September 4, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 3 Ridgewood Three administrators to begin work in district by John Koster The Ridgewood Board of Education voted to appoint three senior adminis- trators, a school social worker, and eight full-time or part-time teachers for the new school year. The appointments were made at the Aug. 26 meeting. Cheryl Best was appointed assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction, and assessment effective Oct. 1, 2013, or earlier if possible. She will receive a salary of $160,000. Best is a 2004 graduate of Bernard M. Baruch College of City University in New York with a master’s degree in public administration. She received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science with a plant science emphasis, came from Cook College of Rutgers University in New Brunswick in 1978. She took additional courses at Teach- ers College of Columbia University in map- ping and management in 1999. Best served as director of the West Essex Regional School District as direc- tor of mathematics, science, business, and technology, and was a school principal in the Fort Lee School District. A former Ful- bright Scholar to Japan from the Seattle Pacific University, Best served as director of curriculum and instruction in the K-8 Franklin Lakes School District from 2010 to 2013. She will also serve at a per diem rate of $615 to support and facilitate the position of assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction, and assessment during the interim and as available before Oct. 1. Ojetta Townes was appointed manager of human resources for the Ridgewood schools at a salary of $135,000. She has a BA in psychology from Rutgers from 1977 and an MA in management from Saint Peter’s College from 1990, served in the administration of the Dwight-Englewood and Englewood Public Schools from 2001 to 2010 and was most recently the coordi- nator of human resources for the Millburn schools. Dara Gronau was appointed supervisor of English for grades six through 12. A cer- tified teacher and principal, she graduated from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee in 2001 with a BA in English Safety program available Registration for Ridgewood Parks and Recreation’s Defense, Karate, and Safety Awareness program will be held on Tues- day, Sept. 24 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Hawes School on Stevens Avenue. The 11-week fall session will begin Oct. 1. The program is designed for boys and girls ages five through 15. The course pro- motes self-esteem, self-discipline, defense, and safety awareness, rather than aggres- sion. New students will meet from 4:30 to 5:10 p.m. Returning students will meet from 5:20 to 6 p.m. All students with col- ored belts will meet from 6:10 to 6:50 p.m. The cost is $98. Uniforms are recom- mended. For more information, contact Kidsafe at (973) 284-5650. and psychology and has an MA in school learning from Montclair State University in 2008. She worked as a teacher, admin- istrator, and high school principal in the Newark schools. Eli Nowak has been hired as the dis- trict’s school social worker at a salary of $70,269 with an MA plus 30 credits at Step 3-4. Jessica Apryasz was hired as an English teacher at Ridgewood High, at a salary of $63,423 with an MA and Steps 3-4. Jeff Carr was hired as a physical educa- tion teacher and health teacher at the Hawes School and Somerville School, effective Oct. 11 or earlier, at $63,423 with an MA at Step 3-4, pro-rated. Kimberly Campbell was hired as a special education teacher in science at Ridgewood High School at $55,423 with a BA at Step 1-2. Amy Nolan was hired as a 0.8 English as a Second Language teacher at Ridgewood High at a salary of $52,858. Her pay will include funding from the No Child Left Behind grant, which covers a maximum of $11,550. Nicola Stewart has been hired as an art teacher at Ridgewood High School at a salary of $77,983 with an MA plus 45 cred- its at Step 9. Maria Sweeney has been appointed a District Title 1 teacher at the Orchard School, Travell School, and George Washington Middle School at a salary of $114,930 with partial funding from a Title A Grant of up to $79,863. Cassandra Mehl has been appointed an education specialist at Willard School at a salary of $55,423 with a BA at Step 1-2. She has a certification as a teacher of students with disabilities. The school system also appointed two teachers to essentially part-time positions. Audrey Bida was appointed head teacher at the Kindergarten Enrichment Room, and Barbara Stevens was appointed head teacher at the Infant Room of the Infant Toddler Development Center, both at sala- ries of $27,000.