Teacher Tenure

On May 19th, the Board of Education granted Tenure to 23 #WeAreChappaqua educators, and celebrated 7 others who received Tenure at previous meetings throughout the year. Congratulations to all on reaching this career milestone!

Natasha Allison
Guidance Counselor, SB

Carol Bartlik
Elementary Principal, DG

Nadia Buffa
English as a New Language, WO

Kayla Castaneda
Elementary Education, DG

Nicholas Clair
Mathematics, HG

Elona Coku
Teaching Assistant, WO

Andrew Corsilia
High School Principal, HG

Sara Cury
Art, WO

Marissa DeFranca
English, SB

Jamie Edelman
Director of K-12 Literacy, District

Ronald Gamma
Assistant Principal, HG

Jennifer Kean-Thompson
Elementary Education, DG

Tammy Korman
Mathematics, HG

Conor Lander
Guidance Counselor, HG

Sara Lewis
Guidance Counselor, HG

Madison Martineau
Music, BS

Kristin McGurl
Health, HG

Caitlin Murphy
Foreign Language, BS

Ellen Paradiso
Library Media Specialist, DG

Adam Pease
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction, District

Kristan Pozzuto
Art, SB

Linda Ryan Dehejia
Social Worker, HG

Rashmi Sadana
Teaching Assistant, HG

Antony Sinanis
Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources & Leadership Development, District

Ryan Spillane
Physical Education, HG

Ms. Lindsay Stevens
Mathematics, SB

Ms. Lauralyn Stewart
Assistant Principal, HG

Ms. Alissa Stoever
Assistant Principal, WO

Mr. Libardo Valencia
Mathematics, HG

Ms. Jessica Wrenn
Mathematics, HG


The Tenure Process
Newly hired teachers, who have not previously received tenure in a New York State school district, are appointed to a four-year probationary period. Teachers who were tenured in a NYS district immediately preceding their time in Chappaqua, coupled with an effective APPR rating, can be appointed to a three-year probationary period. The structure is similar for educators who are in administrative positions.

Evaluation is one of the most critical responsibilities of the District in maintaining and nurturing a high-quality teaching and administrative staff. Written observations and evaluations are conducted each year of an individual’s probationary period. The probationary period includes 2 announced observations, 1 unannounced observation and a mid-year evaluation. The evaluation of a teacher is a collaborative process between the leadership team and the teachers. The administrator has supervisory responsibility for making decisions and offering recommendations to the superintendent concerning the staff within a school or department. The superintendent supervises, evaluates, and makes recommendations to the Board of Education on teachers, principals and central administrators.

The Board of Education grants tenure based on the recommendation of the superintendent.

In accordance with the District’s commitment to ongoing professional development, tenured teachers and administrators participate in an annual professional development review mandated by New York State law.