C
WHERE ARE THESE
5
lass of
‘86
MUSTANGS NOW?
From left: Sandra, Ethan, Samantha, Ryan, Ron, Arthur Sr.
&a Paladin
Mustangs
By Tom Warnick
Samantha DeRose and her family are proud that they’re born and bred here. For 70 years and counting they have been a part of the town’s fabric, with several generations of CHS grads. Her father, Arthur DeRose, is a ‘55 Mustang who married her mom, Sandra Spence, ‘56. Her sister, late brother, aunt and uncle were all Mustang grads, as well. Her older son, Ryan, graduated from Paramus Catholic High School (thus the Paladin) but younger son Ethan is a Mustang, Class of 2018. DeRose, her sister and mother all live next to each other on Harrington Rd. Her Aunt Marsha lives in Fairfield but still calls the Allwood neighborhood “home.” “Clifton is part of our family,” DeRose said. The ‘86 Mustang teaches alternative education English as part of the ASPIRE program at the CHS Annex. She volunteers at United Reformed Church on Clifton Ave. and at St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Wayne, and she’s been an entertainer and musician for hospitals, parties and local charities. DeRose loves to see CHS growing and flourishing as a result of increased ethnic diversity. “Much more culturally diverse—for the better,” she said. “We definitely see a lot more. The school is so much better when 50 July 2016 • Clifton Merchant
students are exposed to so many cultures. Their experiences are so much richer. Watching these changes is a fascinating process.” “Teaching in Clifton has been an amazing experience for me,” she said. “As a student, I never understood the profound impact that my teachers at CHS had on my life until I became a teacher in Clifton, myself.” “With a lot of the teachers I had, we ended becoming colleagues,” DeRose recalled, going from student to teacher. “At times, there was a adjustment from being student-teacher to peers.” Nevertheless, “my former teachers were happy to be working with me,” she said, and “now my students are becoming colleagues.” Case in point: Brittany Gaccione is an ‘07 Mustang and DeRose’s former student. Now, she also teaches English—and last year was a study-hall teacher for DeRose’s son Ethan. “It’s come full circle,” she said. “It’s a true testament to Clifton Public Schools that so many former students come back as teachers.” DeRose, who did standup comedy for several years, gave it up due to time constraints. Now she uses humor to teach.”We certainly laugh every single day,” she said. “My class lends itself to talking. And the kids bring a lot of joy to the class.”