Longtime Teachers Retire, New Faces Join District

Two veteran educators have announced their retirements.

Retiring are Maria Szijj, math supervisor at the high school, and English teacher Karen Burke.

Both retirements were accepted by the Board of Education at Monday’s meeting.

Szijj, whose retirement is effective Sept. 1, began work in the school district on Sept, 1, 1975.

Burke, whose retirement was effective on July 1, started in the district on Sept. 1, 1978.

Also retiring is Carole Davis, media specialist at Sunnymead School. Her retirement is effective Oct. 1. Davis, who has 25 years of public school employment in New Jersey, has been in the school district for two years.

"We thank them all for their service,” Superintendent of Schools Jorden Schiff said.

Resigning from the school district are Auten Road Intermediate School fifth-grade teacher Katie McAvoy and Hillsborough Elementary School third-grader teacher Charlene Zeiss.

McAvoy has been employed by the school district since Sept. 1, 2004. Zeiss has been employed by the district since Set. 1, 2000.

Hired Monday by the board of Education:

• Ernie Bernhard, special education teacher at the high school
• Megan Burns, sixth-grade literacy teacher at Auten Road Intermediate School
• Rose Cavaliere, special education teacher at Auten Road Intermediate School
• Amanda DeFiccio, health and physical education teacher, at the high school
• Kirsten Jensen, sixth-grade math teacher at Auten Road Intermediate School
• Scott Kallens, social studies teacher at the high school
• Katherine Merriam, physics teacher, at the high school
• Stephanie Morici, half-time special education resource teacher at the high school
• Emily Saphire, second-grade teacher at Sunnymead School
• Kenneth Shindle, English teacher at the high school.
• Patricia Yates, social studies teacher at the high school.

   All of the positions are replacements except for DeFiccio and Kallens.