GOWANDA — The most recent meeting of the Gowanda Board of Education featured an agenda full of personnel moves. Among the most notable items on the agenda was the appointment of a new Special Education Teacher, Mary Ann Tonello.

Tonello, a District resident, was hired as a long-term substitute earlier this year. The probationary period of Tonello’s position as a Special Education Teacher begins retroactive to her hiring in late September. Tonello is a graduate of both Buffalo State University and Canisius College with Master’s Degrees in Childhood Education and Students with Disabilities. Tonello holds professional certification in Students with Disabilities Grades 1-12, Childhood Education Grades 1-6, and Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

The Board also approved several other appointments at its recent meeting. Suzanne Britt was appointed as a Teacher Aide; Stephanie Bean was hired as Cook; and Melissa Schlegel was named as a School Monitor. Schlegel was also one of a group of new substitutes appointed at the recent meeting, along with Ashley Arbeiter, Katrina Taber, Madison Rosier, Robbie Riehle, and Riley Persinger.

Nine resignations also appeared on the recent Board of Education meeting agenda, though many of the individuals resigning still remain with the District in other roles.

Matthew Kordrupel resigned from the role of Information Technology Specialist to accept the role of Technology Coordinator. Kaleb White resigned as a Bus Driver to instead serve as a substitute Bus Driver. Amy Ackley and Corinne Hallin each resigned from additional duties beyond their contractual workdays as Special Education teachers.

Stephanie Bean resigned as Food Service Helper; Suzanne Britt resigned as a substitute Teacher, Teaching Assistant and School Monitor; Crystal Dean resigned as School Monitor and substitute Food Service Helper; Amy Meyer resigned as a Teaching Assistant; and Breven McMahon resigned as a Teacher Aide.

Holly Klink was appointed to the position of Freshman Class Advisor; William Harrison was retrospectively approved as a student teacher, alongside Brett Ebling; Breanna Browning was approved as an employee through the Liberty Partnership Program; and Riley Tighe was approved as an employee through the Healthy Kids Program.

Five volunteer coaches were approved by the District: Nathan Brawdy, Michael Horth, Chris Howard, Aimee Gernatt, and Michael Gonzalez. The District also welcomed 20 field experience volunteers for the 2024-2025 school year and appointed 11 others for extracurricular activities.

The next meeting of the Gowanda Board of Education is Wednesday, Dec. 11.