districts, will join Wilton High School’s social studies department. He has a bachelor’s degree from Seton Hall University and a master’s from Fairfield University. Marielle Schare will be the high school’s new math teacher. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Fairfield University and experience working for Westport Public Schools. Kristina Sluzewski will join the high school’s computer science department. She has a bachelor’s degree from UConn and a master’s from Dakota State University. She has worked for Greenwich Public Schools. The high school’s special education department will welcome two new employees — Patricia Berkowitz and Rachid Sofiane. Berkowitz, who received a bachelor’s and master’s degree from SCSU, previously worked for Bethel Public Schools. Sofiane has a bachelor’s and master’s degree from UConn and has worked for Wolcott Public Schools and Hamden Public Schools.

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