Berlin CSD is excited to welcome new and familiar faces to the BCSD staff. Please welcome Ms. Sarah Thibeau, Ms. Tina Garner, Ms. Justin Dodge, Ms. Steevi Savaria, Ms. Nicole Brooks and Ms. Christina Denue Harrington to their new positions at BCSD. Learn more about our new BCSD staff in their own words below.
Sarah Thibeau
Berlin High School
US History Teacher
What is your new position at Berlin High School?
US History Teacher
What is your education background?
I attended Russell Sage College for a BA in Political Science and Sage Graduate School for a MAT in Teaching Social Studies.
What is your background like – previous jobs?
I’ve been working in the district for 17 years as a middle school social studies teacher. I worked in sales before my teaching career. I managed an IBM store and candy store, along with various other sales jobs at Macy’s and Lord and Taylor. I also worked in the financial aid office at Russell Sage College and in their library.
Tell us about your family.
I’ve been married for 5 years. He’s in the picture I attached. This picture is from over the summer. We were visiting our son, who just moved to Seattle, WA to work as a software developer for Google.
What are your interests outside of school?
I love to hike, bicycle, travel, and spend time with my family. And of course, study history!
Tina Garner
Berlin Elementary School
Teaching Assistant
What is your new position in the district?
I will be a teaching assistant at Berlin Elementary School.
What is your education background?
I received my GED in 2010 and recently passed the NYS ATAS which has allowed me to move from Monitor to Teaching Assistant within the district.
What is your background like – previous jobs?
Previous to my employment with Berlin Elementary School I worked with a small cleaning company cleaning Medical Buildings. I’ve also worked in retail in the past.
Tell us about your family?
I grew up in Troy with my mom, dad and three older siblings. I lived there most of my life before moving to Berlin at the end of 2020. I have four children and live with my two youngest (the two oldest live on their own), fiancé and my mother. We have three dogs, one cat, two birds and two rabbits.
What are your interests outside of school?
My main interest is my family. I very much enjoy spending time with them. I also enjoy reading, kayaking, hiking and camping.
Justin Dodge
Berlin Elementary School
Teaching Assistant
Hi! I’m Justin Dodge. I joined the district this past spring as a monitor in the elementary school and will be a teaching assistant this year.
I have always been involved with childcare in one form or another my whole life. From helping to care for my younger siblings, to babysitting, to being a nanny, to teaching in a daycare center, and then on to providing childcare services from my home once I had children of my own. It’s pretty much who I am rather than what I do. Most recently I was a counselor for Hillcrest Educational Centers at their residential campus for troubled teens in Lennox, MA.
I treat all children, whether mine or someone else’s, as beautifully and wonderfully created gifts from God and the most precious among us. I, myself, have been blessed with four such gifts, my youngest two in ninth and eleventh grade at Berlin High School.
My husband, Brian, and I are both graduates of Berlin and have lived in the area most of our lives. I am secretary of the Berlin Town Planning Board and have been a member for almost 14 years. I enjoy history and take pride in the fact that I live in one of, if not the, oldest homes in the area. The family that built my English manor house over 250 years ago, and subsequently helped build the town, have descendants that still farm this area today. I love being a part of this great community and look forward to helping to grow our next generation of Mountaineers.
Steevi Savaria
Berlin Elementary School
5th Grade Special Education Teacher
What is your new position at BCSD?
I will be working as a 5th grade special education teacher at BES.
What is your education background?
I grew up in Colonie and attended Colonie Central High School. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in English Language Arts from Plattsburgh and then my Masters of Science Degree in Education from St Rose. I’m certified in Childhood Education 1-6 / Students with Disabilities 1-6 and Early Childhood Education Birth -2/ Students with Disabilities B-2.
What is your background like – previous jobs?
While I was working on my Masters in Education, I also worked in the field of Human Services as a service coordinator for several agencies under the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and Department of Health waiver programs. I enjoyed helping advocate and attain services for individuals with disabilities, senior citizens and individuals who endured traumatic brain injuries. When I completed my Masters in Education, I went on to work as a substitute for school districts in the capital region. For the last several years I’ve worked as a preschool special education teacher.
Tell us about your family.
My family and I moved to the Grafton area in 2019, and we love living in this area! I have two stepchildren who attend Berlin Middle High School, and a 2 year old daughter who keeps us all on our toes! We also have quite an extensive fur family, which include two dogs, three cats, and four chickens! As a family we love being outside and doing outdoor activities like hiking, swimming in the lake, and having bonfires in the backyard!
What are your interests outside of school?
I really enjoy nature and being outdoors. I like kayaking, hiking or just spending time at home with family and playing in the yard. Although it’s not something I get to do a lot, I also love traveling. Over the past 6 years, I’ve been fortunate to have traveled to Scotland and Norway. Norway was my favorite travel destination so far! My husband and I visited in the winter and were able to see some really amazing natural landscapes- frozen waterfalls, arctic coral reef, mountains and fjords. We also visited art and history museums, and various Medieval sites. My hope is to travel there again some day but during their summer months.
Nicole Brooks
Berlin Elementary School
Teaching Assistant
Hello my name is Nicole Brooks. I’m originally from Watervliet and moved to Petersburgh 2021. I am excited to join the BES community with my new position as a teacher assistant.
I graduated from Watervliet Jr/Sr high school. Then went on to get my degree in communications and became radio announcer.
Later …I work at wildwood school with children with disabilities and have worked at a private school with children that have special needs before joining BES.
I am engaged and getting married in October 2022. I have four children ages 19,13,9 and 4 years old. Three of my children go to Berlin school district. They love their new school! We do many activities and outings together such as fishing, hiking, camping, swimming, sledding, walks, and sometimes biking.
I love to craft, play with my children, roller blade, going hiking but most of all I love to draw. Recently I’m looking forward to learning violin.
Christina Denue Harrington
Berlin Elementary School
Teaching Assistant
My name is Christina, I will be one of the new teaching assistants at BES.
Previously, I worked at Hillcrest for about two years and went on to the Brien Center. I was a youth development professional at Hillcrest where I worked on the ASD campus and would fill in for teaching assistants. While working at the Brien Center I was an Outreach Case Manager and taught clients life skills and assisted the clients in making safety plans.
Outside of work I enjoy hanging out with family and friends. I have a fiancé, two dogs and two cats.
For more new hire profiles from earlier this summer go here https://berlincentral.org/2022/08/19/bcsd-welcomes-new-and-familiar-faces-2/