Joseph Olenik Director of School Facilities District Mr. Joseph Olenik has spent the last twenty-seven years in facilities management and law enforcement. Mr. Olenik worked at SUNY Purchase for a total of twenty years in several positions including Chief Operating Officer, Director of Facilities, Chief of Police, and Assistant Director of Facilities. He also served as the Director of Facilities Management and Capital Construction at Iona College for five years, and he was the Assistant Facilities Manager at New Milford Public Schools. Mr. Olenik holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Facilities and Property Management from Iona College, a Bachelor of Arts in Mechanical Engineering from Manhattan College, and a Applied Associates degree in Engineering Science from Westchester Community College.
Gary Webster District Computer Maintenance Coordinator District Mr. Gary Webster has spent the last thirteen years working at C.E.S. in Trumbull as their Education Technology Specialist. Prior to that, he spent three years as the Technology Coordinator for Darien Public Schools, Darien, Connecticut and two years as a Technology Instructor for Fairfield Public Schools, Fairfield, Connecticut. Mr. Webster holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Fine Art from Hobart College, Geneva, New York and a Master of Science in Product Design from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina.
Venessa Eisenman English Teacher Weston High School Ms. Venessa Eisenman comes to Weston after teaching English for the last seven years at Bethel High School. While teaching in Bethel, she developed their first Digital English class and created Wildcat Word, a hybrid online and print newspaper. Weston High School s own Michael Mezzo, who was then a student teacher at Bethel, also worked on the first issues of the newspaper. Ms. Eisenman holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, minor in Music, from Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island and a Master s of Science, English, from Southern Connecticut State University.
Steve Fasoli Band Teacher Weston High School Mr. Steve Fasoli has a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Western Connecticut State University and a Master s of Science in Music Education from the University of Bridgeport. Mr. Fasoli has over twentyone years of experience as a music educator. He most recently worked for eight years at Roton Middle School, Norwalk Connecticut, as their Band Director. Prior to that, he spent thirteen years as the Stamford High School Band Director. Since 2007, Mr. Fasoli has volunteered as the Band Director of the Greenwich Pep Band. He also created the first Marching Band for the University of New Haven. Mr. Fasoli plays the tenor and baritone saxophone.
Jeanne Ireland Special Education Para-professional Weston High School Ms. Jeanne Ireland comes to Weston High School from Joel Barlow High School in Redding. She was a teaching assistant at Joel Barlow for ten years. Prior to that, Ms. Ireland worked as a para-professional at John Read Middle School in Redding for two years. She holds an Associates Degree in Recreation Leadership from Norwalk Community College.
Gabriela McCawley Latin Teacher Weston High School Ms. Gabriela McCawley attended Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in French language and literature and Italian studies (Magna Cum Laude) and her Master of Arts in Romance languages in literature. She holds an additional Bachelor of Arts degree in Classical Studies from the University of Bucharest, Romania. Previously, Ms. McCawley taught Latin at Half Hollow Hills High School, Garden City High School, and Commack High School, all in New York. She also spent seven years teaching Latin at Chemistry High School in Bucharest, Romania. Ms. McCawley is a member of LILT, AATF, and Suffolk Classical Society.
Christopher Pace Physical Education & Health Teacher Weston High School Mr. Christopher Pace is not only Weston High School s newest Physical Education/Health teacher, he is also our new Head Football Coach. Mr. Pace has spent the last eight years as a Physical Education/Health teacher for the Park East High School, in New York, New York. He was also Park East High s Physical Education Department Chair and from 2008 to 2011, In his career, he has been the Men s Varsity Football Head Coach, and the Women s and Men s Varsity Basketball Head Coach. Mr. Pace holds a Bachelor s Degree in Physical Education, Minor in Health Education from Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts, a Master s Degree in Multicultural Education from College of Mount Saint Vincent, Riverdale, New York, and he is currently pursuing a Master s Degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University Irvine, Irvine, California.
Laura Andrews Special Education Teacher Weston Middle School Ms. Laura Andrews has been teaching special education for the last two and a half years at Rockville High School in Vernon, Connecticut. She also has taught for Maple Street Elementary School, also in Vernon, in their Summer Academy. Ms. Andrews holds a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from the University of Hartford, where she graduated Cum Laude. She is an active mentor for Unified Sports Teams for basketball and soccer.
Peter Dey Language Arts Teacher Weston Middle School Mr. Peter Dey began his teaching career in 2010 at John G. Gilmartin School in Waterbury, Connecticut, teaching Language Arts and Reading. He holds a Bachelors of Arts in Social Sciences and in English from Eastern Connecticut State University and a Masters of Arts in English: Literature from Western Connecticut State University. Mr. Dey is a First Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Mr. Dey is also graduate of Wilton High School.
Valerie Leger French Teacher Weston Middle School and Weston High School Ms. Valerie Leger attended Paris Descartes University where she received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Education Sciences. Most recently, she attended Sorbonne Nouvelle University where she received an Academic Certificate of Languages to teach French to foreign students in France. Ms. Leger taught French for six years at Professional Children's School in New York, New York and also taught French at Convent of Sacred Heart in Greenwich and Alliance Francaise de Greenwich. Ms. Leger has taught French to students ranging from pre-school through high school.
Gretchen Mancuso French Teacher Weston Middle School Ms. Gretchen Mancuso holds a Bachelor of Arts in French and Economics (Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from Colgate University, Hamilton, New York and is receiving her Master of Arts in Secondary Education (World Language-French Focus) from Fairfield University, Fairfield, Connecticut. She student taught at Tomlinson Middle School, Fairfield, Connecticut. Ms. Mancuso has eight years of tutoring experience for Franc-o-fun and My Tutor and Me. Prior to her career in education, Ms. Mancuso worked as the Design and Marketing Coordinator at Michel Miller Fabrics and as a Senior Account Manager at Atlas Solutions.
Jillian Churchill Special Education Para-professional Weston Intermediate School Ms. Jillian Churchill has been Weston Intermediate School s building substitute since 2011. Prior to that she worked as a gymnastic and cheerleading coach for Gymnastic and Cheerleading Academy, Fairfield, Connecticut. Ms. Churchill holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Central Connecticut State University.
Beth James Music Teacher Weston Intermediate School Ms. Beth James comes to Weston Intermediate School from Suffield Academy, Suffield, Connecticut. For six years, she was Suffield s Choral Director and Music Teacher. At Suffield Academy, she also coached volleyball and softball. Prior to Suffield Academy, Ms. James was a middle school music teacher at St. Luke s School, New Canaan, Connecticut. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education, vocal emphasis (Summa Cum Laude) from The Hartt School of Music and is currently working on achieving her Masters of Education in Music Education from University of British Columbia. Ms. James is the Soprano Section Leader and soloist for Christ and Hold Trinity Church, Westport, Connecticut.
Kim Meachen Fourth Grade Teacher Weston Intermediate School Ms. Kim Meachen is a familiar face to Weston. She served as a long-term substitute teacher for grade five at Weston Intermediate School for most of the 2013-2014 school year. Prior to that, Ms. Meachen taught fifth and sixth grade at Chalk Hill School, Monroe, Connecticut since 2006. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, Connecticut. Ms. Meachen is an experienced coach in equestrian sports.
Marcus Dedrick Special Education Para-professional Hurlbutt Elementary School Mr. Marcus Dedrick has substitute taught in Weston since 2010. Prior to that, he interned at Waterbury Youth Service System. Mr. Dedrick in graduating this December from Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, New York with a degree in Psychology. He is a volunteer with Special Olympics and in Bridgeport soup kitchens.
Sarah Dimock First Grade Teacher Hurlbutt Elementary School Ms. Sarah Dimock has a Bachelor of Arts in History (Magna Cum Laude) and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (Magna Cum Laude) from Boston University School of Education where she was also a founding member of the Boston University Teacher Mentoring Program. She began her teaching career in 2009 at Edgar A. Hooks School, Chelsea, Massachusetts. In 2011, Ms. Dimock began teaching at Achievement First Bridgeport Academy Elementary School, Bridgeport, Connecticut. While at Achievement First, she was a Grade One Team Leader, a network-wide reading curriculum designer, and she served on the Academic (child-study) Team.
Brittany Gilman Kindergarten Teacher Hurlbutt Elementary School Ms. Brittany Gilman began her career teaching grade three at P.S. 121 Bronx, New York in 2005. In 2008, she began to teach first grade at P.S. 121. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Management (Summa Cum Laude) and a Master of Education Degree in Childhood Education, both from Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, New York. Ms. Gilman was a mentor in the Under My Wings program and implemented the Operation Respect program while at P.S. 121.