Fifteen new faces in Region One School District

FALLS VILLAGE — Fifteen new hires were welcomed to the Region One School District at a regionwide orientation meeting at Housatonic Valley Regional High School (HVRHS) on Tuesday, Aug. 22.

The first day of school in the district this year was Monday, Aug. 28. 

The Lakeville Journal welcomes all the new teachers and wishes faculty, students and staff an excellent school year.

Jonathan Bruno has a B.A. in history from the University of Massachusetts–Boston and a master’s degree in special education from Northeastern University. He will teach special education at Housatonic Valley Regional High School. 

Salary: $86,450

Amanda Spelbos will teach math and English language arts at Lee H. Kellogg School in Falls Village. She has a B.A. from Endicott College and a master’s degree in special education from Central Connecticut State University. She is also a graduate of Kent Center School and HVRHS. 

Salary: $37,624 (.8 FTE)

Mary O’Neill is the new Career Experience Coordinator at HVRHS. She has a B.A. in accounting and philosophy from the University of Scranton and a master’s and doctorate in philosophy from DePaul University. 

Salary: $36,900

Rachel Gall will teach science in grades seven and eight at North Canaan Elementary School. She has a B.A. in physics from Barnard College and a middle school math teaching certificate from the University of Massachusetts–Amherst. Gall taught math at Salisbury Central School from 2005-09. 

Salary: $52,252

Francisco Charles is the new Spanish teacher at HVRHS. He attended Instituto Tecnologico in Monterrey, Mexico, Framingham State University and Sacred Heart University. 

Salary: $73,512 (.8 FTE)

Christiane Morel Olson is the new French teacher at HVRHS. She has a B.A. from the University of Colorado and master’s degrees from the University of Kentucky and Michigan State University. 

Salary: $34,838 (.8 FTE)

DavidJohn Douglas joins the science department at HVRHS. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Central Connecticut State University. 

Salary: $56,110

Celina Huber is the EL Coordinator for Region One. She has a B.S. in human services from the University of Bridgeport and master’s degrees from the University of Bridgeport and Concordia University of Portland. She taught in the Bridgeport public schools for 14 years. 

Salary: $68,488 (.8 FTE)

Christopher Rose will teach science to grades five and six at Kent Center School. He has a B.A. from Valdosta State University. 

Salary: $47,476

Lindsey Olownia will teach math in grades five and six at North Canaan Elementary School. She has a B.A. in management from Western Connecticut State University. She is currently working on her teaching certificate and will work at NCES as a long-term substitute. She graduated from NCES and HVRHS. 

Salary: $40,261

Stefanie Fecteau is the new kindergarten to eight Spanish teacher at Sharon Center School. She has a B.S. in Spanish and Education from the University of Akron and master’s degrees from Sacred Heart University and the Graduate Institute. 

Salary: $88,681 

Jenni Hill is the new grade two teacher at Salisbury Central School. Hill has a B.S. in Human Biology and Psychology from the State University of New York–Albany and a master’s degree in education from Lesley University. 

Salary: $69,303

Georgia Kapetanopolous is the new math specialist at Kent Center School. She has a B.A. in elementary education from Roger Williams University and is currently working on her master’s degree in special education at Southern Connecticut State University. 

Salary: $42,655

Lori Bucco will be co-teaching the freshman humanities course at HVRHS. A veteran teacher, she received a B.A. and a master’s degree in English from Virginia Tech. 

Salary: $32,244 (.4 FTE)

Elizabeth Frost will teach middle school science at Cornwall Consolidated School. She has a B.A. in Environmental Science from the University of New Hampshire, a master’s degree in education from Antioch College and a sixth-year degree in administration and supervision from the University of Bridgeport. 

Salary: $35,000 (.7 full-time equivalent)

Paul Padua will return to HVRHS to teach woodshop. 

Salary: $36,756 (.4 FTE)

Jennifer Law will teach English in grades five and six at Cornwall Consolidated School.

Salary: $52,648 (.6 FTE)