Berlin Central School District would like to take a moment to recognize and congratulate this year’s retirees and tenured staff members. The district would also like to celebrate its staff’s  5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 plus years of dedicated service. 

Thank you for all you do for our Mountaineer Community.

 

Retirees and Tenured Employees

The evening of June 21, 2022 in the Berlin Middle/High School Library, was filled with gratitude for the District’s retirees and enthusiasm in welcoming the next generation of dedicated staff.

This gathering was an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments and take a look ahead to the bright future of the recently tenured staff.

The evening was an opportunity for Superintendent Mr. Joseph Dhara and the Board of Education to hear first-hand about the dedication of the retirees and the commitment and innovation of the new tenured staff; Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Ms. Angela Pastizzo, BMHS Principal, Ms. Kimberly Brownell and BES Principal Ms. Tracy Kent spoke about the retiring and tenured staff.

Thanks go to Executive Secretary and District Clerk Ms. Dawn Demick for putting the evening together.

The retirees in attendance: Amy Cornell and Kim Wynants

The 2022 tenured employees: Erik Vinner, Brianna Murray and Michelle MacDonald.

Please find more about the newly tenured staff and retirees in their own words below.

Congratulations to the newly tenured staff and thank you to the retirees for your dedication and service to BCSD.

 

2022 Retirees

 

 

Amy Cornell

How many years have you been in the field of education?

31 years

How long have you been at BCSD in your role?30 years

What have you found most rewarding about your position here at BCSD?
Interacting with and helping students.
What will you miss most next September?
Getting to know new students and my friendships with everyone in the BCSD family.
What are you most looking forward to in retirement?
I am looking forward to having flexibility in my day, organizing my house, cooking, and spending time with my family.
What piece advice or words of encouragement would you like to share with the newly tenured staff?
Keep trying new things. I never taught exactly the same way two years in a row. There is always change which is difficult, but can be rewarding. Even my ideas that didn’t work out helped me learn and grow as an educator and a person. Always ask yourself what is best for the student(s) and let your answer guide you.

 

 Kim Wynants

 

2022 Tenured Staff

 

 

Michelle MacDonald

How many years have you been in the field of education?

Thirteen years.

What is your current position and what other roles have you had?

Elementary Art Teacher(current) Art Club Advisor (BES), Yearbook Advisor( WLMS- North Carolina)

How long have you been at BCSD in your role?

Four years.

What do you take the most pride in or are most passionate about with regard to your many accomplishments in the education field?

I love the fact that I am able to share my love of art with my students and help them grow as artists and creative thinkers. I hope to generate the elated feeling of joy, often felt while creating, and working on a project , in my students and through their lifetime.

What is one of the goals you have for your years ahead at BCSD?

I would like my students to always be willing to try new things and grow from that experience. I would also like my students to know that you are never too old to create- paint, draw, sculpt, dance, act, sing, play an instrument, etc. KEEP MAKING ART YOUR WHOLE LIFETIME!

 

Erik Viner

How many years have you been in the field of education?

Four years.

What is your current position and what other roles have you had?

I am the current 9th Grade Teacher for Global I as well as the 12th Grade Teacher for Government and Economics. I was also the Technology Integration Specialist for a time and originally started off as a long term sub for a Social Studies teacher who was out for a few months. I’ve also been assisting with the XC team for years now and have been coaching them.

How long have you been at BCSD in your role?

I have been the 9th Grade Global I teacher since the 2019-2020 school year.

What do you take the most pride in or are most passionate about with regard to your many accomplishments in the education field?

I think I am most proud of the little things that occur in the classroom. Getting a kid to get engaged with something they weren’t previously interested in or to teach a lesson that gets my students really excited. Those are the things that I take the most pride in.

What is one of the goals you have for your years ahead at BCSD?

I grew up here in the BCSD community and I’d like to pay back the wonderful opportunities I was able to have here to future generations.

 

 

Brianna (Bri) Murray

How many years have you been in the field of education?

Six years.

What is your current position and what other roles have you had?

School Psychologist at the Berlin Middle High School.  Prior to Berlin, I supported students in special class settings with significant emotional and behavioral disorders, as well as worked in residential treatment facilities.

How long have you been at BCSD in your role?

Four years.

What do you take the most pride in or are most passionate about with regard to your many accomplishments in the education field?

I take the most pride in the relationships and connections I have with students and the impact I have had on their educational experiences. I am passionate about mental health and mental health awareness and advocating for resources and services to serve adolescents and children. The last two years highlighted the importance and substantive role mental health and well-being bares on an individual’s ability to cope with daily life, including our youth.

What is one of the goals you have for your years ahead at BCSD?

I have a lot of ideas and long-term goals – one of the short-term goals I have is to teach students about mental health legislation and political advocacy for mental health services, careers in the mental health field, and hopefully attend the Mental Health Matters Legislative Day at the state capital in Albany again.

 

District Marks Years of Service and Welcomes New Staff

Berlin Central School District thanks the following staff and marks their dedicated years of service to the District, as well as welcomes new staff. Congratulations, and thank you for your service to the Berlin Central School District.

 

5      Jean Barber                        

5      Christina Bauer               

5      Courtney Bersaw                   

5      Lori Christian                       

5      Delia Gallerie                      

5      Jessica Gould                      

5      Megan Laz                                

5      Mikaela Marbot                 

5      Jason Osterhout                   

5      Leslie Teal                           

5      Richard Wagar                

10    Stephanie Henry                    

10    Stephanie Kneer                  

10    Melissa Mooney                 

10    Elizabeth Oakes                  

10    William Osterhout                

15    Caren Alderman                 

15    Deanna Baker                      

15    Nicole Bedford                   

15    Kelly Berkau                         

15    Shaun Cavanaugh             

15    Danielle Wilson                    

20    Carla Homiak                     

20    Tracy Peter-Hoen                   

25    Wayne Cornell                     

25    Lisa Goodermote                

30   Michelle Doyle                        

33   William Saunders                  

32  Barbara Staples                     

32   Patricia Burhans                     

37   Deborah Maxon                     

41   Kathleen Mason-Wagar          

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