Staff Updates

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As we head into the final stretch of summer vacation, we have some exciting staff updates to share:

Middle School

Saint James School welcomes Ms. Chelsea Salafia into our middle school teaching team in the role of 7th & 8th Grade History and Geography teacher.  Ms. Salafia is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University where she obtained her degree in History Education and is state certified to teach at the middle and high school level.  Most recently she worked as a long-term sub in the Social Studies department at Glastonbury High School.

In addition, Ms. Jennifer Starnick (who was previously introduced as our 7th & 8th grade mid-level/advanced math teacher), will be taking on an expanded role that now includes 8th grade homeroom teacher and also the 6th grade mid-level/advanced math.  Ms. Starnick’s room will be B208 (formerly Mr. Adam’s room).

With these changes, Mrs. McQuaid will take on the role of teaching the 6th Grade Social Studies classes.

Pre-Kindergarten

For our youngest learners, we are excited to welcome Ms. Teresa Richard as our new Pre-Kindergarten Director/4-year-old teacher.  Ms. Richard comes to us from St. Mary School in Massachusetts, where she taught kindergarten for many years and more recently, was a remedial support teacher for grades 1-5.   Ms. Richard has a vast amount of teaching and student support experience both in both public and Catholic schools and is certified in a variety of areas, including Early Childhood Education With and Without Special Needs.

Also in our Pre-K4 program we will be welcoming back classroom aides Mrs. Vicky LaChance (who was with us for 4 years before taking last year off for health reasons), and Mrs. Carpenter.  Mrs. Lengsavath (who was with our Pre-K4 program the past few years), has moved over to St. Bartholomew Church where we are launching a joint Pre-K program for families that we were not able to accommodate with a spot in the St. James or St. Bridget preschool programs.

Mrs. Page (teacher) and Mrs. Davis (aide) are both returning to work with our littlest Sabers in the SJS Pre-K3 classroom.

Extended Day Program

The SJS Extended Day Program (before and after school care) is also welcoming two aides to the existing staff this year – Ms. Debra Deptula and Ms. Gloria Hobbs.  They will join returning staff members Ms. Jean Burdick (Director), Ms. Mary, Ms. Chris, Ms. Divyata, and Ms. Rashid.