Guilford's Newest Teachers Start the Year

Guilford goes back to school Sept. 2 with a dozen new education professionals to start the new year. Twelve new faculty members fill spaces at the town's elementary, middle, and high schools.

Retired educator Marilyn Sturgess returned to assist Guilford Public Schools (GPS) with its New Teacher Orientation program last week. The program served not only to bring educators up to speed with their new GPS roles, but also as a bit of a chance for the teachers to get to know each other.

The Guilford Courier learned a bit more about each teacher, thanks to the new group's willingness to share a few fun facts about themselves with readers.

Incoming Adams Middle School 7th-grade science teacher Kristen Meyerjack spent half a year on the other side of the continent, doing something most kids would certainly find interesting.

"I lived in Hawaii for six months, having an internship training dolphins," said Meyerjack, who still enjoys traveling as a favorite hobby.

Meyerjack said she also likes running and walking her dog in her free time. Walking her dog is something Theresa Smith, the new reading coach at Guilford Lakes Elementary School, also likes do. Smith describes herself as the "mother of three children and my dog Rosie."

Baldwin and Adams middle schools' newest special education teacher, Joan Pasay, is another proud mom, with three children (sons), as is mom Annine Crystal, who has 14 year-old twins. Crystal is the newly assigned literacy coach at A.W. Cox and Calvin Leete elementary schools.

Also assigned as a literacy coach is Stacy Stewart, a professional in education for 11 years who's working on her Ed.D. Stewart's favorite hobbies include scrapbooking, bowling, and biking.

New A.W. Cox elementary art teacher Lauren Anderson's favorite hobbies are close to her career: drawing, painting, and reading.

While some sports-oriented students may recognize new Calvin Leete kindergarten teacher Nicole Johnson from her time coaching basketball in Guilford for seven years, others might never guess new A.W. Cox 3rd-grade teacher John Cain is also a competitive figure skating coach.

If you want to get to know new Guilford High School math teacher Caitlin Kiley a bit better, think Español.

"I like to try to speak Spanish," says Kiley.

Another new teacher who can speak in a different language is April Robinson, who has experience teaching six different grade levels and will teach reading at Guilford Lakes Elementary School. Robinson knows sign language. She also enjoys reading, shopping, and exercise as hobbies.

GHS's newest school psychologist, Ingrid Dally, enjoys golf as a form of exercise, but what probably makes her different from most local golfing enthusiasts is that Dally grew up in South Africa.

Also new to Guilford Public Schools is Guilford High School special education teacher Linda Houde. Unfortunately, Houde wasn't available at the time the Courier meet with the new teacher group.