We’re pleased to introduce the 13 new faculty joining Minisink Valley Elementary school community for this new school year!

Rosamaria Acevedo, First-Grade
Why are you excited to be joining the Minisink Valley staff?
I am really motivated to begin my teaching journey at MVES.  The Minisink Valley staff has created such a welcoming environment. I am excited to work with so many talented teachers and students. I can’t wait to start my first year with such a positive staff and community.

What do you want the community to know and expect about you in your new role?
As a new teacher at MVES, I hope to inspire my students so they feel successful and confident. Students and families can expect a safe and welcoming classroom environment. My ultimate goal is to offer my students all the necessary tools they will need to become successful and to always aim for excellence in anything that they do.

Erin Chase, Kindergarten
Why are you excited to be joining the Minisink Valley staff?
I am excited about joining the Minisink Valley staff because, as a graduate and a former substitute teacher, I know Minisink Valley is a great place to learn and work.

What do you want the community to know and expect about you in your new role?
I want the community to know and expect that I will create a fun and exciting learning environment where all students can learn, work, and play together. My goal is to help each child reach their full potential. I will also strive to develop a good rapport with my students and parents, and I will be available to answer any questions or concerns.

Kristen Cummings, Social Worker
Why are you excited to be joining the Minisink Valley staff?
I have so many great memories growing up in the district and I’m very excited to be part of the Minisink family again.

What do you want the community to know and expect about you in your new role?
As a school social worker, I look forward to promoting a positive and safe school environment for our students. I’m motivated to use my skills to help reduce any challenges our students may face this upcoming school year.

Joseph Ferara, Second-Grade
My name is Joseph Ferara and I am an Orange County High School graduate. After high school I went on to receive my associate degree from SUNY Orange before transferring to SUNY Oneonta where I received my bachelor’s degree in childhood education. I look forward to combining the new methods of teaching mixed with technology and the old school style of teaching to ensure that each student is reaching their maximum potential. In my free time I enjoy dirt racing, skiing and golfing.

After both student teaching and being a substitute teacher in the Minisink School District I am very excited to be teaching here. The district facilitates an environment that is very community oriented and makes everyone feel like one family. The community and family atmosphere were two things that were very important to me when applying. I look forward to becoming a member of this community and family. Go Minisink Warriors!

Nora Fitzgerald, First-Grade
Why are you excited to be joining the Minisink Valley staff?
I had such a great experience as a student and substitute at Minisink Valley. The faculty and staff have always been so welcoming and knowledgeable. I couldn’t be more excited to return as an elementary school teacher to begin my career!

What do you want the community to know and expect about you in your new role?
I would love for the community to know that I will bring energy and care to all my students. I will continue the traditions of the school and incorporate community values both inside and outside of the classroom!

Tiffany Guareno, Kindergarten
Why are you excited to be joining the Minisink Valley staff?
I am so excited to be joining Minisink Valley staff! When I first walked through Minisink Valley, the positive energy and friendly faces I encountered, made me feel extremely welcomed! The atmosphere at Minisink Valley is very joyful and inviting . I am excited to work alongside others who find the importance in building a community where everyone feels loved, happy and excited to learn each day.

What do you want the community to know and expect about you in your new role?
I have taught kindergarten for three years and am excited to bring my knowledge and background to Minisink Valley. I am a strong believer of making my students feel loved and excited to come to school each day. I work continuously on building positive relationships with my students in order to best meet their academic and social emotional needs. In my classroom you can expect lots of community building activities, role playing, laughing, dancing, singing, reading, and of course learning!

Sara Holmes, First and Second-Grade
Why are you excited to be joining the Minisink Valley staff?
I have met a number of teachers and staff members at Minisink Valley and everyone is so friendly and encouraging. I can see the professionalism of how Minisink Valley operates and it is exciting to be a part of that culture. The team spirit and willingness to help others excites me and I’m looking forward to being a contributing team member.

What do you want the community to know and expect about you in your new role?
My goal is to help each child achieve their full potential. I am dedicated to their learning and devoted to their development. I am supportive of each child and their individual talents as I want to help them become the best they can be!

Ilana Kaufman, Art Teacher
Why are you excited to be joining the Minisink Valley staff?
I am grateful to be returning to Minisink Valley where I completed my student teaching and began my teaching career 10 years ago.  I am excited to work with a new team of colleagues to help foster a reflective, engaging and enthusiastic art program that will support the goals of the elementary building and the district.

What do you want the community to know and expect about you in your new role?
I want the elementary students and the art program to shine.  I am interested in finding the unique qualities each student possesses and highlight those through creative, engaging and innovative artistic experiences.  I care about building relationships with my students, parents, colleagues and the larger community.  I look forward to sharing our work with you.

Danielle, Kraus, Psychologist
Why are you excited to be joining the Minisink Valley staff?
I want to express how very excited and happy I am to be joining the Minisink Valley staff. What I look forward to most is meeting and getting a chance to connect with faculty, staff, students, families, and community members and work together to make 2021-22 the best year yet.

What do you want the community to know and expect about you in your new role?
As a school psychologist my role is to ensure each student’s social, emotional, behavioral, and academic success through collaboration with administrators, teachers, parents/guardians, and community services. This could include:

• Overseeing school wide Social Emotional Learning (SEL) initiatives
• School counseling services to aid in development of appropriate social, emotional, and/or behavioral skills
• Administration of psychoeducational assessment to determine need of or continuation of Special Education services
• Crisis intervention
• Being a member of the Response To Intervention (RTI) committee determining early identification and support of students with learning and/or behavior needs.

Personally, in my role I thrive on communication and collaboration. I always find working as a team proves to be most successful. I welcome teachers, parents/guardians, etc. to reach out anytime with questions or concerns.

Amye Laderman, AIS Reading
Why are you excited to be joining the Minisink Valley staff?
I have been teaching in Minisink Valley for the past 13 years as a reading teacher in the middle school. I am excited to join Minisink Valley Elementary and meet Minisink’s youngest readers. I am looking forward to helping them become lifelong readers.

What do you want the community to know and expect about you in your new role?
I have been teaching for 23 years as an elementary and reading teacher. I am passionate about helping students feel successful and excited about learning. I am dedicated to promoting strong, healthy, and confident readers.

Jessica Paglia, First-Grade
Why are you excited to be joining the Minisink Valley staff?
I am grateful to have been part of the Minisink Valley staff for the past five years as a special education teacher at MVES.  I am looking forward to my new journey as a first-grade teacher.  I have had the opportunity to work with a great group of teachers, administration, parents and such amazing students.  I am excited to see my students and their little eyes light up when they learn new things and guide them to have a love for learning!  I am most excited for the opportunity to profoundly impact the lives of children and prepare our students to be productive, responsible citizens and lifelong learners.

What do you want the community to know and expect about you in your new role?
I love working with children and having the ability to make a real difference in the lives of my students.  Sharing my love for learning with my students hopefully inspires them to push themselves and do their best. As a community member and parent, myself, I am rooted here in Minisink Valley.  I have had the opportunity to get to know many members of our community as a teacher, parent and friend. The Minisink Valley School District is the center of our community, where teachers, students and families come together to learn and invest in the future of our children.  Creating a classroom “home” where everyone feels welcomed, loved and important is one of the most essential pieces to the puzzle.

Anthony Pascarelli, Physical Education
Why are you excited to be joining the Minisink Valley staff?
I am extremely excited to be joining the Minisink Valley staff. There are many new people I am excited to meet and to learn from. This is an incredible district that works together to provide every student with an amazing school experience. I am looking forward to collaborating with my new coworkers and being part of school and community events throughout the year.

What do you want the community to know and expect about you in your new role?
I want the community to know that I love teaching, believe physical education is for every child and will make all my classes a welcoming, fun and safe learning environment. You can expect me to create and teach a variety of lessons so students can learn a variety of movement skills, build confidence and social skills. I am excited to establish a positive relationship with movement and exercise so they can perceive exercise and physical activity as being good and healthy.

Carmela Sill, Kindergarten
Why are you excited to be joining the Minisink Valley staff?
I am very excited to be joining the Minisink Valley staff because I love the community atmosphere of the district. It is one of the things that most drew me to the school. I love that staff, students and parents alike, collaborate so well together. I believe that each person makes an integral part in the education of a child and I am so looking forward to joining this team.

What do you want the community to know and expect about you in your new role?
I want the community to know that I am a very hardworking and fun teacher! I love creating hands-on materials for my students and getting them excited about learning by making things fun. I am very creative and like working on projects with my students for our classroom. I’m looking forward to a fun and creative year!

Erin Todd, Second-Grade
My name is Erin Todd.  I live in Warwick with my husband Casey, 9-year-old son Jack, 7-year-old daughter Emma Grace, and our two Labrador retrievers, Claire and Coco.

For as long as I can remember, I  always wanted to be a teacher!  I went to the University of Delaware and received my bachelor’s degree in elementary education.  I went on to receive a master’s degree in literacy at Long Island University.  I have been teaching in Bergen County for 17 years!  I have taught 3rd grade, 2nd grade, Kindergarten, and have worked as the reading specialist and literacy coach!

I can’t wait to join the Minisink Elementary staff and learn and grow together this year! I am very excited to be joining the Minisink Valley staff!  I can’t wait to get to know the staff and students next month.  I am also thrilled to be starting in such a beautiful school, with such kind people.