NEWS/FEATURES
October 2015
EASTSIDE
Page 3
East hires new teaching staff in English Department ■ By Courtney Finnegan (‘17)
Along with the various changes that the 2015-2016 school year has brought to East, one of the most prominent changes is the newly hired teaching staff. After the retirement of English teachers Ms. Julie Bathke, Ms. Roseanne Rocchino and Ms. Marguerite Smaldore, the transfer to a district library for Ms. Skye Vitale and the departure of Ms. Hayley VanAmburg, East has gained five new teachers in the English Department. Ms. Margot Mackay, Mr. Brian Connolly, Ms. Janet Jang, Ms. Erica Shultes and Dr. Nicole Mantuano possess different backgrounds in education. Their previous experiences have shaped their current and unique teaching styles that will enrich the East community and play a postive role in the education of East students. Eastside News/Features Editor
Ms. Mackay
Emelia Keller (‘17)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Mackay helps a student one-on-one during class. “Cherry Hill has always in a public high school in been my hometown, I went the Bronx. Jang lived in to elementary and middle Manhattan and taught school here as well, and it ninth and tenth grade Enghas always been a special lish for two years while goplace in my heart, and I ing to graduate school at knew if I was ever going to Columbia University. go into [teaching], I really Aside from wanting to wanted to be able to come create strong relationships back to East,” said East with her students and help alum and now teacher Ms. shape them into leaders, Janet Jang. Jang is looking forward to Jang is teaching freshbeing a role model for her man and sophomore Engstudents while teaching at lish classes this year. East. Previously, Jang taught “I want to be an inspira-
Dr. Mantuano
For Ms. Margot Mackay, the long-standing “East vs West” rivalry does not exist. After a year and a half as a Title I support teacher for R and A-level students at Cherry Hill West, Mackay transferred to East when the opportunity arose for the start of the 2015-2016 school year. “I’m a career change teacher. I was doing something else for about five years before I decided to become a teacher, and West is also [my] alma mater, so it was an easy place for me to get my foot in the door,” tion for students who may be afraid of going into liberal arts, if that is either because of parental expectations or just not knowing that they can pursue their passions no matter what.” Between her nostalgia from walking through the halls where she received her high school diploma and her passion for guiding and teaching young students, Jang has never been so excited to continue doing what she loves.
said Mackay. Along with the majority of the teaching staff at West, Mackay has been in regular communication with the East English teachers. From this, Mackay was able to hear about the available open positions at East right away. “It feels great knowing I have friends on both sides of town. People I meet here, people I know over there, it makes it great to share resources, and it really benefits the students because I have access to both sides of town,” said Mackay.
During her time at West, Mackay worked with all grade levels. Mackay’s teaching experience at West helped develop her teaching style and her ability to teach a wide range of students. “At any point in time I could step into any classroom and be doing their vocabulary and their literature. It gave me such a breadth of experience, and it was a great way to make me realize, yes, I love this career change, teaching is it. I’m here, and I’m excited.”
Ms. Jang
Emelia Keller (‘17)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Jang engages in class discussion with her students.
As a long-term substitute Engting back to working with those lish teacher at East last year, Dr. same students,” said Mantuano. Nicole Mantuano experienced a Mantuano appreciated East’s glimpse of East prior to making unique environment during her her decision to apply for the job substitute teaching last year. permanently. After working with freshman Mantuano was introduced to students last year, Mantuano’s East by her friend, Ms. Carmela excitement to teach this year has Griffo, one of the East French heightened. teachers. In her freshman classrooms, Mantuano has been working Mantuano has developed her in education for eleven years, own personal teaching style. and now she will spend her Mantuano said, “You have to twelfth year working in East’s be flexible. Always. And I think English Department, a year for that’s one of my strengths. I’m which she is very excited. flexible as a teacher and always “The kids here are great. The looking for alternate ways to Emelia Keller (‘17)/ Eastside Photo Editor students are really awesome, so help my students that need exMantuano helps a student with his work during class. I’m really looking forward to gettra assistance.” Ms. Erika Shultes exemWhile in Romania, to the high standards here plifies deep passion for her Shultes taught a mixture and knowing how great the hereditary roots and teachof reading, writing and the students are here,” said ing career. For nine months English language. Shultes. this past year, Shultes Previous to her RomaShultes teaches sophotaught eleventh graders nian experience, Shultes more A-level and H-level and college students in Rotaught at Bucks County students. Shultes plans to mania. College while receiving bring her interactive teachShultes’ family moved her masters at The College ing styles and positive attito the United States from of New Jersey. Originally tude to the classroom. Romania in the 1980s, and growing up in Burlington Shultes said, “My expecher family’s Romanian County, Shultes was aware tations have been exceeded roots are a huge factor and of East’s academics and had so far.” important aspect of her evalways admired East’s theNot only is Shultes exciteryday life. ater program in particular. ed to delve into the English Shultes had the oppor“I saw the opening and I curriculum this upcoming tunity to deepen her roots know that East is an amazyear, but she also hopes to and exercise her teaching ing school and has a great get involved with assisting Rachel Becker (‘16)/ Eastside Photo Editor skills in another area of the reputation across the area. the theater program this Shultes grades students’ assignments after school. world. So I was definitely attracted fall and spring.
Ms. Shultes
Mr. Connolly
Emelia Keller (‘17)/ Eastside Photo Editor
Connolly explains the instructions of an assignment to his students during class.
Coming from Leap Academy, a charter school in Camden, Mr. Brian Connolly decided to continue his teaching career by becoming a teacher at East for the 2015-2016 school year. Connolly said, “I wanted a more stable environment. In the charter school environment, it was very chaotic, plus I wanted to experience the intellectual wealth of East and the rigorous academics it offers.” Connolly taught eleventh and twelfth grade AP English at Leap Academy, and he now similarly teaches R, A and AP level English to juniors at East.
“I want to expose my students to a wealth of culture,” said Connolly. “Say my students are working with a novel. I’ll bring in a film, a script from a film, sources they’ll encounter in college, and historical texts and sources, all to help widen their gaze and open up their minds.” Part of Connolly’s teaching style includes bringing in those outside sources that he was exposed to in his schoolings. He gained exposure through his double major in history and English, as well as his minor in film studies, during college.