The Westmoreland Central School District is pleased and excited to welcome seven new staff members for the 2018-19 school year.
Stephen Polera – Upper Elementary Principal
Mr. Polera is the new Upper Elementary Principal. He joins the Westmoreland Central School District after serving as an elementary principal in the Syracuse City School District for the past four years. Prior to becoming a principal, he was a math teacher at Thomas R. Proctor High School in Utica for seven years.
“I am excited to be at Westmoreland,” Mr. Polera said. “I will work closely with staff and the community to ensure the academic success and safety of our students.”
In his spare time, Mr. Polera enjoys working out at the gym, yard work and spending time and traveling with his family - - wife, Deanna, daughter, Zoe, and son, Max. In August, they went to Disney World for the fourth time - - a favorite destination for sure!
Mr. Polera and his family also recently moved into the Westmoreland community. They are all looking forward to being “Bulldogs!”
Sarah Whittaker – Chemistry Teacher, Jr./Sr. High School
Miss Whittaker is the new chemistry teacher at the Jr./Sr. High School.
A Central New York native, Miss Whittaker is a graduate of Oriskany Jr./Sr. High School and SUNY Geneseo, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry and math, as well as her teaching certification. She will soon graduate from the University of Rochester with a Master’s degree in education.
“I am very excited to get to know the Westmoreland community, and share the wonder that science is,” Miss Whittaker said.
Before joining the Westmoreland Central School District, Miss Whittaker worked at a school in the Greater Rochester Area for three years. In her spare time, Miss Whittaker loves to read, watch Netflix and cross stitch. She is also an avid Harry Potter and hockey fan.
Cecilia Guido – Math & Computer Science/Coding Teacher, Jr./Sr. High School
Ms. Guido is the new Math and Computer Science/Coding Teacher at the Jr./Sr. High School.
Ms. Guido is a graduate of Mohawk High School and Siena College, where she majored in mathematics, minored in computer science and earned a certificate in education. She earned her Master’s degree in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) from Canisius College.
“I am looking forward to getting to know my students and am eager to work on coding with them,” Ms. Guido said. “I am also looking forward to working with our incredible staff and participating in events and activities outside of the classroom.”
In her spare time, Ms. Guido enjoys running, playing any type of sport, playing the guitar and singing. Kari Whitney – Special Education Teacher, Primary Elementary School
Mrs. Whitney is a new special education teacher at the Primary Elementary School.
Mrs. Whitney earned her Bachelor’s degree in business from SUNY Albany and her Master’s degree in special education from Western Kentucky University.
After completing her undergraduate degree, Mrs. Whitney worked in the business industry for 13 years, specializing in retirement planning. Her love for children was her biggest motivation for returning to school and becoming a certified special education teacher. Before joining the Westmoreland Central School District for this school year, Mrs. Whitney worked at the Holland Patent and New Hartford school districts.
“I am very impressed with everything Westmoreland does for its students, not just academically, but getting them involved in our community,” Mrs. Whitney said. “The STEAM nights are also a great way to get kids thinking critically and creatively.”
In her spare time, Mrs. Whitney enjoys reading, baking, crafts, exercising, swimming and spending time with her family and dog - - especially outdoors. She also volunteers with her daughter’s Girl Scout “Brownie” troop.
Jackie Watson – Secretary to the Superintendent
Mrs. Watson is the new Secretary to the Superintendent.
Mrs. Watson is a graduate of SUNY Alfred, where she earned a degree in court reporting. After several years as a freelance court reporter, she most recently worked at the Oriskany Central School District - - first as the Jr./Sr. High School Secretary and then as the Superintendent’s Secretary/District Treasurer.
“I am excited for this new adventure, and am looking forward to getting to know everyone in the Westmoreland community,” Mrs. Watson said.
In her spare time, Mrs. Watson loves spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading and working out.
Shaun Kaleta – Director of Public Relations/Communications
Mr. Kaleta is the new Director of Public Relations/Communications, a new position at the Westmoreland Central School District.
Mr. Kaleta is a graduate of Oriskany Jr./Sr. High School and Utica College, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in government and politics. He recently earned his Master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Missouri.
Before joining the Westmoreland Central School District, Mr. Kaleta was a public relations assistant at the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES, where he primarily served the Whitesboro and Richfield Springs school districts. Prior to working at BOCES, he was the overnight/morning newscast producer at WKTV NEWSChannel 2 and then the assignment editor/6 p.m. newscast producer at WUTR/WFXV Eyewitness News, where he was also a fill-in anchor and reporter.
Mr. Kaleta’s chief responsibilities at the Westmoreland Central School District include managing school-to-student, school-to-parent and school-to-community communication/relations. He will specifically manage the district website, create/write the quarterly newsletters and personally cover and highlight district events and achievements.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to work at Westmoreland,” Mr. Kaleta said. “I have already been very impressed with the staff, students and everything the district has to offer. My job is very rewarding - - not only do I have the responsibility of dispersing critical information, but I get to share many of the good things happening in the district.”
In his spare time, Mr. Kaleta, a diehard Buffalo Bills, Syracuse Orange and NASCAR fan, enjoys spending time with his family and friends, playing tennis and golf, working out and watching sports.
Matthew Taylor – School Resource Officer
Deputy Taylor, of the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, is the new School Resource Officer (SRO).
An alum of New Hartford Senior High School, Deputy Taylor earned an Associate’s degree in criminal justice from Mohawk Valley Community College and a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Utica College of Syracuse University.
In his role as SRO, Deputy Taylor serves all three of the Westmoreland Central School District’s school buildings - - the Jr./Sr. High School, Upper Elementary School and Primary Elementary School. While ensuring the safety and security of our students and staff is his most important duty, other responsibilities include evaluating current security measures and recommending improvements, investigating complaints and counseling and mentoring students. He is also qualified to teach a class, on a variety of topics, at any grade level.
“I am looking forward to serving the Westmoreland community,” Deputy Taylor said. “When I worked the night shift for several years, Westmoreland was one of the townships I regularly patrolled.”
“I enjoy building a positive rapport with staff and students, while having a lasting, positive impact on their lives,” he added.
Deputy Taylor has been a SRO for more than three years and employed with the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office for more than nine years. Before being assigned to the Westmoreland Central School District, Deputy Taylor was a SRO at the Whitesboro, Sauquoit and New York Mills school districts. He also spent time working at the Holland Patent Central School District, Madison-Oneida BOCES and Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES as a fill-in SRO - - so he has plenty of experience working with students and staff in a variety of educational settings.
In his spare time, Deputy Taylor enjoys spending time outdoors, loves anything to do with science, technology and history and is an avid PC gamer.
“I am deeply honored to be assigned as a SRO at the Westmoreland Central School District,” he said. “I am here for you.”
Welcome and congratulations to all of our new employees!