Fredonia welcomes back former students as new employees
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Earlier this summer, Fredonia Central School District approved a wave of new hires with local ties, specifically to SUNY Fredonia.
To finish off the summer meetings, the Fredonia Board of Education decided to go even closer to home than just down the road with its next round of new hires, with many former Fredonia students now returning to the district as employees.
Margaret Gray was among those in attendance at the recent meeting, as she was appointed to an elementary teaching position at Fredonia. Like many of the newest district hires, Gray is a Fredonia Central School District graduate.
"Thank you for welcoming me back. I think the fact that you've had so many grads come back is just a testament to how wonderful our experience was when we were here as students ourselves," Gray said to the Board of Education and administrators. "I'm very excited to come back and hopefully provide that experience for more Fredonia kids, and to help build the STEM program, something I'm so incredibly passionate about."
Gray earned a Master's Degree from the University at Buffalo, has a year of teaching experience, previously worked as a substitute at Fredonia, and served as a Quest Backpacking Group Leader earlier this summer. With Quest, she led a group with Fredonia Superintendent Brad Zilliox. "I experienced her positive energy and attitude for 3-4 hours on a rainy morning," said Zilliox.
Another Fredonia Central School District graduate, Kayla Sullivan, returned home to accept a teaching position in the speech tenure area, approved by the board at the recent meeting. Sullivan, who has a Master's Degree from SUNY Fredonia, also has experience as speech therapist for six years and recently worked as a Recreation Director for the Village of Fredonia and the Town of Pomfret.
Like Gray, Sullivan was also in attendance and expressed her gratitude for the opportunity. "I'm very excited to be back and I can't wait to see what happens," Sullivan said.
Two more Fredonia Central School District graduates were hired as teacher aides, along with two other aides with local ties, an aide with fluency in multiple languages, and a food service helper, Susan Lanning, who also graduated from Fredonia Central School District.
Dan LaGrow and Hannah Riewaldt, each Fredonia graduates with course work at SUNY Fredonia, were approved to be hired as a teacher aide. Theresa Priolette, a Brocton graduate, and Carrie Schafer, a Cassadaga Valley graduate and former substitute teacher at Fredonia, were both approved to be hired as teacher aides, as well.
Cristal Otero Reyes, who fluently speaks three languages, was also hired as a teacher aide. Speaking to the district's need to further accommodate Spanish-speaking students, Zilliox said Otero Reyes is "going to be a huge asset to our district."
Fredonia also approved the hiring of a third new teacher, Lori Addington, to serve as a business teacher at the high school. Also with a Master's Degree from Niagara University, Addington has multiple years of field experience in business that the district is excited to bring to its students.
"When we get employees that have exwperienced their career fields, we get a little bit more of a global sense. We are excited about Lori bringing some of that experience into the classroom and building some connections that might be more difficult for somebody who does not have that prior experience," said Zilliox.
Additionally, Samantha Heitz was approved by the board to transition immediately from a teacher aide position to a teaching assistant. Heitz was an aide for Fredonia High School last year.
"I quickly noticed as an aide she has a lot to offer, so I suggested that she maybe go back and get more certifications," said Fredonia High School Principal Darrin Paschke. "I'm very glad she took me up on that. I'm also very sad to lose her as one of my aides because she was a top aide -- she was fantastic -- but I'm glad to see her moving ahead and furthering her education."
As it pertains to the effective start dates of some new teachers this year, Zilliox explained that if an employee is under contract with another school district and submits a letter of resignation, the school district can hold them for 30 days, according to New York State Law. Because of that fact, some new hires at Fredonia this year will likely begin the school year elsewhere before they officially start at Fredonia. "It is not uncommon for districts to be doing that," said Zilliox.
Zilliox also explained Fredonia is on the other end of that same scenario with two employees this year, as well. "We want the best possible people we can in front of our students in that transition," Zilliox said.
Also appointed in the recent meeting was Todd Strong to serve as an extended leave substitute, a new position the board approved the creation of at the previous board meeting. Strong has a Master's Degree from St. Bonaventure and has also worked as a mentor for Chautauqua Striders. Strong will be available to start the school year at Fredonia immediately.