careers

Sylvia P. Simms, a community advocate and broadband adoption outreach coordinator for Comcast and the Urban Affairs Coalition, was appointed to the School Reform Commission (SRC), the Mayor announced yesterday. Simms will fill the vacancy left by SRC member Lorene Cary who, after a leave of absence due to health reasons, will not seek reappointment.

Jen Baker, a seasoned teacher at Frenchtown School (N.J.) for the last 10 years, has always embraced technology to enhance learning for her students and to make her classroom more engaging. She now can share her expertise and enthusiasm with a broader audience in her new role as Tech Coordinator for Hunterdon County Education Association.

Desert Hills High School computer programming students are experimenting with new ways of incorporating the programming theory they have learned in class. Students explore computer science in the class and usually spend most of their time learning to code simple business applications.

The next Chardon (Ohio) Schools superintendent will be chosen from a pool of three finalists, all of whom currently serve as area school district administrators. The three finalists to replace retiring Joseph Bergant are Painesville City Schools Superintendent Michael P. Hanlon, Willoughby South High School Principal Paul Lombardo and Brunswick Schools Assistant Superintendent Joelle Magyar.

Two proposed promotions from within could fill out top Augusta school administrative staff positions, bringing the central office back to full staffing following departures earlier this school year.

Westford, Mass. schools will more than likely have to face another year of difficult decisions during this spring’s discussions on the next fiscal year’s budget, including the question of whether to hire a districtwide technology coordinator.

Three board of ed members voted to pay Andrew Rinko, and two voted against doing so at a board meeting Monday. "You need the majority of the full board, not just the ones in attendance," said Kia Bergman, the district’s community outreach coordinator. Four members of the nine-member board were absent Monday night.

Tom Sirard, an Enfield (Conn.) Board of Education member from 2009 to 2011, was re-appointed to that board at Monday night's Town Council meeting. A Republican vacancy exists on the board due to the recent resignation of past vice chairman Chuck Johnson. The town charter calls for a replacement to be designated by the council.