Currents in Education: Back to School
New school year promises new possibilities for students and teachers
By Jennifer L. Saunders
Longtime Coastal Ridge third-grade teacher Michele Freitag has been named Horizons teacher for the town's elementary school students. Freitag is pictured here setting up the new Horizons room at Coastal Ridge for the year ahead.
Photo by Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - Back to school traditionally brings with it a longing for crisp autumn air, shopping for new clothes and shoes, and time spent packing up those new backpacks with notebooks, binders and supplies.
But this year, it also means local students will be seeing some familiar faces in brand new places around York's schools - including veteran York teacher Michele Freitag, who was just selected last week to take over the Horizons program for highly-motivated learners in the elementary grades.
As School Committee Chairwoman Patty Hymanson put it, "One of our own talented elementary school teachers will take over the successful Horizons program for high-level learners."
For those familiar with York's innovative Horizon's program, the departure of Christie Hazen, who had held the post from the creation of the program several years ago, was considered a great loss to the school community.
Freitag, who has taught third grade in York for 17 years and has a total of 22 years of teaching experience, was interested in the position from the time Hazen announced she would be leaving. Because it is not full-time, however, Freitag had not expected to be able to make the change.
Then, whirlwind changes in her husband's work status just a few weeks ago made it possible for Freitag to apply for the post.
"It's always been an interest of mine," she explained as she worked at packing up her third-grade classroom and moving into the new Horizons space last week. "I love kids who think outside the box. I love all children, and I love looking at the individual - who they are, where they are at and how we can help move them forward."
Freitag's departure from classroom teaching is bittersweet, but her excitement about Horizons is contagious. And, she said, she is committed to continuing Hazen's dedication to the program.
"I really want to educate people about the needs of this population," Freitag said of the gifted and highly-motivated learners who are recommended for the program. "For me, it's about what we are doing for our future mathematicians, artists, scientists, musicians and orators."
While a student may be an accelerated learner in one area, Freitag pointed out, they may struggle in other areas. What makes Horizons so special is that it is designed to reach many different learners - to give children a chance to shine in the areas where they have a strong ability or interest, she explained.
"I think you can take almost any activity and make it educational, but the point is not to let it be fluff," Freitag said of her commitment to build on Hazen's program and further align Horizons with the curriculum.
Students may be recommended by teachers or parents, or may seek enrollment in Horizons activities on their own. High test scores are also considered in the placement process, but only as one piece of the full equation.
Freitag will also be pursuing her master's degree, and said she sees part of her work in Horizons as being an advocate for students and a resource for parents.
She is also looking forward to working with classroom teachers at Coastal Ridge and Village Elementary School to integrate enrichment opportunities into the classes for interested students.
Freitag said Hazen is both a friend and mentor, and Hazen has offered her support as Freitag's transition to her new post continues.
In the year ahead, Freitag said she hopes to share more information about Horizons with the community as a whole.
"I'm so grateful that we were able to fill this position with someone who is so familiar with our curriculum and with the community," said Coastal Ridge Elementary School Principal Jane Stephenson. "This program wouldn't be as successful as it is without the community members and parents who come in and supplement it."
Stephenson confirmed the process to select Freitag's replacement is ongoing.
Meanwhile, fourth-grade teacher Michael Harris will also be leaving the formal classroom setting to take a new post with the School Department, as technology integration specialist for the two elementary schools.
"We're excited about it, as are the teachers," Superintendent of Schools Dr. Henry Scipione said when Harris's new position was announced.
To fill his fourth-grade classroom, Scipione said two current teachers, Kathy Kaknes and Sue Peterson, who previously shared a classroom in half-time positions, will each become full-time fourth-grade teachers.
Stephenson, Scipione and Village Elementary School Principal Ruth Dealy all said they are very excited about Harris's enthusiasm for working with teachers on the importance of technology and curriculum and assisting students in the computer labs in his new position.
Another familiar face is TJ Masella, who has been hired as a full-time first-grade teacher after teaching second grade at Village last year and serving in various capacities prior to that.
"TJ knows York. He knows the district, he knows the curriculum, he knows the expectations," Dealy said, adding the retirement of Carole Moody and appointment of Masella mark the only major changes to the staff at Village.
If there is a downside, school officials have pointed to the annual fluctuation in Title I funding, which impacts staff services to students.
"That's been a major struggle for us to maintain the current program against the money that's coming in under the Title I grant," Scipione told the School Committee at a recent meeting.
The struggle, he explained, is maintaining services within budget constraints.
"That's really too bad, because there are so many children that benefit from it," said School Committee Vice Chairwoman Marilyn Zotos.
And, Hymanson said, as of this week the part-time York Middle School Horizons post has not been filled.
"We are disappointed not to find a qualified middle school Horizons teacher despite the fact that the voters allocated money for this position," she said.
On the whole, though, when students return to school, they will be meeting an array of teachers who are new to the York School Department or to their duties within the schools.
"Our new teachers seem well qualified and enthusiastic. We are fortunate to have attracted them," Hymanson said.
Together, the staff members with new professional positions for the academic year ahead include Sarah Woodward, VES speech; Kendall Perkins, YHS French; Tove Stigum, YHS Spanish; Lindsey Edgerly, YMS Spanish; Heidi Butler, YMS special education; Catherine Monahon, YMS special education; Martha Borden, YMS technology integration specialist; Michael Harris, VES/CRES technology integration specialist; Michele Freitag, CRES/VES Horizons; Debra Boorman, Reading Recovery; Christine Peskurich, YMS special education; Robert Munn, YHS physical education; Cynthia Dow, YMS guidance; Kevin Beatty, YHS career coordinator; TJ Masella, VES grade 1; Guy Vincelette, YMS German; Kerry Hoag, part-time school psychologist.
For more on what's happening in the York Schools, visit www.yorkschools.org.
