Lots of new faces in 2022-23 at Wooster City Schools
Among the personnel additions at Wooster High School this year is Scott Musser, the new WHS principal.
With more than 4,000 students filling its buildings, the administration in Wooster City Schools has a full plate.
The biggest challenges facing most districts in recent years have been pandemic-related. Wooster is no different there. Superintendent Gabe Tudor said he believes the district has emerged without too many scars.
“We had a great 2021-22 school year but recognized that the pandemic led to social, emotional and academic challenges,” Tudor said. “We are continuing to address the learning loss through targeted instructional interventions and are providing social-emotional support through multiple local providers.”
The district announced a couple weeks ago that it would not finance a renovation architectural analysis for Cornerstone Elementary but would instead rebuild a pre-k through second grade school on the Cornerstone lot.
Tudor said the district will complete district strategic planning and will likely pursue a building project with a May ballot issue.
One change this year involves the before- and after-school program at Parkview Elementary, which now will be managed by the Boys and Girls Club of Wooster. The club will operate at Parkview starting at 7 a.m. before school and until 6 p.m. after school. Attendees will receive snacks and a meal, along with academic enrichment. Fees range from $1.50-$3 per hour and will be determined by lunch status.
Also new in 2022-23 are start/end times to the school day. The high school now begins at 8:05 a.m. and ends at 2:33 p.m. The middle school’s times are 7:55 a.m. and 2:18 p.m. with elementary schools beginning at 9:05 a.m. and dismissing at 3:30 p.m.
Wooster High School headed into the 2022-23 school year ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the 95th-best school in Ohio and within the top 10% of about 18,000 schools in the United States. That earned Wooster “Best School” status from U.S. News and World Report. Niche.com ranked Wooster No. 123 in Ohio among overall districts.
On Sept. 19 the school board is expected to name Cody Austin as the replacement for board member Michael Knapic, who resigned Aug. 24. His term runs through 2023.
The district welcomed a large contingent of new folks into the winds for the current year. More than three-dozen new faces are spread about the district, joining the staff of over 500 employees.
New people for Wooster High School include Barbara Arnold (family and consumer service), Margaret Davis (assistant principal), Brent Dillon (intervention specialist), Liberty Lutes (art teacher), Scott Musser (principal), John Myers (assistant athletic director, Gault manager), Sydney Shadbolt (intervention specialist), Kate Smith (math teacher), Jeff Vitallo (intervention specialist) and Torri Young (family and consumer service).
New people for Edgewood Middle School include Derek Baker (school psychologist), David Blatnick (specialized paraprofessional), Crystal Boles (specialized paraprofessional), Shannon Federinko (principal), Jeremy Hargrave (teacher paraprofessional), Kaylynne Mahone (intervention tutor), Kylie McMichael (homebound intervention specialist), Kim Miller (specialized paraprofessional), Katherine Snyder (art teacher), Bonnie Spinder (specialized paraprofessional), Mandy Wagner (fifth-grade ELA) and Spencer Whisler (intervention specialist).
New people for Cornerstone Elementary include Weslea Arthur (third-grade teacher), Truman Karczewski (fourth-grade teacher), Nicole Kowalski (second-grade teacher), Samantha Ponting (Title I reading teacher), Jacqualin Schondel (kindergarten teacher), Shanqua Scott (specialized paraprofessional), Jayme Tucker (assistant principal), McKanna Vanderzyden (third-grade teacher) and Jae Weaver (fourth-grade teacher).
New people for Kean Elementary include Alyssa Anderson (second-grade teacher), Amanda Jacobson (intervention specialist) and Reagan Myrwold (third-grade teacher).
New people for Melrose Elementary include Kathleen Dalziel (kindergarten teacher), Mary McKee (elementary guidance counselor), Lisa Orr (fourth-grade teacher), Kenneth Sanders (student supervision aide) and Kathryn Smith (speech/language pathologist).
New people for Parkview Elementary include Marissa Bowers (second-grade teacher).
New people for the district include Cassidy Honour (school psychologist), Michael Lipnos (math coach) and Laurie Sizemore (transportation supervisor).