Faculty Directory

Barbara Perillo

Class 201

Barbara Perillo has been a teacher at The Calais School since 1987. She possesses a Teacher of the Handicapped Certification, Elementary School Teacher K-5, and a Teacher of Psychology Certification. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Rutgers University and a Master’s degree in Special Education from New Jersey City University.

Betsy Gallapo

Middle School Social Worker

Mrs. Gallopo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at the Calais School where she works our middle and high school students. Mrs. Gallopo has over 25 years experience working as a social worker and a Student Assistance Counselor in two different school districts. She holds a Bachelors Degree from Drew University and a Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University.

Brittany Roberts

STEM

Ms. Roberts teaches elementary reading and language arts and the Elementary STEM Program as well as 8th grade STEM and 11th Grade Earth Science and Applications. Ms. Roberts also spreads Calais Cougar school spirit as head coach of the Calais Spirit Squad. She graduated from Kutztown University and holds an Elementary and Students with Disabilities certification.

Carol Tacinelli

Elementary School

Mrs. Tacinelli has been an Elementary School Teacher at The Calais School since 1987. She completed her Bachelor’s degree at Hunter College and has a Master’s degree from Columbia University. She is a certified Teacher of the Handicapped and Elementary Education teacher. Mrs. Tacinelli was celebrated as The Calais School’s Teacher of the Month for the month of December 2015.

Casey Roerden

Health, Animal Assisted Therapy

Casey Roerden is our Animal Handler and Health Teacher and has been with the Calais School since 2013. She holds her Teacher of Health and Physical Education certification. She facilitates Animal Assisted Therapy with her two dogs, Cali and Sage on the counseling team alongside our licensed counselors and social workers. Having the dogs as participants in therapy assists students in anxiety reduction, self-regulation, and more while providing a safe and nurturing atmosphere so that students can participate with a non-judgmental companion.

Chris Catalano

Art

Chris Catalano is our visual arts teacher and has been with the Calais School since 1995. Mr. Catalano holds his Teacher of the Handicapped and his Teacher of Art certifications. He co-directs the school musical and manages the stage crew.

Cynthia Polles

Transition Education, Social Studies & Creative Writing

Ms. Polles has been a teacher at The Calais School since 2010. She possesses certifications as Teacher of the Handicapped and as Teacher of Social Studies.

Danielle Isetts

Lower School Social Worker

Ms. Isetts is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified School Social Worker who works with our elementary students at the Calais School. She has extensive experience counseling youth and families in a variety of settings. In addition to her career in social work, Ms. Isetts is a Registered Yoga Teacher and enjoys incorporating mindfulness and meditation practices into her therapeutic work with students. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Drew University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Rutgers University.

Fran Cifrodelli

Mathematics

Math teacher Fran Cifrodelli has been with The Calais School since 1978. She holds her Teacher of the Handicapped Certification. She is also certified to teach elementary school.

George Papadakis

Computer Technology

Mr. Papadakis has been with The Calais School since 2009. He teaches Computer Technology for our middle and high school students. Mr. Papadakis possesses a Teacher of Comprehensive Business Certification as well as a Cooperative Education Coordinator certification and a Teacher of Computer Service Technicians 4147. Mr. Papadakis is also responsible for IT issues for students and staff.

Gerardo Aquino

Music Teacher

Mr. Aquino joins us from Randolph Middle School where he held the position of Interim Orchestra Director. He is professionally affiliated with the New Jersey Music Educators Association, National Guild Piano Teachers Association and the National Association for Music Education. Outside of Calais, Mr. Aquino runs Aquino Piano Music Studio, where he offers private instrumental lessons to students of all ages.

Heather Bock

Reading Specialist

Heather Bock is a certified Reading Specialist. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Communication from New York University and her Master’s degree in Education and Literacy from Bank Street College in NYC. Ms. Bock has been an elementary classroom teacher in both New York and New Jersey. She practices as a private reading teacher, specializing in the Orton-Gillingham method, in the West Orange area.

Holly Bracken

Speech Language Pathologist

Holly Bracken joined the Calais School in 2016 as a Speech Language Pathologist. She received her BA in Communication Studies and Linguistics from Rutgers University in 2002, and completed her Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders at William Paterson University in 2007.

Ms. Bracken comes to Calais with 9 years of experience successfully treating a diverse population of children and young adults in the education system, including 5 years in a specialized program for children with autism. She also continues to work with infants and their families in the New Jersey Early Intervention Program. Holly is trained in PROMPT therapy, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). She is passionate about connecting with and engaging each child in a manner that supports their individual needs.

James Rosocha

Reading

Mr. Rosocha holds his Reading Specialist Certification from Rider University and has a degree in music education. Mr. Rosocha has taught special needs children of all ages for the Reading Development Program at Rider University.

Joe Milioto

Graphic Design & Digital Arts

Joe Milioto teaches Graphic Design at the Calais School. He is a graduate of Montclair University with a BA in Art Education K-12. Mr. Milioto comes to Calais with over 16 years of experience as a Graphic Designer and Award Winning Illustrator.

Karen Liberato, LCSW

Upper School Social Worker

Mrs. Liberato has been a member of The Calais School Counseling Team since 2009. She is a Certified School Social Worker and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She practices privately in the Cedar Grove area.

Lara Ferment

Reading

Lara Ferment is a certified Elementary K-5 teacher and a Teacher of Students with Disabilities. Mrs. Ferment recently earned her Natural Canine Behavior Rehabilitation Certification. She and Cleo often facilitate occupational therapy and reading lessons where they help provide a calm, friendly atmosphere so students can improve their skills without fear of judgement.

Laura Conti

English

Laura Conti is the high school English teacher and has been with The Calais School since 2014. A graduate of SUNY Cortland, she received her Master’s degree from Fordham University. Ms. Conti possesses her Teacher of the Handicapped Certification and is Highly Qualified as a teacher of English Language Arts.

Lisa Marie Vallo

Structured Learning Experience

Mrs. Vallo joined The Calais School in September 2014 as the Structured Learning Experience Coordinator. She received her degree from Montclair State University and has been in Education for over 15 years.

Marjane Vitaletti, LPC

Upper CRC

A counselor at The Calais School since 1997, Marjane Vitaletti is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified School Counselor and has a Master’s Degree in Special Education. She teaches yoga classes at Calais and in the community. She is also the co-advisor for the senior class and organizes community projects.

MaryAnn Braen

Class 301, Career & Technical Education

Ms. Braen has been with The Calais School for 14 years. She possesses her Teacher of the Handicapped and Elementary Education certifications. In addition, she in the process of obtaining her CTE Certification in Family and Consumer Science: Child and Family Development. She is the co-coach of the Calais School cheerleading squad.

Maureen Damer

Media Communications

Maureen Damer joined The Calais School faculty in 2015 as our Teacher of Media Communications. She received her Bachelor of the Arts degree in Broadcasting at Montclair State University and is currently pursuing her Career and Technical Education certification.

Before joining the Calais team, Maureen was a Digital Producer and Video Editor at Bloomberg News for over eleven years. In her spare time, Maureen enjoys running, traveling, and spending time with her children and family.

Michael Ferguson

Mathematics

Mick Ferguson joins the Calais School as a Special Education Teacher of Elementary and Secondary Mathematics. He previously taught at the Mountain Lakes High School and brings with him over thirty years of teaching experience. Outside of the classroom he is the proud father of two college-graduate sons and is an avid sports enthusiast.

Michelle Geise

Occupational Therapy

Michelle Geise is our School Occupational Therapist and received her MS in Occupational Therapy from The University of Scranton. Ms. Geise joins us from Innovative Therapeutic Services where she continues to work as a staff OT providing early intervention services. She also completed a Level II Clinical at Somerset Hills Therapeutic Riding Center, where she provided Equine Assisted Therapy to pediatric patients.

Michelle Primiano

Guidance

Michelle Primiano has been the Guidance Counselor at The Calais School since 2013. She organizes our annual Transition Fair. Before coming to The Calais School, Ms. Primiano was at Create Charter High School in Jersey City, where she worked closely with the administration to develop the school.
Patti Russo
Science of Cooking, Financial Literacy

Paul Vitaletti, Ed.S, LMFT, CSSW

Assistant Director

Assistant Director Paul Vitaletti has been with The Calais School since 1976. He is a certified School Social Worker, Teacher of the Handicapped and a Licensed Marital and Family Therapist. He has been in private practice since 1989 with offices in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Rene Bellott

Floral Design

Rene Bellott is our Floral and Landscape Design teacher in the CTE Program. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Science and a Teacher of Science degree from William Paterson University, where she minored in Chemistry.

Ms. Bellott and her husband have owned the floral shop Flowers by Rene in Lake Hiawatha for 30 years. She joined The Calais School in 2011.

Vincent Femia

Physical Education

Mr. Femia has been with The Calais School since 2010. He teaches Health, Physical Education, and Driver’s Education and is a certified Teacher of Students with Disabilites. Mr. Femia oversees senior class fundraising as one of our senior class advisors. He also coaches basketball and cross-country.

Wendy Davies

Class 202

Ms. Davies has been with The Calais School since 1984 and is a 5th and 6th Grade Elementary School Teacher. She is a certified Teacher of the Handicapped and Elementary School teacher.