Seven brand new teachers and 11 other teachers new to RCS (with less than three years experience) started their new teaching careers at RCS on Tuesday with a day spent as students.

The full day will included discussion on the district’s instructional and special education programs, meeting with building administrators and a tour of the school buildings, as well as time for the new teachers to start work on setting up their classrooms.

Additionally, the new faculty met their mentors or helping teachers. In RCS, new teachers with no previous teaching experience or no experience in the area they will be teaching are assigned mentor teachers. Meanwhile, teachers who have less than three years experience are assigned helping teachers.

“We are excited to welcome our new faculty to RCS. Throughout the year our new teachers and mentors will participate in monthly training after school to help them make the transition,” said Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Diane Albano, Ed.D.

The new faculty is as follows:

• Carrie DuBois, A.W. Becker Elementary teacher

• Julia Aldrich, A.W.B guidance counselor

• Gregg Ronca, A.W. Becker Elementary physical education teacher

• Jennifer west, A.W. Becker Elementary teacher

• Damien Verga, A.W. Becker Elementary teacher

• Tera Weddell, High School English teacher

• Michael Fisher, High School technology teacher

• Phyllis Allen, High School business teacher

• Cara Buckley, Middle School librarian

• Amanda Caark-Latter, Middle School Math teacher

• Barbara Leatham, Middle/High School family consumer
  science teacher

• Charles Silberman, Middle/High School foreign language teacher

• Dee Hushmendy, Middle/High School English/literacy teacher

• William deSeve, Middle/High School foreign language

• Paul Strausmen, Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary music teacher

• Jennifer Rickert, PBC psychologist

• Michelle St. Louis, PBC special education teacher

• Kristen Olby, Middle School Social Studies substitute teacher for Kristine Kemme