By CHRISSY PRICHARD

Express News Staff

When students return to the Town of Webb School this week, they will joined by a new principal and three new teachers.

John Swick, the school’s new K-12 Building Principal, took over the position when school let out in June, and has spent the summer getting acquainted with his new job and preparing for the new school year.

Swick’s past experience includes working as a seventh and eighth grade and AIS math teacher and also as an Intern Administrator, both at the Brockport Central School District. He has also served as Summer School Principal at the Greece Central School District.

He received his bachelor’s degree in childhood and special education from Roberts Wesleyan College and his master’s degree in educational leadership from St. John Fisher College.

His certifications include K-12 School Building Leader, grades 7-12 Mathematics, grades 7-12 Mathematics-Students with Disabilities, grades 7-9 Mathematics Extension, grades 5-9 Generalist in Middle Childhood Education, grades 5-9 Generalist in Students with Disabilities, grades 1-6 Childhood Education, and grades 1-6 Childhood Education-Students with Disabilities.

Swick grew up in Middleport, N.Y., and has not spent much time in the area before coming here to work. He says he is looking forward to being involved in the community and life in Old Forge. He and his wife, Danielle, have recently purchased a home in Old Forge and are getting settled in.

As the school’s principal, Swick is dedicated to helping accomplish the numerous goals in our school and community. “My priority is to make sure the Town of Webb UFSD continues to be a school achieving a high level of education in all areas,” he said. “There are many things that I would like to see our school accomplish. It will be difficult to find the time but I am anticipating the opportunity.”

After spending the summer preparing for the school year, Swick is looking forward to working with the students, teachers and faculty.

Jennifer Parzych joins the district as a 6-8 grade English Language Arts teacher. Her previous experience includes six years of teaching seventh and eighth grade English as well as an online SAT course at the Holland Patent School District. She has also worked for the Oneida Herkimer Madison BOCES training teachers to use an online learning platform called Brainhoney. She currently works as an adjunct instructor at SUNY Institute of Technology, teaching an evening freshman composition class.

Parzych received her bachelor’s degree in theater from New England College and her master’s degree in secondary education from Utica College. She also holds a Professional Certification from New York State.

A Central New York native, Parzych graduated from the Poland School District. She currently lives in the Remsen area and will be commuting to Old Forge. She has friends that live in Old Forge and has spent a great deal of time visiting the area. She enjoys kayaking on the Moose River as well as walking around town to see the sights.

As a new teacher at Town of Webb School, Parzych looks forward to meeting all of her students and everyone she will be working with once school starts. She is planning to work hard to make sure her students learn everything they need to know.

“My biggest challenge will be ensuring that the students are ready in the spring to take the state test,” she said.

Danielle Harmer will be joining the Town of Webb School as a secondary level science teacher, teaching seventh grade, tenth grade and advanced placement biology as well as advanced placement environmental science.

She has worked as a student teacher in Binghamton teaching seventh and tenth grade students. She also worked as a substitute teacher in several Rochester area school districts.

Harmer attended Binghamton University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology and her master’s degree in education. She hold two certifications—grades 7-12 Biology and grades 7-12 General Science.

She grew up in Penfield, N.Y., on the outskirts of Rochester. She has relocated to Old Forge and is enjoying getting to know the area.

She says she is looking forward to everything about her new job. “I am so excited to meet the students and parents, and to share my enthusiasm for science,” she said.

One of her biggest challenges will be deciding which activities and clubs to become involved in at the school, because there are so many choices.

Amanda Jones will be joining the district as a business and technology teacher.

Her previous work experience includes several years as a marketing brand manager in the beverage industry. After a successful career in business, she went back to school to become a teacher. She has spent the past two years teaching business and technology at a school in the Louisville, Ky. area.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration, master’s degree in teaching, and master’s degree in instructional technology from the University of Louisville.

Growing up, Jones lived in various parts of the Midwest and has lived in the Louisville, Ky. area since college, except for a year she spent working in the Rochester area.

She will relocate to the Old Forge area with her husband, Kevin, who is originally from Seneca Falls, N.Y., and their 10-month old son, Hunter.

She says her biggest challenge living here will be learning to drive in the snow.

She has visited the Adirondacks every summer for the past six years and has fallen in love with the area. “I am looking forward to working in a smaller town and being a part of a community,” she said. “I lived in a several small towns before moving to Louisville where I went to college, and I really miss the sense of community.”