AMITE--The Tangipahoa Parish School System Personnel Committee met on Monday, August 6 to recommend approval of some remaining personnel changes as the beginning of the new school year is merely days away.

Board members discussed the fact that over 100 resignations and retirements had been requested.

"This is a lot, possibly a record," said board member Andy Anderson.

"Once the board approves these, other than one or two pending, every teaching position is filled for the new year," said Thomas Bellavia, Assistant School Superintendent.

"I want to thank Mr. Genco, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Kolwe and Mr. Bellavia for their hard work to get our schools staffed for the new year," said Ann Smith, committee chairman.

Smith explained that there were several things that happened suddenly, positions that became unexpectedly open, yet the administration was able to fill the positions.

When questioned about certification, Bellavia explained, "Most of the teachers are certified. Those that are not certified are on a pathway program, working toward certification. We will be working with them as they continue the program."

UPDATE: The following personnel changes were approved by the full board at the regular meeting of the Tangipahoa Parish School Board on August 7:

Teacher - New Hire

Sarah DeWeese - Teacher - Hammond Westside

Laken Ellis - Teacher - Tucker Elementary

Jessica Falcon - Teacher - Tucker Elementary

Lindsey Pennington - Teacher - OW Dillon Elementary

Tierra Smith-Courtney - Teacher - Independence Elementary

Gini Foreman - Teacher - Ponchatoula High

Melanie Achord - Teacher - Natalbany Elementary

Sonia Verberne - Teacher - Spring Creek Elementary

Katherine Chance - Teacher - Loranger High

Megan Mayeaux - Teacher - Midway Elementary

Melissa Graziano - Teacher - Ponchatoula Jr. High

Amanda Larrea - Teacher - Hammond Jr. High

Maria Tapia - Teacher - Hammond Jr. High

Henry Motty - Teacher - Hammond Jr. High

Sheila Sanders - Teacher - Hammond Jr. High

Renee Thompson - Teacher - Hammond Westside

Darren Gomilla - Teacher - Hammond Westside

Jana Berthelot - Teacher - Hammond Westside

Kayla Himel - Teacher - Martha Vinyard

Amanda Sciortino - Teacher - Tucker Elementary

Vicki Scott-Clark - Teacher - Hammond High

Stephanie Dawsey - Teacher - Loranger High

Ethan Jones - Teacher - Loranger Middle

Crystal Hawkins - Teacher - Amite High

Sharon Crews - Teacher - Hammond Jr. High

Latonya Phillips - Teacher - Hammond Jr. High

Elizabeth Bryant - Educational Diagnostician - Spec. Serv

Ramona Blackman-Jones - School Psychologist - Spec. Serv

Emmy Richardson - School Psychologist - Spec. Serv

Margaret Keating - Teacher - Natalbany Elementary

Martina St. Ann - Teacher - DC Reeves Elementary

William Allen - Teacher - Amite High

Christopher Gordon - Teacher - Independence Middle

Stacy Gregg - Teacher - DC Reeves Elementary

Elizabeth Doyle - Teacher - Natalbany Elementary

Jennifer Crowe - Teacher - Amite Elementary

Jana Smith - Teacher - Amite Elementary

Selisha Perry - Teacher - Hammond Westside

Bethany Dowdy - Teacher - SLU Lab

Rebecca Walls - Teacher - Ponchatoula High

Rachel Methvin - Teacher - Tucker Elementary

Dana Martin - Teacher - Martha Vinyard

Ami Smith - Teacher - Champ Cooper

Paula Rodriguez - Teacher - Champ Cooper

Sarah Brabham - Teacher - Hammond Westside

Sarah Vorhies - Teacher - Ponchatoula High

Angela Williams - Teacher - Natalbany Elementary

Kelly Mizell - Teacher - Perrin ELC

Sheila Haywood - Teacher - West Side Middle

Marie Holley - Teacher - Midway Elementary

Kimberly McDonald - Teacher - Midway Elementary

Julie Beck - Teacher - Hammond High

Jennifer Perelli - Teacher - Amite Elementary

Celester Hall - Teacher - OW Dillon Elementary

Sean Gilbreath - Teacher - OW Dillon Elementary

Fred Spencer - Teacher - Amite High

Ryan Lawrence - Teacher - Nesom Middle

Anna Pfiel - Teacher - Spec. Serv. Cntr

Alice Broussard - Counselor - Hammond High

Kevin Thomas - Teacher - Hammond Westside

Angie Lacoste - Teacher - Independence High

Mark Weinmunson - Teacher - Hammond High

William Thallemer - Teacher - Hammond Eastside

Chris Vaccaro - Teacher - Hammond Eastside

Luther McCray - Teacher - Westside Middle

Kimberly Kimble - Teacher - Kentwood High

Jeremy Brown - Teacher - Kentwood High

Jovan Hookfin - Teacher - Kentwood High

Support - New Hire

Racquel Richardson - Paraprofessional - Martha Vinyard

Lisa Banks - Paraprofessional - Independence Elementary

Miesha Ellzey - Office Asst. - Central Office

Donna Lanier - Office Asst. - Central Office

Nathaniel Pennington - Custodian - Woodland park

Herman Clark - Custodian - Martha Vinyard

Nikkitha Williams - Paraprofessional - DC Reeves

Laquan Hart - Paraprofessional - Hammond Westside

Michelle Hill - Paraprofessional - Hammond Westside

Stacie Arabie - School Food Serv. - Independence Elementary

Stacie Crowe - School Food Serv. - Loranger Elementary

Bonnie Smith - School Food Serv. - Loranger Elementary

Teyonta Henderson - School Food Serv. - Hammond Westside

Karen Williams - School Food Serv. - Hammond Westside

Hudrideceine Hall - School Food Serv. - Hammond High

Marilyn Fountain - School Food Serv. - Hammond Eastside

Cathy Pope - School Food Serv. - Ponchatoula High

Sam Pool - School Food Serv. - Hammond Jr. High

Pamela Jackson - Paraprofessional - Roseland Mont.

Sheridan Lane - Paraprofessional - DC Reeves

Helen White - Child Spec. Attend. - DC Reeves

Shannon Canterbury - Paraprofessional - DC Reeves

Dallas Myers - Custodian - Sumner High

Phillip Williams, Sr. - Custodian - Kentwood High

Ashley Senko - Paraprofessional - Perrin ELC

Adrienne Garner - Paraprofessional - Perrin ELC

Jeremy Brown - Paraprofessional - Martha Vinyard

Janet Lawler - Paraprofessional - Midway Elementary

Charles Cooper - Custodian - OW Dillon Elementary

Alicia Morales - Paraprofessional - Natalbany Elementary

Jennifer Perez - Office Asst. - Central Office (SRCL Grant)

Administrative

Frances Wells - From Teacher - Independence High to Assistant Principal - Independence High

Teacher - Reclassification

Jill Foster - From Master Teacher - Natalbany Elementary to Dist. Executive Master Teacher

Retirements

Elizabeth Martin - Paraprofessional - Champ Cooper - Dec. 21, 2012

Ethel Russell - SFS Worker - Hammond Eastside - Oct. 13, 2012

Levi Bellazer - Custodian - Independence Elementary - Sept. 26, 2012

Dorothy Barnes - SFS Worker - Chesbrough Elementary - Dec. 21, 2012

Eddie Henry - Custodian -Woodland Park - June 21, 2012

Frances Stein - School Secretary - Amite Westside - July 18, 2012

Nina Briley - Teacher - Amite Elementary - Aug. 4, 2012

Annie Moore - Custodian - Sumner High - Sept. 5, 2012

Cora Buckley - SFS Worker - Spring Creek Elementary - May 24, 2012

Edna Speed - Teacher - Kentwood High - July 31, 2012

Nick Savarino - Teacher - Amite High - Sept. 13, 2012

Resignations

Janel Conley - SFS Worker - Hammond Westside - July 16, 2012

Steven Spring - Teacher - Hammond High - July 20, 2012

Mary Beth Jenkins - Elementary Counselor - Ponchatoula Jr. High - Aug. 1, 2012

Jeremy Alford - Teacher - Sumner Middle - Aug. 1, 2012

Keith Hughes - Custodian - Hammond Westside - July 25, 2012

Candice Tate - LPN - Hammond Eastside - Aug. 1, 2012

Jessica Kastner - Teacher - Ponchatoula High - Aug. 1, 2012

Robert Daniels - Paraprofessional - Hammond High - Aug. 1, 2012

Brooksie Williams - SFS Worker - Westside Middle - July 27, 2012

Tiffany Bailey - Teacher - Amite Elementary - Aug. 9, 2012

Jonathan Bellazen - Custodian - Hammond Westside - July 26, 2012

Sandy Lipscomb - Teacher - Ponchatoula Jr. High - Aug. 5, 2012

Allison Leto - Teacher - Amite Elementary - July 30, 2012

Stephanie Morris - Paraprofessional - Tucker - July 30, 2012

Erin Carter - Teacher - Hammond Jr. High - July 31, 2012

Folasade Ijidakinro - Teacher - Ponchatoula High - July 30, 2012

Seletha Brandon - Teacher - Sumner High - Aug. 1, 2012

Theresa Smith - Teacher - OW Dillon Elementary - Aug. 1, 2012

Scott Shaffett - Teacher - Kentwood High - Aug. 1, 2012

Hope Taylor - Paraprofessional - Natalbany Elementary - Aug. 1, 2012

Sharon Prevost - Bus Driver - Champ Cooper - July 23, 2012

Jessie Williams - SFS Worker - Westside Middle - Aug. 2, 2012

Monique Broussard - Teacher - Amite Elementary - Aug. 3, 2012

Raymond Alexia - Bus Driver - Hammond - Aug. 3, 2012

Leaves

Dana Love - Phys. Therapist - Spec. Serv. - Aug. 6, 2012 (Sick leave using sick days first then FML - Oct. 29, 2012)

Tonia Vaughn - Teacher - Nesom Middler - Aug. 6, 2012 (Sick leave using sick days first then FML - Sept. 1, 2012)

Lisa Paine - SFS Worker - Independence Elementary - Aug. 7, 2012 (Sick leave using sick days first - Dec. 20, 2012)

Maureen Cintron - Paraprofessional - Midway Elementary - Aug. 6, 2012 (Sick leave using sick days first - Aug. 29, 2012)

Tommye Kimble - Teacher - Tangi. Alt. Program - Aug. 6, 2012 (Sick leave using sick days first then FML - Aug. 20, 2012)

Sky Orlando - School Social Worker - Spec. Serv. - July 30, 2012 (Sick leave using sick days first then FML - Oct. 1, 2012)

Tara Kinchen - Pupil Appraisal - Spec. Serv. - Aug. 8, 2012 (Sick leave using sick days first then FML - Sept 17, 2012)

Zuly Bayer - Teacher - Midway Elementary - Aug. 6, 2012 (Leave without pay for the 2012-2013 school year)

Sabbatical Leave

Elizabeth Norwood - Pupil Appraisal - Spec. Serv. - Medical 1st Semester Dec. 20, 2012