Twenty-six new staff members were hired this summer to either temporary or permanent positions with the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Schools. Almost all of them replace individuals who have retired, resigned or taken a leave of absence.
Joining the faculty at the BH-BL High School will be teachers Meghan Carich (science), Eric Devine (English), Jennifer Gula (special education), Michele Husain (English), and Hillary Potter (science).
The high school also has two new guidance counselors. Erin Hogan has replaced Jeffrey Reynolds on his retirement, while Amy Boyce is filling in for Kerry Austin during her leave of absence.
Health teacher Lindsay Armbruster will be dividing her time between the high school and the O’Rourke Middle School, and Nancy Nelson is joining the high school food service staff.
The middle school has also acquired two new teachers in sixth grade: Stefan Schechter and Suzanne Heasley. Julie Behrens is the middle school’s new counselor aide. Judith Doepel is the new secretary in the middle school guidance department, replacing Barbara Mlodzianowski, who has moved to a position in the Stevens Elementary School main office.
Three new teachers have joined the Stevens faculty: Jennifer Bennice in second grade, Kristine Gregory in kindergarten, and Danielle Seaman in fifth grade.
New faces at Pashley Elementary School are library clerk Judy Fregoe, playground monitor Pauline Towne, and teacher’s assistant Shannon Nusbaum.
Playground monitor Lynn Walkuski has joined the staff at Charlton Heights Elementary School along with food service helper Mary Fontana, kindergarten teacher Jill Gobel, and special education teachers Rachel Fridholm and Jennifer Peterson.
Those taking district level positions include PACE coordinator Heather Zimmerman and substitute registered nurse Constance Safford. Also Juliann DellaRocco has been promoted to Health and Personal Development department head following the retirement of Linda Mielcarksi.
The school district is also pleased to welcome a new school resource officer, New York State Trooper John Healey. Healey will be based at the high school but will work with the staff in all five schools as needed on both preventative and investigative projects.
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