BOE names Johnson supervisor of guidance

In a letter emailed to parents on Friday, Aug. 16, Karen Johnson announced her new title of district supervisor of guidance.

The Board of Education recently approved the change.

Johnson also retains her current position as supervisor of history/social sciences for the district, but swaps her previous role as supervisor of business for the guidance supervisor position.

Johnson completed her B.S. in K-12 Education at Lock Haven University, earning certificates in German and English.

She earned her M.Ed degree at William Paterson University in 2004, and was awarded for "Outstanding Educational Leadership."

She has been a member of the WMTPS Community for the past 28 years in the previous roles of teacher (German 7-12, English, Journalism,...), coach, class/clubs advisor, peer teacher/advisor, vice principal, and district supervisor of history and business.

Over the years, Johnson has participated in numerous professional committees, and also served as a district-wide technology leader.

As an Advisor for the high school's school newspaper, "The Highland Echo", Johnson helped launch the first electronic edition of the school paper.

In 2013-14, Johnson was the Teacher of the Year nominee for the High School, was named as the District Teacher of the Year, and went on to win the title of Passaic County Teacher of the Year.

In a 2013 interview featured by William Paterson University, Johnson said, "I hope that I help my students to discover that they can take on a challenge and succeed, if they simply apply themselves. I want them to believe in themselves. I want them to find pleasure in learning, thinking, achieving. I want them to know that I care about them."

She takes on her additional role in the Guidance Department as a result of Administrative Reorganization approved by the board this year due to budgetary constraints.

The Supervisor of Guidance and District Testing Coordinator position, formerly held by Heidi Cosmi-Godau, was eliminated this school year.

The Supervisor of Business position Johnson also held previously was combined with the Mathematics Supervisor position.

Administrative Reorganization

The Board of Education also enacted other administrative changes for the 2019/2020 school year, which include:

-UGL Principal Dr. Gregory Matlosz (former Supervisor of History/Social Studies and District Testing Coordinator prior to becoming UGL Principal) has taken on the additional role as District Testing Coordinator.

-Brenda Weinmann-Ludwig, Supervisor of World Languages - Grades K-12; has been assigned the additional role of Supervisor, Highlander Academy

- Debra Gretina, Supervisor of Mathematics - Grades K-12, retired in June, 2019.

-Jaclyn Bohan was hired at the August 20th school board meeting as the new District Supervisor of Mathematics and Business

-Nina Pearsall was hired as the new Supervisor of Special Education (Spring, 2019)

-Elissa Scillieri was hired as the new Principal for Apshawa School for the 2019-2020 school year.

-Patrick O'Donnell was hired as the new Principal for Marshall Hill School for the 2019-2020 school year.