HUNTINGTON – The Gateway Regional School District is pleased to announce new staff members for the 2014-15 school year. They include teachers Doreen Bashista, Renee Boylan, Kayla Brady, Martha Gendron, Keith Harrison, Rachel Millin and Kristina Schultz; Guidance Counselor William Romani; Nurse Kelly Marotte; Library Aide Nicole Daviau; Paraprofessional Daniel Holmes; cafeteria staff Darlene Boisseau, Stephanie Conway and Tasha Hartley; and evening security monitor Josh Hartley. These positions replace retiring staff and staff left the district or who were reassigned to other positions, as well as filling a new preschool classroom.
Doreen Bashista joins the faculty as a Kindergarten teacher at Chester Elementary School. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Bay Path College and is slated to complete her Master’s degree at Mount Holyoke this year. She previously worked for 12 years as a paraprofessional at Norris Elementary School and completed one year of intervention work at Talmadge Elementary School. “I am looking forward to helping children gain a love for learning, respect others for their differences and be confident in who they are,” Bashista said.
Darlene (Pike) Boisseau is working in the cafeteria at Chester Elementary School. She joins several Gateway alumni who return to the district as staff members this year. Boisseau grew up in Littleville and on Chester Hill. Her previous experience includes the Massachusetts Dairy Booth at the Big E, and food preparation at the Westfield Fairgrounds and Littleville Fairgrounds. She has been involved with the Agriculture office of the Big E for many years. “I love the kids, love kitchen work, and the teachers and staff are wonderful,” Darlene reported.
Kayla Brady is a new third grade teacher at Chester Elementary School. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Westfield State University and is scheduled to complete her Master’s degree in December. Before coming to Gateway, she was a third grade reading teacher in Springfield for two years. Brady lives in the hilltowns and looks forward to teaching in the district. She said she already appreciates the level of support the district gives to new staff members.
Nicole Daviau actually joined the Gateway staff last spring as the Library Aide in the Learning Resource Center. Before coming to Gateway she was a Children’s Library Assistant at Forbes Library in Northampton. She holds a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from Lesley University. “I am looking forward to helping students navigate all of the wonderful resources that the Library has to offer, and continuing to make the library a welcoming place!” Daviau said.
Margaret Gendron is teaching Special Education at Littleville Elementary School. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Westfield State College, and a CAGS (Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study) from Springfield College. She came to Gateway as a long-term substitute teacher last February and has become a full time staff member. Her previous workplaces include Springfield Public Schools and a substantially separate private program that serviced students with varying disabilities and ability levels.
Keith Harrison is a new special education teacher for the high school. He has five years’ experience teaching English and another four years of teaching special education. He is an avid rock climbing guide and outdoor educator, as well. Harrison said that he most looking forward to working with the students. “I enjoy working with different types of students from diverse backgrounds and unique histories,” Harrison said.
Joshua Hartley joins the Gateway staff as the second shift security monitor at the Gateway complex. A Gateway graduate, Josh is attending Westfield State University full time where he is majoring in economics. He is also part of the Army ROTC program and serves with the Army National Guard. “I look forward to an awesome year as part of Gateway’s staff,” Hartley said, adding that he appreciates the Gateway community, the experience and the great staff.
Tasha Hartley was hired as the Head Cook/Cafeteria Manager at the Gateway complex for the Middle School, Jr. High School and Sr. High School cafeteria. She is ServSafe Certified and comes with over ten years’ experience in the food service industry. “I am very excited about this new opportunity!” Hartley said. “I get to work with a fantastic group of people and we will have many new challenges to face this year.” Hartley added that she looks forward to facing those challenges head on and working with the staff to provide healthy and tasty meals to the students and staff.
Dan Holmes is no stranger to Gateway, having served as a substitute and working in the Middle School After-School Program for the past four years. He holds a BA in music, and studied abroad in Ghana where he learned West African Drumming. Dan will be a paraprofessional for the Jr./Sr. High. He teachers private drum lessons and has also toured around the country as a musician. “I look forward to settling into a more consistent role during the school day,” Holmes said. “I look forward to getting to know more and more students throughout the year!”
Kelly Marotte is a Gateway graduate who started her nursing career in the infants and children’s unit at Baystate Medical Center, after graduating from Elms College. As a Navy Lieutenant, she was stationed at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton and served overseas with the Army in Kabul. During her deployment, she served as the combat nursing adviser for the Afghanistan army, where she was surgical nursing advisor responsible for the emergency room, eight surgical units and an intensive care unit. She also organized numerous humanitarian missions to orphanages and children’s hospitals in Afghanistan. Upon her return to the U.S., she worked in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Same Day Surgery Unit and was an assistant manager of the Family Practice Clinic serving over 17,000 service members and their beneficiaries. “I am excited to be part of the faculty family who I credit as driving me to my success,” Marotte said. “It feels good to be home.”
Rachel Millen is teaching 5th grade at the Middle School. Millen taught for ten years at Glenwood Elementary School in Springfield, teaching science for one year and fifth grade for the remaining nine years. “I spent seven fantastic years as part of a federal grant with the five colleges studying American history and traveling the eastern United States participating in field studies at historic locations,” Millen reported. She and her family recently moved to Huntington and is enjoying having such a short, pleasant drive to work!
Bill Romani is the new Guidance Counselor for the Middle School and Jr. High School, and replaces Richard White when he retires next month. He has worked previously at Westfield North Middle School, Bellamy Middle School in Chicopee, and at Fairview Veterans Memorial Middle School. Romani is a fan of soccer, music and films and looks forward to working with new students and staff.
Kristina Schultz will teach third grade at Littleville Elementary School, after filling in as a long-term sub at the Middle School last year. A Gateway graduate, Kristina has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and has worked as a substitute teacher at Westfield Public Schools. Schultz reports that she looks forward to working with a wonderful staff. “Gateway is a small community where everyone is very friendly,” Schultz said. “I also look forward to teaching third grade as it is a wonderful age group to work with.”
Also joining the faculty and staff this year is Stephanie Conway (Lunch Aide at Chester) and former staff member Laura Robinson returns this year as a long-term substitute teacher at Littleville.
