September 2 was our Opening Conference Day for the 2026-27 school year! This annual event served to bring all District employees together to celebrate the start of the new school year and share our vision for another great year at Chatham schools. The opening day ceremony also featured CHS students singing the national anthem along with remarks by Superintendent Andrew Court, Board of Education Vice President Marianne Pierro, and Judy Matthews of the Chatham Education Foundation. The keynote speaker was Donna Bradbury of the Mental Health Association of NY, who spoke about defusing student conflict.
Mr. Kourt also recognized new staff starting this year, our newly tenured faculty, and longevity awards for long-serving District employees. Staff then headed to their respective buildings for collaborative meetings and to prepare their classrooms for the arrival of students.
Faculty conferences continue on Tuesday, September 8 and students arrive Wednesday, September 9 for our first day of classes!
15 Years of Service
Kimberly Cowles - MED
Mary-Noelle Fabiano - MED
Stephanie Lineberry - MED
Megan Bertram - MS
Jennifer Metrando - MS
Nicholas Bacarro, Jr. - Maintenance
20 Years of Service
Deborah Martino - MED
Kelli Pritchett - MED
Jeremy VanNess - Maintenance
Derrick Ashley - Maintenance
25 Years of Service
Barbara Schneider - MED
Karen Sorros - MED
Holly Fiero - HS
Kelly Strobel - Transportation
30 Years of Service
Deborah Pottenburgh - District Office
Margaret Thorsen - MS
40 Years of Service
Cheryl Gauthier - MED
New Staff
Courtney Lueck - District ENL Teacher (P/T)
Mary E. Dardess Elementary School
Ashley Oakes - Special Education Teacher
Audrey Craft - Elementary Teacher
Ashley Rowe - Teaching Assistant
Erin Lockmer - Teaching Assistant
Tessa Fisher - Teacher Aide
Chatham Middle School
Vincent Visconti - Teacher Aide
Morgan Ball - Teacher Aide (front desk)
Mykaela Fuller - Teacher Aide
Victoria Slade - Building Substitute
Cafeteria
Jordan Stocklas - Food Service Helper
Amanda Harvey - Food Service Helper
District Office
Caitlin Rustick - Principal Account Clerk (payroll)
Chatham Public Library
Rebecca Hoff - Public Library Page
Newly Tenured Staff
Michael McManus, Foreign Language - 01/15/26
Jordan McComb, Special Education - 08/31/26
Eric Roth, Art - 08/31/26
Kathryn Rossi, Mathematics - 08/31/26
Bethany Wallace, Elementary Education - 08/31/26
Megan Hanson, Teaching Assistant - 08/31/26