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New faces, new schedule at Sharon Center School

SHARON — With the new school year beginning, there are changes happening at Sharon Center School.

About 205 students came through the doors on Tuesday, Sept. 2, eager to begin a new school year with new teachers, new friends and of course new school supplies.

Teachers have moved around a bit within the building, and there are some new additions to the staff.

Heather Mathews, who previously taught first grade, then switched to fourth grade after seven years, has now switched back the first grade.

“I am thrilled to be back teaching in the primary grades,� said Mathews. “I love teaching children how to become better readers.�

Joanne Pastre is another teacher who has been at Sharon Center for years, but will now try something new at the school. Pastre will be teaching fourth grade alongside her husband, Mark. This will be her ninth year teaching at Sharon Center. She has taught everything from social studies and math to fifth- and sixth-grade science.

“I am thrilled to be teaching fourth grade this year and I am eager to have familiar faces in my class,â€�  said Pastre. “I look forward to an exciting year of learning and fun.â€�

An interesting side note: Megan Pastre, daughter of Mark and Joanne, will join the faculty at Kent Center School this year.

One of the familiar faces at Sharon Center School is Leslie Klish, who has been there for 20 years. Many students know her as the fifth-grade language-arts teacher, which was her position for 15 years. Prior to that, Klish taught third grade for two years and was a substitute in the building for two years before that. Now she will be moving into yet another position at the school as the computer teacher.

“I’m looking forward to taking over as the technology teacher since I have a strong technology background,� explained Klish. “It will be wonderful to work with the full range of students as well as with my former students.�

One of the only brand-new teachers is Kerry O’Toole, who joins Sharon Center School from Watertown Public Schools.

O’Toole has taught all over Connecticut and overseas. She spent five years teaching English as a Second Language in Okazaki, Japan, and five years teaching the same in Seville, Spain. She also worked in the Senate in Washington, D.C.

There have also been changes made to the daily schedule. The new routine will feature two 60-minute blocks and two 45-minute blocks per week for core academic subjects.

“Our faculty and current educational research strongly support the implementation of longer blocks in order to provide learners with time to engage in meaningful learning activities,� said Principal Karen Manning. “We will still have study hall and activity time at the end of the day.�

Lakeville Journal

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