North Plainfield Welcomes Our New Teachers and Administrators

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1 Valentina Aiello West End School Valentina Aiello will serve as a kindergarten teacher at West End School. Valentina possesses a baccalaureate degree from Kean University in the area of elementary education and English. Valentina s most recent experiences were as an academic support leave replacement teacher at West End School, and a fifth grade leave replacement teacher at Somerset School. She completed her student teaching in the Roselle School district. Valentina comes to us with a wide range of experience. She is bilingual in Italian and English. Additionally, she holds a provisional certificate in Italian. Kelley Albanese West End & Somerset Schools Kelley Albanese will serve as a kindergarten and fifth grade special education teacher at West End and Somerset Schools. She possesses a baccalaureate degree from Rochester Institute of Technology in the area of interior design and a post baccalaureate degree from William Paterson University in kindergarten through sixth grade elementary and special education. Kelley s most recent experience was at Clinton Elementary School, which is part of the South Orange Maplewood School District. As an educator, with practice working in inclusive and self contained classroom settings, Kelley has had effective academic and behavioral outcomes by implementing interventions and developing instructional materials suitable for verbal, non verbal, auditory, and visual learners. Her ability to connect with and identify the needs of her students has been commended by colleagues and administrators. Kelley is not new to the North Plainfield School District. She has been employed as a substitute teacher, instructional paraprofessional and a volunteer coach for East End School s Girls on the Run Youth Program. I see my new position as a continuation to foster growth to our unique and diverse learners, to be a part of a committed faculty and staff, and to contribute my love, confidence and support for our students successes. Alexander Bak North Plainfield Middle School Alexander Bak received his bachelor's degree in music education from Millersville University of Pennsylvania in May He has had the opportunity to work with students from kindergarten through twelfth grade, and he is entering his first year as the director of bands at North Plainfield Middle School. Alex began teaching in the North Plainfield School District in January 2015 as the music teacher at East End School. He has had the pleasure of working with the NPHS Marching Canucks beginning with the 2015 competition season and will serve as the Assistant Marching Band Director this season. Additionally, Alex has served as the associate conductor of the Lawrence Community Concert Band in Lawrence, NJ.

2 John Bednarz, Jr. North Plainfield High & Middle Schools John Bednarz, Jr. will be the new librarian at the high school and middle school. He has an undergraduate degree from Niagara University and a master s degree in library science from Rutgers University. He comes to the North Plainfield School District from Pequannock High School where he was one of the librarians. John has worked in school and college libraries, and in research organizations such as the Leo Baeck Institute in New York and the American Labor Museum. He enjoys reading and has worked as a translator for different publishers. Joseph Beselinoff North Plainfield High & Middle Schools Joseph Beselinoff will be the middle and high school robotics and engineering teacher. He is from Sayreville, New Jersey and attended Monmouth University, where he received a bachelor's degree in communication (radio/tv) and a minor certificate in information technology. For the past four years, Joe has worked as a substitute teacher at Sayreville War Memorial High School, where he frequently substituted for math classes, another area where he is certified to teach. Joe is a former Eagle Scout and is an Assistant Scoutmaster with Boy Scout Troop 91 of South Amboy. He is a former top ranked GMC golfer and was the Assistant Golf Coach at Sayreville War Memorial High School. Additionally, Joe enjoys video games, board games, movies and TV. He is very excited to start a new chapter in his life with the community of North Plainfield. Christine Caputo East End School Christine Caputo attended Montclair State University, where she graduated in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in family and child studies with a concentration in elementary education K 6 and family services. Before coming to North Plainfield, Christine worked in the Belleville School District for several years as an elementary teacher. This will be Christine s second year working in the North Plainfield School District. Last year, she worked as as a substitute teacher throughout the district. This year, she will teach first grade at East End School. Outside of school Christine enjoys traveling, coaching cheerleading, snowboarding and spending time with her family, especially her dog. Christine is excited to be a part of the North Plainfield School District and looks forward to an exciting school year!

3 Christina Cruz North Plainfield High School Christina Cruz will serve as a math teacher at North Plainfield High School. She holds a baccalaur eate degree from Mount Saint Mary College in the area of mathematics with a certification for adolescent education. Christina s most recent experience was teaching ninth grade algebra at the Barack Obama Green Charter High School in Plainfield. She has been complimented on her classroom management and her positive rapport with students. Outside the classroom, Christina acted as an advisor for the student council and the community service club at her previous school. Krista Daniskas North Plainfield Middle School Krista Daniskas will serve as special education teacher at North Plainfield Middle School. Krista possesses a baccalaureate degree from Lycoming College in the area of psychology. She is completing her master s degree from Kean University in the area of special education. Krista s most recent experience was as a special education leave replacement teacher in the North Plainfield School District. Krista has had the opportunity to not only teach here in the US, but she did her student teaching in Switzerland. She has had the experience of teaching and assisting students from Pre K through college in a variety of subjects. Krista s true love is teaching math and is very excited to get to know everyone in North Plainfield. Janine Duarte Somerset School Janine Duarte will be serving as a sixth grade language arts teacher at Somerset School. Janine holds a baccalaureate degree in psychology with a concentration in elementary education with a specialization in language arts literacy from Stockton University. She is also pursuing a master's degree in special education. As a recent graduate who is new to the field of education, Janine hopes to help students succeed and reach any educational goals they have by delivering engaging lessons and getting to know her students. Janine has been praised by administrators and coworkers for her ability to develop positive relationships between staff, students, and parents.

4 Jacquelyn Fields Assistant Principal, High School Jacquelyn Fields will serve as an assistant principal at North Plainfield High School. Jackie holds a bachelor s degree in English/ elementary education, and certifications in administration/ supervision and director of school counseling. She has been an educator in North Plainfield for sixteen years. Jackie began her career at East End School as a fourth grade teacher, and later served as the student liaison at the middle school and high school. Additionally, Jackie taught ESL at North Plainfield Adult High School and supervised at the North Plainfield Alternative High School. Outside of school she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family. Stephanie Gambino Department of Pupil Services Stephanie Gambino will be joining the North Plainfield School District for the upcoming school year as the district physical therapist. She graduated with a bachelor of science degree in biology from Ramapo College in 2006 and was awarded her doctor of physical therapy from University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in In June 2013, she achieved National Board Certification as a Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy (OCS) by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. Stephanie has worked in various orthopedic based facilities, along with filling in the role of pediatric therapist in the Cranford School District from As a school based physical therapist, Stephanie has collaborated with the child study team in assessment and evaluation of students requiring services. She has provided in service education to teachers, parents, support staff and other service providers on medical equipment, proper lifting techniques/body mechanics, reflex integration, and exercises that can be incorporated into the classroom/home environment. Molly Gasior Somerset School Molly Gasior is a sixth grade math academic support teacher at Somerset School. She graduated from Stockton University with a degree in elementary education and world languages. Molly currently has a teaching certificate in elementary K 5 and middle school mathematics. Before working in North Plainfield, Molly taught sixth grade math and science in Bayonne, NJ, and fifth grade in Milltown, NJ. She is very excited to start the school year and meet this year's new students.

5 Janine Gregory English/Language Arts Supervisor Janine Gregory will serve as the supervisor of English for the district. In her most recent position, she led the secondary English/Language Arts department in the South Orange and Maplewood School District. Housed at Columbia High School, Janine taught a 10th grade English class last school year too. Her accomplishments include the addition of new English electives to the 11th 12th grade English program (Literature of the African Diaspora, Sports in Literature) and the complete revision of 9th and 10th grade curriculum to include more contemporary and multicultural selections, while allowing teachers to exercise choice, as well as the inclusion of various genres to compliment core texts. She believes her greatest accomplishment, in order for this important work to be done, to be the building of trust among the teachers in a large department and a large school district. Janine received a master's degree from Montclair State University and, soon after, her National Board Certification in Early Adolescent English. Outside of the school day, she teaches a weekly course in Montclair at the Essex County Consortium, which is a requirement for second career teachers who seek standard certification. She and her husband have three children Cole, Ella, and Myles (all named after jazz artists). Laurel Hanns North Plainfield Middle School Laurel Hanns will serve as a math teacher at North Plainfield Middle School. Laurel holds a baccalaureate degree from New Jersey City University. Her most recent teaching experience is with Cornerstone Day School. Ms. Hanns has been praised by administrators for her ability to connect with her students in order to best differentiate his or her lesson plan. Outside of the classroom, Laurel has spent time in California perfecting her ability to hang ten and calculate in base ten. She was also the assistant coach for the softball team at Cornerstone Day School. Timothy Hollis North Plainfield High School Timothy Hollis will serve as an academic support math teacher at North Plainfield High School. Tim holds a degree in mathematics and secondary education from New Jersey City University. Prior to joining the North Plainfield District, he was a part of the teaching cohort at Hoboken Junior Senior High School and Bloomfield Tech High School. Before transitioning into the education field, Tim worked in various restaurants as a chef.

6 Carrie Johnson North Plainfield High School Carrie Johnson is happily joining North Plainfield High School as a teacher of English and AP Language Arts. She comes to her new assignment from the New York City Department of Education where she taught English/language arts at MS216Q for six years. Carrie earned her bachelor s and master s degrees in English with an emphasis on composition and rhetoric from St. John s University in Queens. Additionally, she holds a certificate in special education from St. Joseph s University and credentials in teacher leadership from the NYCDOE. Carrie s greatest successes in the classroom have come from fostering student autonomy and demonstrating to students how to make strong connections among writing, literary analysis, and their future careers. Outside of academics, she ran a photography and creative writing course as part of MS216 s Saturday Academy and served as the in house photographer to document the students proudest moments and special events. Hollyn Konkowski West End School Hollyn Konkowski will serve as an ESL teacher at West End Elementary School. She graduated from the five year teacher education program at Rutgers University, where she majored in Spanish linguistics and ultimately earned her master's degree in ESL education. Hollyn previously taught ESL in the Paterson Public School District. Among the many accomplishments she achieved while working there, Hollyn led her school's ESL/bilingual team which encompassed over 150 ESL students and 10 teachers. Additionally, she was the point person for technology and state assessments. Hollyn is excited to get to know all of the students, staff, and parents of West End School and the entire North Plainfield Community! Erin Kreeger North Plainfield High School Erin Kreeger will be teaching physics at North Plainfield High School. Erin has a bachelor's degree in bioengineering from the University of Maryland, College Park and a master's degree in STEM education from Rowan University. While at the University of Maryland, she conducted research on biofuel production using engineered marine algae. She is a Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellow and is coming from a graduate level placement at Millville Senior High School in southern New Jersey. Erin hopes to develop a physics program that allows students to develop both science and engineering practices through the use of modeling and design projects. At Millville Senior High School, she aided in the production of the spring musical and performed with the pit orchestra on trombone and french horn. She hopes to become involved with the music program at North Plainfield High School.

7 Daniel Kushner STE Supervisor Daniel Kushner will serve as the supervisor of science, technology, and engineering for the district. He holds a bachelor of science degree in biology from Marist College and a master s degree in educational leadership from Iona College. Dan comes to North Plainfield after working as an instructional leader at Perth Amboy High School. Dan is experienced in curriculum development, instructional practices, and assessment and has worked closely with teaching staff to improve classroom performance and student achievement. Prior to his administrative experience, Dan taught biology at the high school and middle school levels in New York and Connecticut and coached lacrosse and cross country. Filipe Luis Principal, West End School Filipe Luis will serve as the newly appointed principal of West End School. He is a graduate of Montclair and Seton Hall Universities and holds a bachelor s degree in psychology and a master s degree in educational leadership, accordingly. Filipe has a wealth of experience as an educational leader, serving as a principal in Cranford for four years and the Dean of Students in Ridgefield prior to that time. He has many years of teaching experience spanning grades one through eight as both an elementary teacher and a special education teacher. He is well versed in the many techniques used by our district including the Danielson model of instruction, Google Apps for Education and Reading/Writing Workshop. The most important attribute that Filipe brings to his position is his sense of school community, a commitment to being present throughout the school and the importance he places on supporting teachers so they are best able to meet the needs of students. Filipe is fluent in both Portuguese and Spanish and is eager to form connections with all of the families who make up North Plainfield and West End School Community. Danielle Martini North Plainfield High & Middle Schools Danielle Martini will serve as a teacher of American Sign Language in grades seven through twelve at both North Plainfield Middle School and North Plainfield High School. Danielle has a bachelor's degree from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in American Sign Language interpreting and a master's degree, also from Bloomsburg University, in the education of the deaf and hard of hearing. Her most recent experience included working as an American Sign Language interpreter for various New Jersey high schools. Outside the classroom, Danielle continues to work as a freelance American Sign Language interpreter and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

8 Colleen McCarthy Department of Pupil Services Colleen McCarthy will serve as an occupational therapist for the North Plainfield School District. She graduated from Elizabethtown College and is registered by the National Board for Certification in occupational therapy. Colleen s most recent experience was at Children s Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. However, she has spent most of her years as a therapist working with children in the public school system. Colleen has sixteen years of experience as a pediatric occupational therapist. She has worked in the school setting, as well as private clinics and hospital based therapy, providing her with a wealth of knowledge that she will bring to our district. Supervisors often praise her clinical skills and expertise, along with her compassion and creativity during therapy sessions. Colleen has experience in the development of fine motor, visual perception/motor and self care skills, as well as sensory integration, to help students succeed in the classroom. Lauren Meyer Mathematics Supervisor Lauren Meyer will serve as the supervisor of mathematics for the district. Lauren earned her master's degree in education from Saint Peter's University. For the past seven years, she has taught seventh and eighth grade mathematics at North Plainfield Middle School. Lauren has participated in a variety of leadership roles including team leader, math facilitator, and testing coordinator. She looks forward to creating positive change within our district. Lauren Mupanomunda Department of Pupil Services Lauren Mupanomunda is a newly appointed speech language specialist to the North Plainfield School District. She earned her master s degree in speech language pathology from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her most recent experiences include work as a speech language specialist at Woodland Elementary School and a preschool child study team member with the Plainfield Public School District. As a clinician, Lauren has worked with children in preschool through fifth grade in the public school, clinical and medical settings. She has experience treating autism spectrum, articulation and expressive receptive language disorders. Lauren enjoys collaborating with parents, teachers and related service providers to help her students succeed in all aspects of their lives.

9 Luke Ostrow Stony Brook & Somerset Schools Luke Ostrow will serve as the general music and chorus teacher at both Stony Brook and Somerset Schools. Luke holds a baccalaureate degree in music education from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. His most recent experience was as a student teacher in the Roxbury School District, where he taught elementary music and high school choral music. Luke has had success with his student oriented, multifaceted approach to the music curriculum that is both thought provoking and enjoyable. His teachers, supervisors, and past cooperating teachers have praised him for his innovative classroom techniques, positive rapport with students, and zeal for music in our schools. In his time at Rutgers, he also had an internship with the Rutgers Children s Choir, directed a contemporary a cappella group, and participated in shows by the student run musical theatre company. Luke is ecstatic to begin working with his new students and coworkers. Zoraida Otero North Plainfield High School Zoraida Otero will serve as a school counselor at North Plainfield High School. She holds a master's degree in school counseling and a baccalaureate degree in Spanish from Kean University. Zoraida has been a secretary in our school district for the past sixteen years. She has established a positive relationship with students, parents, staff, and will continue to do so in her new role as a school counselor. Kavita Pavan North Plainfield High School Kavita Pavan will join the special education team at North Plainfield High school as a science teacher. She holds baccalaureate degrees in biochemistry and education and master s degrees in biochemistry and biotechnology. Kavita s most recent public school experience was as a special education teacher at the middle school in South Brunswick where she effectively collaborated with her co teachers to plan and implement strategies to increase student motivation and engagement, thus increasing their academic success. Kavita is passionate about teaching and with her strong life science background, she is confident that she will create a learning environment where students strengths are challenged, while their needs are addressed. Outside the classroom, Kavita has organized community days and an afterschool homework club at her former school to provide extra help to students.

10 Lucy Pimpinella North Plainfield High & Middle Schools Lucy Pimpinella will serve as a technology teacher for North Plainfield High School and Middle School. She holds a b achelor of fine arts degree from Brooklyn College with a major in art and a minor in education. Lucy started working at North Plainfield Adult School in 2010 as an art teacher and then transitioned to the Alternative High School Program where she teaches computers and art. She has held various long term substitute teaching positions in Dunellen, Piscataway, and Edison. As an educator with experience teaching art and technology, Lucy has an extensive background in working with students of all ages and has wide experience in fostering respect and discipline. She is dedicated to providing high quality education to all her students and is committed to raising the standards of education. Outside of the classroom, Lucy is a wife and mother of three. She has a wide range of technology skills and works in Web Design and Maintenance, Youtube Page Management, and Video Editing. Recently, she created a logo art design for a Screen Actor's Guild (SAG) TV pilot and received an IMDb Movie Credit. Arielle Reale East End School Arielle Reale will serve as a teacher in the third grade at East End School. Arielle earned a baccalaureate degree in literature and a master s degree in elementary education at Fairleigh Dickinson University. She plans to pursue a certificate in special education. Arielle s most recent experience was in the Cranford School District where she was fourth grade leave replacement teacher. Previously, she was a leave replacement teacher in the North Plainfield School District. In both districts, she applied her skills to accommodate students and their needs, all while maintaining a safe and fun environment for her students to learn. Arielle s hobbies include knitting, baking, and reading. She is looking forward to being an active member of the the district and sharing all her experience and knowledge.

11 Christina Rivera West End School Christina Rivera will serve as a second grade teacher at West End School. She holds a baccalaureate degree from Montclair State University in family and child studies with a concentration in elementary education. Christina s most recent teaching experience was at a private school as an elementary teacher for four years, several years ago. She has been employed in the corporate sector for the past few years, but has never lost her passion for teaching and is extremely excited to continue her educational career with the North Plainfield School District. As someone who has experience teaching both kindergarten and fifth grade, Christina feels that she truly helps students feel safe, nurtured and motivated to grow in a positive way. She is very eager to jump into the second grade curriculum and help students learn. Christina worked with an after care program during her time as a private school teacher, and throughout the years has volunteered as a basketball coach for various recreational and traveling girls basketball teams. Charles Rowan Assistant Principal, High School Charles Rowan will serve as an assistant principal at North Plainfield High School, as well as the K 12 supervisor of social studies. He received his bachelor of arts degree from Villanova University in history with a concentration in Africana studies. Post college, Charlie attended Seton Hall University and received a master s degree in education with a concentration in educational technology, as well as his educational specialist degree in educational leadership, management, and policy. He taught social studies at the high school for eight years and also served as the head coach of the varsity girls soccer team for the last four years. Currently, Charlie is enrolled in the doctoral program at Seton Hall University. Kelly Schmitz East End School Kelly Schmitz will serve as a kindergarten teacher at East End School. Kelly possesses a baccalaureate degree from Texas A&M University in the area of early childhood education. Her most recent experience was in the North Plainfield School District as a leave replacement teacher at Stony Brook School. Kelly states, As an educator, I have a love for learning. I believe that learning is a lifelong process. Any time I walk into a classroom, I tell students that even though I am the teacher, I learn and grow with them everyday. Displaying my love for learning and showing enthusiasm helps to instill motivation and excitement in each individual.

12 John Tarnofsky Principal, NPHS Bridge & Alternative Programs John Tarnofsky earned his master's degree from New Jersey City University and his administrative certificate from NJ EXCEL. He is currently completing his doctoral degree at the College of Saint Elizabeth. In 2003, John started working in North Plainfield High School as a special education teacher and for the past five years he has been working as an assistant principal in the North Plainfield High School Alternative and Bridge Programs. Stephen Tsai North Plainfield Middle School Stephen Tsai will serve as a math teacher at North Plainfield Middle School. He comes to North Plainfield from the Irvington School District, where he taught math at Union Avenue Middle School, and the Monmouth Ocean Educational Services Commission, where he taught at their regional alternative school. Prior to becoming a certificated teacher, Stephen taught adult basic education, high school equivalency, and customer service at the Somerset County Workforce Learning Link in Somerville, and was an adjunct professor at Raritan Valley Community College. He completed his undergraduate studies at Princeton University and his graduate studies at the University of Michigan. Stephen resides in Bridgewater with his wife Irene and their three children, Lillian, Aidan, and David. Kaitlin Valentine East End & Stony Brook Schools Kaitlin Valentine will serve as a music teacher at East End and Stony Brook Schools. She holds a baccalaureate degree in music education from Salve Regina University in Newport, RI, and has seven years of experience teaching music in elementary schools. This summer, she also taught music to students ranging from preschool through age twenty with the Union County Educational Services Commission as part of their Extended School Year program. Kaitlin is highly passionate about making music accessible to all types of learners. Through her experiences teaching students with a wide range of ability levels and special learning needs, she has created a holistic approach to music education that has received praise from administrators, colleagues, and students alike. In addition to teaching music, Kaitlin also led a variety of after school enrichment programs that included activities in music, theater, and literacy.

13 Rebecca Visintainer North Plainfield High School Rebecca Visintainer will be the new, full time dance teacher at North Plainfield High School. She earned her bachelor s degree in dance performance and her master s degree in dance education at Rutgers University. While completing her studies, Becky spent a year abroad studying at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, England. She has performed works by many accomplished choreographers both at home and abroad. Becky completed her full time student teaching internship at Middlesex County Vocation and Technical School, East Brunswick Campus, where she integrated Laban Movement Analysis, a language system used to analyze movement into the curriculum. Beyond the public school system, Becky also teaches dance within the community. She administers a Saturday community dance program in Bayonne, NJ bringing dance to a community which previously had limited access to the art. She is also an active leader in advocating for dance education in her community. Becky is a member of the National Dance Educators Organization and helped to establish the graduate student branch of the organization at Rutgers University. Olga Wickerhauser North Plainfield High School Olga Wickerhauser is looking forward to teaching biology at North Plainfield High School. Olga has taught biology and chemistry at the high school and college levels, including at Raritan Valley Community College, Hunterdon Central Regional High School, and Princeton High School. Olga holds degrees from Oxford University and Rutgers University, where she earned a master s degree in plant science/sustainable agriculture. Earlier in her career, Olga worked as a researcher and program coordinator at Rutgers University and as a senior editor at Natural History magazine.

14 Jessica Wuerthner West End School Jessica Wuerthner will serve as a third grade teacher at West End School. She holds a master s degree from Montclair State University in elementary education and is certified to teach middle school math and science. Jessica previously worked as a teacher of middle school mathematics and of fourth grade in Jersey City. She also holds a bachelor of business administration in marketing and an associate s degree in merchandising. Previously, Jessica held numerous positions, including work as a graphic designer and an executive assistant at a company overseas. She incorporates many of the skills she acquired in her previous careers into her current community. Jessica has been praised by administration for her efforts in giving students authentic, real world tasks. She has run several events and after school programs to push students further and encourage parent involvement. Jessica is well traveled and strives to integrate different perspectives and cultures into her daily activities. This introduction is available on the North Plainfield School District website: Staff Resources Staff Links Human Resources New Staff Biographies