When Verona High School opens next week, there will be some new faces in the Guidance Department.
Kimberly Ferlauto, who had headed the department for several years, resigned to take a position in another school district. Counselors Jennifer Gadaleta and Jennifer DaSilva will be returning, and they will be joined by two newcomers. Nicholas Dillman, who is coming to VHS from Livingston, was approved by the Verona Board of Education earlier this summer and, at Tuesday night’s meeting, the BOE approved the hiring of Kristen Tarantola, who is joining VHS from West Essex.
Joshua Cogdill says that one of the four has applied to be lead counselor of the department, which he hopes will be finalized soon. “This is a very strong department,” says Cogdill. “They have great ideas for bringing Guidance into the classrooms.” Cogdill says that he will be sharing information with parents about the changes when the lead counselor is named. Each counselor will be handling about 200 students, he says, down from 250 per counselor two years ago.
“We have a great, energetic department,” Cogdill adds, “that is excited to work with students.”
