By Carol P. Bartold, Senior Reporter

Apr. 25, 2018: In a unanimous vote at its April 16 meeting, the Bronxville Board of Education granted tenure to Jennifer Forsberg, director of technology for the district, and Isadore (Izzy) Fattore, school media specialist in the elementary school library. Tenure for Forsberg and Fattore will become effective September 1, 2018.

In presenting Jennifer Forsberg for tenure, Dr. Mara Koetke, director of curriculum and instruction, noted that, since Forsberg’s arrival at The Bronxville School in 2015, she has amassed a long list of accomplishments. “Her pace and enthusiasm are models for the entire leadership team,” Koetke said.

Forsberg has led a seamless transition to a new student information learning system and created a Smart Schools bond application, approved by the New York State Education Department, which has allowed the school to establish a significant expansion of student access to technology. Forsberg also successfully coordinated infrastructure upgrades and collaborated with Syntax Consultancy to expand the school’s social media presence.

In addition, Forsberg planned and implemented a K-5 coding curriculum, which serves as a basis for continual revision to the middle school curriculum. She has collaborated with high school faculty to expand computer science course offerings and offers professional development to teachers.

Koetke noted that the student help desk, which Forsberg established, is the envy of many local school districts.

“Jennifer engages with all community stakeholders to ensure that our students are prepared for an ever-expanding digital world,” Koetke said. “She exemplifies the qualities of leadership and innovation, a must for any instructional technologist.”

Most recently, Forsberg received the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center TELL (Transforming Education through Leadership and Learning) Award, given to leaders who demonstrate outstanding and innovative approaches to technology integration.

Elementary school Principal Tricia Murray presented Isadore (Izzy) Fattore to the board for tenure. “He has transformed our library into a space where students not only learn about the library but also about innovation and problem-solving,” she said.

Murray praised Fattore’s spirit of collaboration with teachers and his support for the needs posed by problem-based learning research problems.

In addition to creating a curriculum for the elementary school library that promotes appropriate library standards, literacy, and individual citizenship, Fattore has created a maker space for students where they can work together to design and create. “He has collaborated with teachers in designing challenges in the maker space to ensure that he is meeting our students’ needs,” Murray noted.

Superintendent Dr. Roy Montesano, in his congratulatory remarks, noted, “One of the best moments in an educator’s career is the day they receive tenure.” He added that, in Bronxville, tenure is regarded as a privilege rather than a right.

“It is a belief of those recommending tenure that the candidates have not only demonstrated excellence at what they do inside and outside of the classroom,” Montesano said, “but that they work to contribute to the school community. I’m very pleased that we have two such individuals recommended to the board for tenure.”

Pictured here:  Newly tenured teachers Jennifer Forsberg and Isadore Fattore.

Photo by N. Bower