By Cecily Barnes
Be prepared to greet some new faces at all Saratoga schools this fall. Not only is enrollment up, but 14 new teachers have joined the ranks.
Argonaut Elementary School is hiring two new first-grade teachers, Jolin Milberg and another teacher whose employment has not yet been confirmed. Also joining the Argonaut staff is fourth-grade teacher Teddi Sachs. And as for enrollment, at least four more students are signed up this year than last, and the numbers are still rising.
At Foothill Elementary, four new teachers have jumped on board, leaving only the second and fourth grades without a new teacher. Katy McElroy will join the kindergartners; Laddie Watson the first grade; Jill White the third grade and Mary Vinson the fifth grade. Also, Foothill will have at least 45 more students this year than last.
Saratoga Elementary has hired one new full-timer and two part-timers. Melanie Knight will teach the first grade full time, while new teachers Melinda Spooner and Dianne Ivy will work part-time. Spooner will co-teach the second grade two days a week with Anne Borgia, who will teach three days. And Ivy will be with Willa Hawk's third-grade class one day a week. These new teachers will help compensate for Saratoga's enrollment, which has increased by 26 students.
Redwood Middle School has three new teachers on staff. Mia Onodera will teach math, Julie Tidd will assist those with speech difficulties, and Lara Garett will teach sixth-grade core class and act as the resource specialist for the special education department. Redwood's enrollment is up by 41 students from last year.
Saratoga High School's enrollment is on an uphill swing, having already increased by 59 students from last year. With numerous programs and an expanding student body, saying adios to seven teachers compelled the high school to hire on 10 more. Off to new and different places, the following teachers will not be seen at school this year: Brian Bealisteri (Spanish), Kumiko Mori (Japanese), Kim Waugh (science), Jim Feenstra (mathematics), Dean Cummings (social studies), Frank Wyant (band) and Gina Argenti (vocal music).
Instead, a host of new faces will be learning their way around the hallways: Kirk Abe (government and world history), Ricardo Magni (biology and environmental science), Michelle Margolis (geography and English), Kelly Anne Nicholsan (physiology and biology), Patricia Sutton (Spanish), Mike Tyler (journalism and English), Ken Rydeen (instrumental music), Grant Acosta (mathematics), Wendy Hunter (vocal music) and Eric Schreiber (Japanese).
That's a lot of new people, but Principal Kevin Skelly said he's pleased with the new crew and thinks it will be a good year.
"I think I've looked at 150 résumés, easily and spent what seems like 100 hours checking references and backgrounds," Skelly added.
All Saratoga elementary schools and Redwood Middle School start on Sept. 3. Saratoga High starts Aug. 28.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, September 4, 1996.
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