OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Fredonia Board of Education member Brian Aldrich smiles as he listens to Shannon Marsh describe her dedication as a chaperone on a hiking expedition while she was pregnant. Marsh was one of three teachers approved for tenure at a recent Board meeting.

A few members of the Fredonia staff will be around for the long haul, as three teachers were awarded tenure at the final Fredonia Board of Education meeting of the 2023-2024 school year.

Kristina Brinkel-Covert, Shannon Marsh, and Naomi Pierce all were approved for tenure by the Board. They were all in attendance at the recent meeting to hear their peers sing their praises. Among the strongest advocates for the three Hillbillies to receive tenure was Kimberly Maternowski, who spoke on behalf of all three teachers with a prepared statement.

“On behalf of the Fredonia Teachers’ Association, it is my great pleasure to congratulate three exceptional professionals for obtaining tenure at Fredonia Central Schools, Kristina Covert, Shannon Marsh, and Naomi Pierce,” Maternowski said.

First on the agenda was Covert, a Fifth Grade Teacher at Fredonia.

“Kristina is very hardworking. She’s very conscientious, she’s a team player with her other colleagues at the Grade 5 level. It also seems to me that she just quietly goes about her business and does a really nice job being prepared and really thinking about how you engage students in the classroom,” Superintendent Dr. Brad Zilliox said.

Maternowski described how Covert was hired over Zoom during the pandemic as a Science and Math Teacher and needed to adapt to being reassigned until classes returned to the pre-pandemic structure.

“Kristina is a dedicated Fredonia teacher, strong in her content knowledge, with high expectations of herself and her students,” Maternowski said. “Her students and peers respect her and seek her out as a reliable source of support.”

Next was Marsh, an English as a New Language Teacher whose resilience impressed the Board upon learning of her recent hiking trip as a Quest Backpacking chaperone despite being pregnant.

“Shannon Marsh is a ray of sunshine. She clearly loves her ENL students and they love her too. She has been a wonderful addition to the Middle School and I have no doubt that she will continue to be an asset to the District,” Maternowski said. “… She is exceptionally knowledgeable and makes sure her students are successful across all of their subject areas. She shares resources and expertise, and collaborates with her colleagues all the time.”

Marsh added, “I’m very happy here and I plan to be here for the rest of my career.”

Lastly was Pierce, a Special Education Teacher at the Wheelock School. Pierce was commended for her positive attitude despite a challenging role within the District.

“Naomi understands the strengths and needs of each of her students and is able to give them the support they need with kindness, compassion, and dedication. She instinctively knows when a child needs boundaries and when they need grace, and provides both with love and care,” Maternowski said.

Zilliox echoed the praise of Pierce’s ability to balance structure and flexibility that is crucial to Special Education students. He also added that Pierce is “always pleasant and positive.”

“Naomi is an exceptional educator,” Wheelock Principal Amy Piper added. “She’s kind, she’s nurturing, and she has our most needy students at their youngest stages. They come in and she just loves them. She brings the best out of these students. … She finds the best in them and does it in a magical way.”

While all three teachers are staying put in their roles long-term, three others were appointed to new roles within the District.

First, Mary Williams was hired in the Music tenure area. Williams possesses Bachelor’s Degrees in Music Performance and Music Education, as well as a Master’s Degree in Music Education. Williams previously taught at the Iroquois Central School District as the Middle School Band Director, and also served on the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra’s Education Committee. She also actively performs in several ensembles.

“We’re excited to have her onboard and we’re looking forward to her joining us at the start of next school year,” Zilliox said.

Next was the appointment of Elizabeth Bumpus to a teaching position in the Social Studies tenure area. Bumpus, a graduate of Fredonia High School, returns to her alma mater to fill the vacancy created by Nick Bertrando’s transition to become a Physical Education Teacher. Bumpus taught at both Cassadaga and Dunkirk, and also worked as a graduate assistant at SUNY Fredonia, where she graduated.

“Liz was amazing in her interview. We had several people reach out to us before we even could call references. People were calling us, saying, ‘You need to get this girl.’ … She didn’t disappoint in her interview. She had a fantastic lesson prepared,” said High School Principal Darrin Paschke.

The preparation was necessary, as 36 applicants showed interest in the position. “She really had to put the pedal to the metal, and she did. We’re really proud of her,” Paschke said.

Bumpus, who attended the meeting, said, “I’m very happy to be back with the Fredonia family. I’m very thankful to get the opportunity to learn, once again, from so many wonderful educators.”

Finally, the District named its newest Sixth Grade Teacher, and following a recent trend, it was one of Fredonia’s own that filled the opening. Erin Henry was approved to make the switch from her role as a Special Education Teacher to fill a Sixth Grade vacancy. Henry, a SUNY Fredonia graduate, possesses six certifications across various levels of education. She previously worked at the Frontier, Hamburg, Silver Creek and Dunkirk school districts.

“She has done an outstanding job in her role as a Special Educator in our building. She has built great relationships with kids and the teachers she supports. I know she’s going to make a seamless transition into the Sixth Grade team,” Middle School Principal Jamie Polhamus said.

Additionally, Tehya Sharp was appointed to a probationary position as Middle School Science Teacher. Sharp was hired for the role last summer, but because of delays in receiving certification from the New York State Department of Education, Sharp served as a long-term substitute for the 2023-2024 school year.

The District also appointed Andrea Blandin to the position of Certified Occupational Therapist; Aaron Smith to the position of Cleaner; and four per diem substitutes, including Julie Clark, who is retiring from the District this year.

“It’s always nice to have somebody who is looking forward to coming back,” Zilliox said. “… We appreciate that and thank her for being willing to do so.”

Summer School staff members and Instructional Team Leaders for the 2024-2025 school year were also appointed. The District also approved a contract with Children’s Educational Services, Inc., for its Little Seeds program to continue at the Wheelock School.