At Thursday evening’s Board of Education meeting–the first of the new 2018-19 school year, Maria Coleman, the director of human resources, presented a report on the new hires made by the district over the summer for the current academic year. Coleman said that there were 21 new teachers hired as well as other personnel changes and staff additions made in preparation for the new school year.

As of August 30, 2018, Coleman said the Wilton Public School district has hired 21 new full time teachers, seven long-term substitutes, nine new coaches, 10 substitutes, one new custodian and one new secretary.

“We’re very excited about the new talent we’ve been able to welcome to Wilton. Our new teachers are coming to us from institutions like [University of] Penn, Cornell, Villanova, Parsons School of Design for Art, Fairfield University; our substitutes, many are certified teachers or retired teachers; we have a number of retirees from the local community who have come to us from successful careers in business and science; we really have a wonderful new group of professionals joining us to support our students and enrich our schools,” Coleman said.

Welcome home new teachers! #WiltonWayCT pic.twitter.com/3UIiTznYpD

— Dr. Kevin J. Smith (@DrKevinJSmith95) August 29, 2018

Among those, both Coleman and superintendent Dr. Kevin Smith mentioned Rebecca Townsend, a former Wilton High School teacher who came out of retirement to return and teach interior design, who they both noted was “much loved”–”that was a real treat for staff when they came back from vacation and she joined us,” Coleman added.

The complete list of new teachers includes:

Karen Brenneke, Curriculum Coordinator (District)
Jenna DiRocco, Kindergarten (Miller-Driscoll)
Megan Putnick, Art (Miller-Driscoll)
Adriana Diaz, Psychologist (Cider Mill)
Elisse LoPresti, Science (Cider Mill)
Laura Rabau, (Cider Mill)
Shabiroon Vereen, Art (Cider Mill)
Amanda Avery, Social Studies (Middlebrook)
Flavia Saravalli, World Language (Middlebrook)
Hillary Singer, Math Interventionist (Middlebrook)
Troy Williams, Music (Middlebrook/WHS)
Michael Adam, Business (WHS)
Amy Duro, Math Interventionist (WHS)
Emily Fodor, Math (WHS)
Caitlin Schmidt, Business (WHS)
Justin Scott, Special Education (WHS)
Emily Rippel, Special Education (WHS)
Ellen Ruberry, Social Studies (WHS)
Justin Thomas, Science (WHS)
Rebecca Townsend, Family Consumer Science (WHS)
Ezra Murray, Library/Media (Interim) (Cider Mill)

There were some other changes in hours and allocations for some staff that Coleman included in a report that was approved as part of the BOE consent agenda. Included on that report was mention of the retirement of Paul Kueffner, the Cider Mill French teacher, who retired after 19 years teaching in the district.

The entire list of changes is available on the Wilton Board of Education website.