Depew board grants tenure to two middle school teachers, approves nine new hires

The Depew Union Free School District Board of Education on Tuesday approved tenure for two middle school teachers and accepted a consent agenda that included nine new employee hires.

Middle school principal Bernadette Crockett recommended tenure for Shana Heberly, a special education teacher, and Donald Teresa, an English teacher, praising both for their classroom instruction and extracurricular contributions. "Shana is a true advocate for her students, always putting them first," Crockett said. About Don, Crockett said, "His lessons are engaging, challenging, and always meaningful." The board approved the tenure recommendations as part of the consent agenda.

The consent agenda also formally added nine new employees to district payroll; the transcript lists them by first name as Alexis, Genteel, Mandy, Emily, Sheila, Laurie, Trevor, Luke and Joseph. The board president recognized them during the meeting and congratulated the new hires.

Crockett described specific duties the new tenured teachers perform: Heberly serves on PBIS and character-education committees, advises WEB student leaders, volunteers for events and supports students through programs such as Homework Helpers; Teresa helped develop the new ELA curriculum, advises student council and participates broadly in building culture and extracurricular activities. Crockett noted both teachers also chaperone overnight trips such as the eighth-grade Cedar Point trip.

The motions to approve the consent agenda and the tenure recommendations passed by voice vote. No roll-call tallies were recorded in the public transcript.