OBSERVER Photo by
Braden Carmen
Mimi Joint was hired as a High School Mathematics Teacher by the Fredonia Central School District at a recent meeting of the Board of Education.
The Fredonia Central School District turned a critic into a member of the family, as Mimi Joint was recently hired to a probationary teaching position in the High School Mathematics tenure area.
At a Board of Education meeting earlier this year, shortly after the District closed because of a lack of nurses, Joint addressed the Board. Among her remarks was a direct plea, “Do better, Fredonia.”
In the time since that meeting, Fredonia has filled all of its vacant nursing positions and is fully staffed, with increased wages to nurses and several other staff positions throughout the District. Now, Joint will be part of that staff, with her Professional Certification in Mathematics Grades 7-12.
Superintendent Dr. Brad Zilliox highlighted Joint’s positive energy and attitude as attributes that the District valued, along with 11 years of teaching experience.
“Bringing that experience is a wonderful thing. … It’s nice to have someone who has 11 years under her belt,” High School Principal Darrin Paschke said. “She does have that great enthusiasm, and I think she’s going to be a great fit with our Math Department.”
Joint is resigning from a teaching position at Brocton Central School, following a trend at Fredonia in recent years. In the past year, Fredonia also hired Erin Lamp, an English as a New Language teacher, away from Brocton, along with Rhea Nelson and Amy Zappie from Cassadaga Valley, and April Shoup from Jamestown.
Zilliox explained the District’s decision to consistently poach experienced teachers from nearby Districts at a recent meeting. He said, “It’s always tough when neighboring districts are competing for a smaller and smaller pool of candidates. However, at the end of the day, we’re looking for the best candidate for Fredonia, and she fit the bill.”
The District also appointed Delores Langford as a classified nursing substitute (LPN), along with Ryan Davis, Sarah Davis, and Abigail Roth as substitute teacher aides. Their appointments were especially welcomed by the District as three other teacher aides resigned immediately – Gabrielle Jones, Myra Snyder, and Jessica Schneider. Tara Whitfield also resigned from a teacher aide position, but the resignation is effective after the school year concludes.
Another staff member resigned for a different reason, however, as middle school teacher Mary Deas will be retiring at the end of the year after 26 years of service to the District, and 40 years overall in education. The resignation was accepted unanimously with regret.
“(Deas) certainly impacted countless students. We wish her well in her next endeavors,” Middle School Principal Jamie Polhamus said.
Board of Education President Brian Aldrich added, “I appreciated her, and it is with regret that I see her retiring, because she did have a very big impact on one of my daughters.”