CHRIS GALLAGHER
Hello! My name is Chris Gallagher and I am
going to be working in Ms. Hessert’s 3rd grade
classroom until she returns from maternity
leave. I am really excited to work with the
amazing staff at Central Elementary, meet all
the students, and be a part of the Haddonfield
community!
I grew up in Mount Laurel and went to Lenape
High School. After I graduated, I received my
bachelor’s degree in physics from Rowan
University. I worked for some time in the field
but it never felt the same to me as when I was
working with kids. I have worked with kids at
the YMCA and various other places for the past
10 years and it has never really felt like a job to
me. A few years ago, I started working as a
paraprofessional for Medford Township
Schools. During my time there, I also received
my masters’ degree from The College of New Jersey in special education. I got to
work alongside some great staff in 1st, 2nd, and 5th grade classrooms and it was there
I realized my true calling. I love teaching and I love being a positive role model for
young people. I enjoy building relationships with staff, students, and the community.
When I am not in the classroom I love spending time with family and friends. I like
reading and doing anything outside. I enjoy hiking, kayaking, and playing slow-pitch
softball.
While my path to teaching has been anything but traditional, I am glad mine has
brought me to Central Elementary School. I am looking forward to my time here!
KARIN HSIEH
Hello, my name is Karin Hsieh and this will be my first
year teaching at Central Elementary School. I recently
moved to the south Jersey area with and am excited to
get know the Haddonfield community, meet your
children, get the year started!
I was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts and
graduated from Boston University’s School of
Management. After working the corporate world for 2
years, I decided that I wanted to work in a field that was
more fulfilling. I spent a lot of my time volunteering and later applied and was
accepted into the New York City Teaching Fellows (a division of Teach for America),
where I taught in a public school in Brooklyn and later received my Master’s in
Education from Brooklyn College. I was also fortunate enough to attend Columbia
University for several summers and became trained in the Teachers College Reading
and Writing Project. Along with that training, I have also received my Certification
for Gifted and Talented Education from Hunter College.
I taught in New York City for 11 years and have worked with students of many
abilities. I worked in a school with a heavy ESL population and learned an immense
amount about how to scaffold for struggling students. I also made it a point to
celebrate the diverse cultures that were represented in my classroom and create a
feeling of inclusiveness. Most recently I was teaching in a gifted and talented
classroom in a school in Manhattan. It was a great opportunity for me to learn how
to engage with students that were achieving above and beyond benchmarks. In that
setting, I was able to provide enrichment opportunities and interdisciplinary lessons
regularly. It was also my first time teaching in a school with a tremendous amount
of family involvement and I saw how much the students benefited from this.
I have an immense love for teaching. Often in the summers you will find me
rummaging yard sales and stalking the local library book sales in order to bulk up
my classroom library. One of the best things about being a classroom teacher is
creating a sense of community for my students and knowing that for the next 10
months that we will become our own little family within Central School. And
although I have spent a lot of time continually growing my professional
development, my favorite part of teaching is still growing relationships with each
one of my students, watching them grow, mature, ask questions and laugh. I love
coming to work every day and I really hope that your students will be just as happy
to be at Central as I am!
MEGAN SALINE
Hi! My name is Megan Saline. I am extremely excited to be working in the
Haddonfield School District as a First Grade teacher at Central Elementary School. I
look forward to meeting all the students and their families!
I was born in Philadelphia, but I grew up in Massachusetts. I am the oldest of six
children (three brothers and two sisters). I moved to Atlanta, GA to attend college at
Emory University where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education, International
Studies, and French. I returned to Philadelphia to attend the University of
Pennsylvania and earn my Master’s degree in Elementary Education. Over the past
five years, I have taught 2nd grade in Philadelphia. This will be my sixth year
teaching, but my first year teaching 1st grade! I am so excited for this new
experience!
I got married last December to my husband, Eli, so this is my first year using my new
name, Mrs. Saline. We just moved from Philadelphia to Haddon Heights this past
March and we love it! We live with our two rescue cats, Wally and Coco.
Teaching is an absolute passion of mine, but I love many things outside of the
classroom as well. My husband and I love to travel and learn about new places and
cultures. Our most recent trip was to the Dominican Republic, where we tried
surfing for the first time! I also love to bake, go to concerts, and try new restaurants.
Lastly, I am extremely passionate about animal awareness and rescue.
I can’t wait to get to know my students this year and learn more about them and
their interests. Haddonfield is such a wonderful community and I am overjoyed to
be here!
KATIE SCHWARTZ
Hello! My name is Katie Schwartz. I am very excited to bring my passion and excitement for
working with children to the Haddonfield Community. This year I will be one of the new
Learning Support Teachers at Central Elementary School! I am really looking forward to
working with both you and your children this upcoming school year.
I grew up in York, Pennsylvania. From a very early age I knew I wanted to be a teacher. So,
after I graduated from high school, I attended Penn State University where I earned my
bachelor’s degrees in both elementary and early childhood education. I was provided with
some great experiences in college, and had some fabulous mentors that demonstrated and
showed me first hand just how important good teachers are in a child's life.
After graduating from college I moved to Philadelphia to teach kindergarten at a small early
learning center. It was in my first year of teaching, when I started to put into practice all of
the wonderful things I had learned. At that point, I began to start thinking about children
and how they learn, think, and behave. I was both astonished and amazed by how children
were able to acquire so much new information. I realized I wanted to continue my
schooling. In 2014, I graduated from The University of Pennsylvania with my master’s
degree in school and mental health counseling. I decided that as a teacher it would be
invaluable to also have counseling skills in my "toolbox."
In my free time, Iam an active volunteer with Green Street Rescue, a non-profit animal
rescue in Philadelphia. Every year we save an average of 500 cats from a hard life on the
streets and work to get them adopted into loving forever homes. When I'm not busy with
rescue work, I love to explore the different museums around Philadelphia or catch a train to
New York City to see the latest Broadway shows!
I am thrilled to be able to be able to share my wide variety of experiences and skills with the
Haddonfield community this year. I truly love teaching and am looking forward to the
opportunity to work alongside both you and your child's teacher to help the children be
the best they can be!
KELLY VENDETTI
Hello everyone! My name is Kelly
Vendetti and I am a new Learning
Support Teacher at Central
Elementary School. I know it is a
fantastic school full of wonderful
students and parents. I cannot wait
to get this school year started!
I grew up in Washington Township,
which is about thirty minutes away
from Haddonfield. When I was in
high school, I worked at Chuck E.
Cheese. This is where I discovered my love for children and teaching. After high
school, I attended Rowan University and graduated with two bachelor's degrees,
one in Elementary Education and one in Liberal Studies with a History and English
concentration.
While attending college, I student taught in a Kindergarten classroom at West
Avenue Elementary School in Bridgeton, New Jersey. Using hands on activities,
games, and crafts, I created a fun learning environment where students were excited
to learn. Some of these activities include rhyming treasure hunts, touch and feel
descriptive writings, and creating skits. I am full of passion and creativity and look
forward to engaging students and helping them find success at school.
Although I am new to the teaching staff, I am not new to Central. For the last year
and a half I have been working as an educational assistant with the first grade
teachers. I have learned so much through this experience and have created a bond
with many of the students and faculty. I am thrilled to be stepping up my role at
Central School.
When I am not in the classroom, I spend a lot of time outside bike riding, hiking, and
taking photos with my family and friends. I also enjoy cooking, reading, listening to
music, and traveling. I have been to places all over the world and love bringing my
experiences into my teaching.
I look forward to a great 2015-2016 school year.