Liberty Elementary  2008-2009 New Hires

 

 

   Carol Woodcock

 

 

An alum of Central School, I have been working in libraries since I was a high school student, and began my career working in a school in Raleigh, NC. While there, I did my graduate work in Library Science at UNC-Chapel Hill. Since then, I've moved back to New Jersey and have been working in a public library with children and teens. I live on a small farm in Blairstown with my family, and enjoy working in the gardens and raising animals. In the past few years, I've had the opportunity to travel to some amazing places, including Norway and Egypt, and I really enjoy seeing new places. 

 

 

 

  Christine Johnsen

 

Christine Johnsen graduated from Kean University with a BA in elementary education/early childhood.  After teaching 13 years, she got her Special Ed degree and for the past eight has been employed by Warren County Special Services School District.  Mrs. Johnsen is starting her first year with the Great Meadows Regional School District and is looking forward to teaching 3rd Grade.  She enjoys reading, counted cross stitch, and boating with her husband and two grown daughters.

 

 

 

      Barb Cinewicz

 

Barb Cinewicz has been with the Great Meadows School District for five years heading our Preschool Disabled program at Liberty School. She is excited about being the new kindergarten teacher and looks forward to a great year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008-09 CENTRAL ELEMENTARY

NEW HIRES

 

 

   Brooke Flynn

 

I graduated from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania where I earned a degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Early Childhood.  I am also an assistant coach for the Varsity and Competition Cheering squad for Phillipsburg High School.  During my spare time I enjoy going for walks with my dog and spending time with my friends and family.  I am excited to start a new year and teach second grade!

 

 

      Joe D’Agostino

 

Joe D’Agostino is a graduate of Penn State University, where he earned a B.A. in History.  He then received his elementary teaching certification from the College of Saint Elizabeth.  During the 2007-2008 school year, Mr. D’Agostino was an instructional aide in Central School.  With a background in Art, Mr. “D” is looking forward to sharing his creativity and imaginative ideas with his 5th grade students.  In his spare time, he enjoys playing basketball and football, reading, and of course, drawing!  Mr. D’Agostino is very excited to be a 5th grade teacher at Central School and can’t wait for September 3rd!

 

 

  Thomas Hershey

 

Thomas Hershey received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University where he majored in American Studies and History. He attended Moravian College for certification in Elementary Education and Centenary College for Special Education, and has teaching experience in both elementary and middle school. Mr. Hershey has two sons and lives in Forks Township, Easton. His interests include gardening, fitness, reading, and travel. Having worked at Liberty School as a maternity leave replacement teacher, Mr. Hershey is very proud to join the district staff and looks forward to an exciting and productive year.

 

 

 

 

  Susan Samela

 

Susan Samela is a graduate of Montclair State University with a BA in Speech Correction. She grew up in Bergen County and has lived in various places throughout the United States due to her husband’s career transfers. She has four children, Jennifer, Matthew, and Danielle and Andrew, who are twins. Past employment as a Speech Correctionist has been with Washington Township for three years, and also part-time with Warren County Special Services School District and Washington Borough. She welcomes the opportunity to be part of the “Great” Meadows School District and looks forwards to working with the students.

 

 

 

  Claire Washburn

 

Miss Washburn recently graduated magna cum laude from Centenary College with a Bachelor’s Degree in History.  She also holds a Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing in elementary education.  During the summer she works with the West Morris Area YMCA camp.  She was previously an aide at Great Meadows Regional and is familiar with the GMRSD family.  Miss Washburn is very excited to start the school year with her third grade class!

 

 

 

 

 

Great Meadows Middle School

 

2008-09 School Year New Hires

 

 

 

 

   Mr. Bud Beavers

 

Mr. Bud Beavers was recently appointed as the interim principal at the Great Meadows Regional Middle School.   After serving as Principal of Randolph High School for eleven years, he retired in 2004; he has continued to be involved in education, serving an additional year on a Middle States Advisory Committee, and working in various school districts as an interim principal.  As a member of the Middle States Association he also led school evaluation teams in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey.

Mr. Beavers’ roots are in Hunterdon County, and most of his professional experiences were in Morris County.  He has been an administrator since 1979, the year he was appointed as the Supervisor of Fine Arts in Roxbury.  Additional administrative positions were held in Voorhees High School, Lebanon High School (NH), and Kinnelon High School. He coached soccer for several years while at Roxbury.  Beavers is married with three children and one grandchild.  His wife, Jean, is Supervisor of Math at Voorhees High School.  They reside in Randolph.

He enjoys sports, participating in softball, golf, and bowling leagues.  He and his wife also enjoy camping and traveling.   He is looking forward to the upcoming year as an interim principal at Great Meadows.

 

 

  Linda Wilkins

 

Mrs. Linda Wilkins graduated from Bloomsburg University where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education with a concentration in mathematics.  Following graduation, Mrs. Wilkins was hired by the Wharton Borough Public School District.  She spent  most of her nine years at Wharton teaching sixth, seventh and eighth grade mathematics.  She served as yearbook advisor and sat on many committees and councils within the district.  Mrs. Wilkins left her position at Wharton when she decided to stay home and raise her children.  Since leaving Wharton, Mrs. Wilkins served as Director of Little Friends Nursery School.  Most recently, she became a Highly Qualified Teacher in Mathematics and has been substituting within the Tewksbury Township Public School District.

 

Mrs. Wilkins lives in Mt. Bethel, PA with her husband, Steve, two daughters, Christina and Emily and  their golden retriever, Maggy.  Her daughters keep her very busy, but in her spare time, she enjoys visiting family in Cape Cod, MA, baking and spending time at the New Jersey Shore.  Mrs. Wilkins looks forward to meeting the students and their families at Great Meadows.  She looks forward to an exciting and productive year teaching seventh grade mathematics.

 

   Deborah Napolitano

 

Ms. Deborah Napolitano comes to Great Meadows Middle School as an In-class Support teacher for the sixth grade team, as the maternity leave replacement. Ms. Napolitano brings 13 years teaching experience to her position having taught in both public and private educational settings with the general and special education populations. She is dual certified with a BA and NJ State Teachers Certificate K-12 from William Paterson College, Wayne, NJ; and a Teacher of the Handicapped Certificate K-12 from Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ.

She has been a resident of Liberty Township for the last nine years, having moved from Belleville, with her husband Larry and their two children Robert and Nicole. "I am excited about my position at GMMS & proud to become a professional in a school district I feel has thus far served my own children well; both are 'graduates' of Liberty Elementary School."