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HILLSBOROUGH: Students see familiar faces among schools’ new teachers

By: Eileen Oldfield, Staff Writer
Many of the district’s new hires this year are not new to Hillsborough schools. About 11 of the 23 teachers hired to fill positions starting this school year are people who were let go for budget reasons, then rehired because of retirements or resignations, officials said.
Only about five of the district’s new teachers are first-year teachers, and only 12 of the teachers are completely new to the district, Interim Superintendent Scott Rocco said. It’s the smallest class of new teachers the district has had in several years, he added.
For some the of teachers, like Woods Road Elementary School integrated preschool teacher Whitney Impellizeri, there was no question about taking a job in the district that hired her initially once one became available.
"It’s a great district to work for," Ms. Impellizeri said. "The people are very open. They were very welcoming. This is my first year teaching a full school year, and it’s nice to have colleagues you can talk to."
It’s Ms. Impellizeri’s first full-year teaching job, she said. Prior to this year, she had been hired mid-year as a teacher in Triangle School, she said. Ms. Impellizeri’s colleague, Alyson Williams, who teaches Woods Road’s autistic pre-kindergarten class, was in a similar situation when she was an instructional assistant at Triangle School, she said.
"I grew up in Hillsborough and went through the district," she said. "I actually had a tough time finding a job, and was hired as an instructional assistant, and got laid off. Then, I worked for the extended school year program, and was offered this job."
"I just feel comfortable here," she added. "It’s like our home-away-from-home."
For Hillsborough Middle School special education teacher Gregory Koehler, the district’s draw was the strength of the district’s program. Prior to working in Hillsborough, Mr. Koehler worked with autistic children and children with multiple disabilities in the Joseph F. Cappello School, part of the Mercer County Special Services School District, he said.
"I spoke with numerous people that had only wonderful compliments for the special education services provided in Hillsborough," Mr. Koehler said. "As a first-year teacher (in Hillsborough), this was a major factor in my decision to take this position.
The impressions Mr. Koehler received during his interview extended through his first week in the district, he said.
"Throughout the interview process, every person I met with was passionate about the education that Hillsborough Township Schools provides .. . students," he said. "During my first week in Hillsborough, everyone embraced me as a new faculty member and welcomed me to the district. The amount of help and support I have received in the first week alone, from administrators, faculty, and staff has been exceptional."
Despite the chance for another difficult budget season, the teachers are concentrating on the tasks that come with a new school year, they said.
"Really, there’s no sense in freaking out about it," Ms. Impellizeri said. "You just have to take it as it comes."
"I’m taking it one day at a time," Ms. Williams said. "We’ll take next year, next year. We just want to focus on the kids. Whatever happens in May or June happens."