Superintendent's Monthly Newsletter
Parent & Community Edition 6 ~ January 2023
Board Recognition Month
2023 Board Members
Our Board members for 2023 are: Jaclyn Arce (Vice President), Valerie Bart, Loretta Borowsky, Lilian Colpas, Gina Criscitiello, Michelle Hurley (President), Tiffany Jarrett, Laurie Markowski and Susan Mitcheltree.
Role of the Board
The Board of Education is the governing body of the school district, responsible for developing policy to ensure the proper care, management and control of district affairs, and supporting the mission of educating our students to reach their full potential. The Board sets district policy which is then implemented by the superintendent and administrators. The Board also hires the superintendent; approves employment contracts; accepts resignations; reviews and adopts the district budget; approves expenditures; approves educational programs (curriculum), and otherwise ensures that proper facilities and equipment are available to support teaching and learning in the district. Board of Education members abide by the New Jersey Code of Ethics for School Board members. The Board of Education does not administer the school district; they ensure that it is run well. While Board members encourage communication from parents and local stakeholders, there is a chain of communication that should be followed. Community members should always direct questions to the most specific and appropriate level. This means beginning with a specific teacher or building administrator, then approaching a district administrator, and then moving to the central office and Superintendent before submitting it to the Board, either in writing to the President and or verbally at a Board meeting.
Board Meetings
Every January the Board holds an organization meeting to elect officers and set committees and appointments. There are standing committees that meet monthly to discuss specific issues and make recommendations to the Board as a whole. The standing committees of the Flemington-Raritan Board of Education are Instruction and Program, Operations, Personnel, Policy, and Transportation. Board members typically serve on multiple committees within the board structure. Board members are also appointed as liaisons to a variety of education-related and municipal organizations. To view the Board's meeting schedule, contact members, view policies and learn more, please click to view the Board of Education web page.
Announcing our Educators of the Year
The Flemington-Raritan Regional School District is fortunate to have a sterling teaching staff in our schools. The district, through the state Department of Education, participates in the New Jersey Teacher of the Year Program and the Governor’s Teacher/Educational Services Professional Recognition Program. This program highlights educational innovation, student achievement, the rewards of teaching, and essential services outside the classroom environment that lead to student success. Further, it seeks to attract public attention to the positive aspects of our educational system. The school district has engaged in a process allowing one teacher from each school and one educational support professional to be honored for outstanding professionalism and student support. We are pleased to announce this year's recipients who will be honored at the February 27 Board of Education meeting. Below are our honorees with supportive comments from their colleagues and our Educator of the Year Committees.
Barley Sheaf School
Teacher of the Year: Beth Klepper, Third Grade Teacher
Mrs. Beth Klepper joined the Barley Sheaf staff in 2010, and has served as a third grade teacher for the past eight years. As one colleague noted, Mrs. Klepper’s “passion for teaching is evident when you see her students excited about what they are learning in the classroom, and when you witness Beth empowering them to be their best.” Mrs. Klepper engages her students and invites participation at all levels of learning. Her vast experience has enabled her to develop strategies to meet the unique academic, social, and emotional needs of all of her students, making each child feel valued and important. Mrs. Klepper truly gets to know each of her students as individuals, partnering with families throughout the year and maintaining open lines of communication in support of her students. Mrs. Klepper is actively involved in our school community, making an impact through her leadership in the district Literacy Learning Academy, participating in the district committee to pilot and select new math programs, volunteering at PTO sponsored events and serving on the school assembly committee. She is an extremely dedicated teaching professional and a highly-motivating leader, both inside and outside of school. Students, parents, and staff love and respect Mrs. Klepper because she is kind, caring, and committed. In the words of a colleague, “Teachers like Beth Klepper build the foundation for the love of lifelong learning, and model the importance of becoming a well-rounded individual. She celebrates every student’s differences and challenges them to become their very best. Mrs. Klepper is the true definition of what the Teacher of the Year is!”
Barley Sheaf School
Educational Services Professional of the Year: Kari Rowe, Stretch Teacher
Miss Kari Rowe has served as the Barley Sheaf Stretch Teacher since September 2021, after teaching third grade for six years. In the role of Stretch Teacher, Miss Rowe wears many hats, teaching the gifted and talented program, coordinating the building response to intervention program for literacy and providing literacy coaching. Miss Rowe is an expert in her field and is able to inspire students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn. Whether working with gifted students or a range of learners across K-4 classrooms, Miss Rowe carefully and thoughtfully crafts lessons to engage students in meaningful work. She skillfully uses high quality questions to elicit evidence of student learning and responds with feedback or instruction that meets each student’s unique learning needs. In addition to her passion and commitment to her students' education, Miss Rowe is an exemplary leader among her colleagues. Miss Rowe is a frequent presenter at the building and district levels, volunteering her time and expertise to provide professional development opportunities for educators. She, along with two colleagues, leads the monthly Literacy Learning Academy, and she has provided training to district staff on the use of the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System. Miss Rowe mentors new teachers, serves on the I&RS Committee and School Security Team, and recently stepped forward to serve as the school's FREA building representative. Miss Rowe is a life-long learner who continues to grow in and refine her craft, and the staff at Barley Sheaf and across the district are grateful for her uncompromised commitment to excellence in education. Sharing the words of a colleague, “Kari is the kind of teacher that I love to work with – she is dedicated to her craft, treats both students and colleagues with the utmost respect, is always striving to learn new things, and views things through an asset based lens. I truly feel that Kari deserves this recognition for all that she does to make our school a wonderful place.”
Copper Hill School
Teacher of the Year: Lindsay Lehman, Preschool Teacher
Mrs. Lindsay Lehman is a highly skilled preschool teacher, admired by her students, colleagues, and families. She has patience, compassion, empathy, creativity, flexibility, and a love of young children. She is always willing to share her knowledge, resources, and materials with team members to ensure their success. Mrs. Lehman is a team leader and highly dependable, serving on various committees to strengthen our preschool program. She is a wonderful mentor, coach, and educator who always puts students first.
Copper Hill School
Educational Services Professional of the Year: Beth Spearman, Math Support Teacher
Mrs. Beth Spearman is a dedicated, responsive, and supportive colleague. Most importantly, she places the students’ needs first. Every colleague will tell you, Mrs. Spearman goes above and beyond on a daily basis to support Copper Hill’s neediest students and ensure that students reach their full potential. Mrs. Spearman facilitates Cougar Club, ESL Homework Club, and always finds time to help teachers. She is a consummate professional who works diligently from the time she arrives in the building until the time she leaves. Mrs. Spearman is an exceptional colleague and teacher!
Francis A. Desmares School
Teacher of the Year: Kathryn Scheffler, Special Education Resource Room
Ms. Scheffler has been a Special Education Resource Room teacher for the past five years. Ms. Scheffler embodies a whole-child approach to teaching and is a humble but strong presence at Francis A. Desmares. She continuously creates new resources and researches effective teaching strategies and problem-solving techniques to ensure the success of our students. As a Resource Room teacher, she implements Ortin Gillingham and Wilson teaching strategies to meet the needs of her students. On any given day, she juggles differentiated instructional strategies while implementing techniques to provide emotional support, collecting behavioral data, and coordinating with co-teachers, guidance counselors, behaviorists, and school administrators. Above all, Ms. Scheffler demonstrates consummate professionalism and respect for her students and colleagues. Her work ethic and professionalism are exemplary. Ms. Scheffler often collaborates with her special education and grade-level team members. She embraces co-teaching practices and offers insights on how to modify and differentiate instruction. In addition to attending summer professional workshops, she participates in pilot programs and new instructional initiatives. Her colleagues describe her as one of the kindest people they have ever met. She makes herself available to discuss new ideas and offer support. No matter the child, she finds their unique qualities and builds their confidence. Ms. Scheffler is patient, gentle, and encouraging with all students whom she is privileged to work with at our school
Francis A. Desmares School
Educational Services Professional of the Year: Viviana Moncada, Bilingual School Counselor
Mrs. Moncada has been the Bilingual School Counselor at Francis A. Desmares for the past four years. During her short tenure, she has profoundly impacted our school and is changing lives every day. Every day she seeks new opportunities to provide our bilingual students with new experiences to learn and to have similar life experiences as their peers to help them make greater connections in the classroom. With persistence, research, and data collection, she provided our Third and Fourth Grade students with field trips to go pumpkin picking and visit the Camden Aquarium. These are moments our students write about in their daily journals and lessons. In addition, she provides small group counseling sessions and classroom lessons, offers before and after-school group and individual sessions, conducts evening parent workshops, connects families with local resources, and is constantly creating new ways to engage parents in their child’s learning. Mrs. Moncada is passionate about trauma-informed counseling and seeks professional development opportunities to expand her expertise to meet the needs of our students. Mrs. Moncada is committed to assisting current and former students and families when they reach out to her for support. The level of trust she has instilled in them is invaluable and is always greatly appreciated by our Latino and Hispanic communities. She is truly one of a kind and deserving of this recognition.
Robert Hunter School
Teacher of the Year: Colleen Ewing, First Grade Teacher
Colleen Ewing has been an educator for 24 years. She is currently a First Grade teacher at Robert Hunter Elementary School. Mrs. Ewing is an exceptional educator who has created an inclusive classroom community that meets the diverse needs of all students. She is a true leader within the Robert Hunter staff and was described by a colleague as “the backbone of RH.” She helps to run after-school clubs such as Cooking Club and Literacy Lab. She is currently a member of the Outdoor Spaces Committee and the Social Committee at Robert Hunter. As a FREA building representative for Robert Hunter, Mrs. Ewing has worked collaboratively to develop a positive climate and culture in the school. She is truly a source of inspiration for her students and the RH staff.
Robert Hunter School
Educational Services Professional of the Year: Michelle Hilke, Reading Recovery and Reading Support
Michelle Hilke has been an educator for 15 years. For the last 5 years, she has taught Reading Recovery at Robert Hunter Elementary School. Mrs. Hilke is a reflective educator who cultivates accelerated learning for her thriving readers every day. She has been a vital member of the Robert Hunter community for many years. Prior to teaching at Robert Hunter, she was the PTO treasurer and president, a homeroom parent, and cub scout leader. Her current leadership roles include serving on the Robert Hunter School Climate Team and the Outdoor Spaces Committee. Mrs. Hilke shines in her ability to develop positive relationships with students, staff, and families and she is a well respected member of the Robert Hunter community.
Reading-Fleming Intermediate School
Teacher of the Year: Ms. Katherine Finch, Special Education Teacher
Ms. Finch is a life long learner who creates a love for learning within her students. Not only does Ms. Finch passionately and selflessly work to empower her students, she also creates many opportunities to bridge Reading-Fleming Intermediate School and the surrounding community, with students being at the heart of every initiative. Ms. Finch helps students find and celebrate their strengths and works to foster the best in each of her students. Ms. Finch has taken on several fundraising efforts to support the Project Success (behavioral disabilities) program and advocate to expand the program by going on field trips. She also shows a dedication to all students outside of the traditional school day as an advisor to several clubs and is a frequent chaperone at RFIS afterschool events. Ms. Finch is described as being extremely approachable by both students and staff and always willing to help and give her time as a colleague and professional resource. Ms. Finch’s approach allows students to prosper, strive for their goals, and become productive members of society. Ms. Finch’s love and compassion for students and education is evident in all she does each day with students and staff.
Reading-Fleming Intermediate School
Educational Services Professional of the Year: Ms. Stella Muñoz, Paraprofessional
Ms. Muñoz makes Reading-Fleming Intermediate School a safe and welcoming place for all students. Ms. Muñoz is a dedicated paraprofessional who spends her days helping students feel connected to their peers and teachers. Ms. Muñoz is exceptionally kind with students and staff, and takes time to develop a rapport with them in order to provide support in the best possible way. Ms. Muñoz is an educator who is vested in her students both academically as well as personally and can often be seen celebrating student birthdays and other special life events throughout the year. Additionally, Ms. Muñoz serves not only as a resource to students but also their families and frequently goes above and beyond through communicating with families outside of the school day, offering assistance to various community programs and homework help. Ms. Muñoz is the embodiment of our district mission of every student, every day, every opportunity.
J.P. Case Middle School
Teacher of the Year: Ms. Samantha Sladky, Bilingual ESL Teacher
Samantha Sladky has been selected as the J. P. Case Middle School Teacher of the Year for her exemplary commitment to our school community and outstanding representation of each of the critical attributes recognized by the GEOY program. Ms. Sladky is a consummate professional who consistently goes above and beyond for her students. As our Bilingual ESL Teacher, she serves one of our neediest populations of students, and her advocacy extends beyond the classroom. Her colleagues have described her as “the glue between JPC and our ELL students.” When new students arrive in our school, she forges relationships with parents to ensure the home-school connection is established and makes herself available to assist her students at all times, including at night and on the weekends. When students experience food and residential insecurity she often spearheads the campaign to provide help and will partner with our internal and local agencies to find appropriate support. In the classroom, Ms. Sladky excels at differentiating curriculum and instructional practices in order to meet the needs of her students. This year some of her classes require her to teach both 7th and 8th grade students simultaneously. These students’ native languages and levels of English language acquisition are different, and each student’s academic needs are diverse. Watching Ms. Sladky teach is like watching a conductor: she addresses each individual, but brings everyone together to create a fluid and lively classroom environment. The lessons she teaches encompass much more than language skills: she teaches cultural understanding, career planning, organization, and life skills that students need to become successful members of American society. Ms. Sladky also supports her colleagues by providing professional development and assistance with SIOP implementation. She is always happy to collaborate and discuss the needs of students with diverse backgrounds, and is an active member of our I&RS Team. She also frequently assists our counselors, CST, and administration with translation for any of our Spanish speaking families. Her students hold her in high esteem and appreciate the many ways in which she has contributed to our community, including her work as a Cross Country coach. Samantha Sladky is a truly deserving recipient of this award, because her work ethic, reflective nature, child-centric educational philosophy, and willingness to go above and beyond for students has made a significant impact on our children and school community.
J.P. Case Middle School
Educational Services Professional of the Year: Carolyn Follansbee, Paraprofessional for LLD
Carolyn Follansbee is a valued member of the J.P. Case Middle School community. Supporting student learning as a Teaching Assistant, Mrs. Follansbee is a reliable resource to some of our most fragile students in the building in our Learning and Language Disability program. She is kind, caring, and works tirelessly to address student needs academically, socially, and emotionally. Along with the lead teacher in her room, Mrs. Follansbee co-creates a learning environment that promotes students to take educational risks, ask thoughtful questions, and be proud of themselves as learners. She takes an active leadership role with her students and will often seek to collaborate with other professionals in support of their learning. Her longtime service in our building has allowed her to hone her innate social and emotional intuitiveness, and she uses this skill to touch the lives of her students beyond what is learned in the classroom. Mrs. Follansbee is always one of the first to volunteer to support students outside of the classroom in social and community events. She is a special member of the J.P. Case Middle School family. We are honored to celebrate her work and her legacy with our students.
2023-2024 Budget Update
January is the time of year when the public part of the budget process begins. Developing a successful school district budget is never an easy task. The budget is a financial reflection of the educational plan for the district. It is planned in accordance with statutory and regulatory mandates of the federal government, the state legislature, the State Board of education, and the Board of Education.
Work actually begins on the preparation of the next school year's budget in the summer and continues through the fall with principals, supervisors, and other district administrators. Each department submits a plan to the superintendent during the early winter months. The business office reviews all school and department requests and a report is prepared for the superintendent who then discusses it with individual principals, supervisors, and administrators.
Funding for schools comes from a few sources: local property taxes, aid from the state of New Jersey, and aid from the federal government. Currently, the district is in the process of developing the preliminary budget for the 2023-24 school year. The school district budget remains in the preliminary planning process until the announcement of state aid for the upcoming school year.
Typically, the governor makes his budget address on the fourth Tuesday of each February. Until the governor’s budget message is released, school districts develop a preliminary budget. As required by New Jersey state law, state aid numbers will be provided to school districts within 2 days after the governor's budget message.
Once the school district is notified of state aid numbers a budget is prepared to present to the school board, the budget is published and prepared for the public at a public board meeting. Our school board holds a public hearing(s) to solicit citizen comments on the budget. These meetings are held in April and May. Finally, the budget is adopted and funding approved.
The Great Kindness Challenge
The novelist Henry James is quoted as saying, “Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” Our district encourages students to create a culture of kindness by participating in The Great Kindness Challenge. The challenge is a positive and proactive bullying prevention initiative for Pre-P through Grade 12 schools.
During the week of January 23 our students, and students around the world, were encouraged to create a kinder world by completing as many acts of kindness as they could. Acts of kindness promoted in our schools are often simple acts such as smiling at 25 people, giving a friend a high five, or thanking someone who has helped you. Other acts of kindness that are promoted take a bit more time and effort, such as making and displaying a "Kindness Matters' sign, learning to say hello in a new language, writing a letter and saying “sorry” to someone you may have hurt. or even donating toys, clothes, or food to a charity or someone in need.
The Great Kindness Challenge occurs throughout the world in over 110 countries impacting over 18 million students. According to the non-profit organization, The Great Kindness Challenge is celebrated in over 36,000 schools, creating over 900 million acts of kindness. Some of our very own school counselors are recognized as kindness ambassadors. They are Ms. Colette Baills at J.P. Case Middle School and Mrs. Mary Pepe at Francis A. Desmares Elementary School. Our District is recognized as a kindness certified school district. Certified school districts are recognized for their commitment to kindness by creating a culture of kindness at their schools, communities, and the world.
The Great Kindness Challenge- Family App is available to interested families. The Great Kindness Challenge is sponsored by GreatKindnessChallenge.org and KidsforPeaceGlobal.org.
February 2 Talk-a-Latte Session
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
- Thursday, February 2 - Superintendent's Talk-a-Latte Roundtable Session, 6-7:30 p.m., Robert Hunter School Media Center, Topic: STEM Symposium - Click to register.
- Friday, February 17 - Full Staff Development Day. Schools are closed for students.
- Monday, February 20 - All schools will be closed for Presidents' Day.
Dr. Kari McGann
Flemington-Raritan Regional School District
Email: kari.mcgann@frsd.us
Website: www.frsd.k12.nj.us
Location: 50 Court Street, Flemington, NJ, USA
Phone: (908) 284-7561
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flemrarschools/
Twitter: @karimcgann