Lauren Boninfante-Homeroom Teacher I have had the honor of teaching at Woodmont since 2004. I began as the Spanish teacher. When I was an undergraduate at Gettysburg College I was an Elementary Education and Spanish Major. This allowed me to become certified to teach in the classroom at the K-5 level, and to also teach Spanish at the K-12 level. I then went on to receive my Masters in Counseling after realizing that a child's emotional and social development were just as important as his/her academic development. In addition to becoming certified as a School Counselor, I passed the National Counselor Examination in order to become a National Certified Counselor (NCC). I have found this to be a very nice addition to my education since it has equipped me with many useful tools that I can incorporate into the classroom as I help my students to achieve their fullest potential academically, socially, and emotionally. I love teaching and being able to do this at Woodmont has been a blessing! Debra Jarvie- Homeroom Teacher The day I told my dad I wanted to be a teacher, he had only one thing to say: “if this is what you really want, you need to be THAT TEACHER”. I strive every day to be the teacher who makes every child feel they are a star and can do anything. I communicate often and honestly with every parent. In my classroom, each child feels valued and supported. When the light goes on for a child, no one is more delighted than I am. Ongoing informal assessment keeps my focus on student growth. If you are passing by in the hallway, you may see a myriad of activities happening at the same time. Although our room is most often on the quiet side, you will hear chatter, laughter and quiet discussion. My vivid colored classroom is a diverse mix of specific direct instruction and inquiry based tasks. We have books of all kinds, collaborative groups and technology. Children work at desks, on the carpet, at tables, in rockers and even at a standing desk. Our family resides in Montville. My husband of many years and I have two magnificent children, a beautiful daughter who had made elementary special education her life’s mission and a son in middle school who is an avid baseball player. I find a calming peace at the ocean, love reading and lighthouses. We enjoy music and spending time together.
importance of kindness in my classroom, on the playground, and in all social situations throughout the school day. I hold a Master’s degree with a concentration in elementary reading, in addition to certifications in special education, art, and social studies. I enjoy teaching the “big kids” in fifth grade and look forward to rejoining the faculty and staff at Woodmont School. Melissa Epstein-Inclusion Teacher What are you passionate about? As a Montville graduate, I spent years with teachers who not only taught me the curriculum, but they also helped me find my passion: teaching and the love of learning. As I begin my seventh year teaching at Woodmont, I will continue to guide my students to stay passionate about learning, helping others, and reaching their fullest potential. As a fifth grade teacher, I am excited to help my students find their passion as they continue their journey from Woodmont to Lazar. So you know a little more about me, I graduated in 2010 from Rider University with certifications in elementary education, special education, psychology, and leadership development. Right after graduation, I began teaching at Woodmont School as a second grade inclusion teacher. A few years later, I moved to fourth grade, and now I am a part of the wonderful fifth grade team. When I’m not at school, I enjoy spending time with my husband and the rest of my family and friends, shopping, and reading. I'm looking forward to another great year at Woodmont School. Gillian Knight 5M- Inclusion Teacher Hello Wildcats! My name is Gillian Knight and I am so very excited to be teaching at Woodmont this school year as part of the 5th grade team. Teaching is my passion and I feel inspired everyday by my students. I love surrounding myself and my classes with positive quotes and mantras. One quote, by Ignacio Estrada, “If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.”, has really stuck with me. It is important to me that we recognize the way that each student learns as an individual. I always try to break down topics, concepts, and fundamentals to help students see them in a new meaningful way. For me, the most rewarding part of this career, is finding different ways that help my students to understand what they are learning, create relevance of a subject in their own lives, and truly involve them in the learning process.
I knew as early as second grade that I wanted to be an educator and being one is truly my passion. I began teaching in the third grade and then took time off to start a family. While I was taking care of my four boys, I tutored and became trained in After all of my boys were in school, I started substituting and knew I wanted to be back in the classroom. In September of 2014, I joined Woodmont School as a basic skills teacher. I am grateful to be working with such a wonderful staff, children, and parents. When I am not teaching, I enjoy watching my sons at their sporting events and spending a lot of time at the Jersey shore with my family. Pattiann Olivieri- BSI Teacher I am a Basic Skills Instructor here at Woodmont. Many of my students struggle with reading or math, so I make it my goal to help them overcome their obstacles so that they can be their best and love learning. I have been a teacher since 1995. I graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a degree in English. I then earned my Elementary Education degree from William Paterson University. After working as a Title 1 teacher in third and fourth grades in Newark for several years, I began teaching third grade at Woodmont in 1999. When I returned from my first maternity leave (I have two awesome daughters), I became a Basic Skills Instructor at Woodmont School. Over the years, I have taught in just about every grade. I work closely with my amazing team, the two other Basic Skills Instructors on staff, Mrs. Cabana and Mrs. Mancuso. I feel tremendously fortunate to be part of a trio that is always learning and growing and working at our shared goal of remediating deficits. As for myself, I am dedicated to helping students achieve grade level objectives. I truly cannot think of a better way to spend my work life. And, I can’t think of a better place to teach. Woodmont is the best!