Board welcomes Scipione
Page 4 • Wednesday, December 16, 2015 • The Hammonton Gazette
BOARD, from Page 1
that they actually all three signed to
play baseball for. And it was just a
proud moment for me. So as a head
coach, I know what it is to work as
a team. I’m sure that’s something
that I bring to the table: being a
team player, also my business experience and my leadership qualities,” Scipione said.
Johnson also addressed the
board.
“I have been a citizen of this
community since the day I was
born … I was a teacher in this system. I taught sixth grade. I taught
seventh grade. I taught eighth
grade. And I was an aide in the special ed department before I got the
teaching positions … I have had
many years teaching experience …
I became an administrator and that
was a very rewarding time for me.
I finished my career as an administrator at the Atlantic County Institute for Technology. Before I
was there, I was at the Northfield
Community School for about two
years and transitioned over to the
vocational school where it was my
privilege to be with students who
were choosing careers or possibly
THG/Brittany Mauro. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
exploring careers that they would Raymond Scipione began his tenure on the school board December 10. He
choose for the rest of their lives and is pictured at his swearing in with his wife, Sharon, and sons, Ryan and Branmany of them were going onto col- don. Scipione was appointed to Joseph Giralo’s unexpired term.
lege. Actually, a majority of them
went on to college, and we established the academy system there.
Since then, I retired in 2013, and I
have been working as a supervisor
for student teachers at Stockton
University … I was on the board
of education from, I believe, 2005
until 2011, two terms… Again, it
was a wonderful experience. I had
no agenda when I’m doing the
board. I wanted only to make sure
that I can contribute to the board in
a way that the students of the community would benefit the most,”
Johnson said.
Hernandez spoke to the board as
well.
“Currently, I am the vice president for academic affairs at Atlantic Cape Community College. I
have actually been at the college
for 35 years … Over the years, I’ve
probably done every job at the college quite frankly. I started as an
adjunct faculty moved through as
full-time faculty of computer sciences. I’ve been department chair,
I’ve been director level, associate
dean, dean, and currently, I find
myself as the vice president of academic affairs… I have approximately 350 or so people that work
for me as either direct or indirect
reports. And I manage a budget approximately about $50 million a
year. The various positions I’ve
held have enabled me to have different levels of experience… Over
the years, I’ve had various experiences in dealing with just about
every federal agency out there
that’s involved in funding higher
education. Applied and managed
grants. Over the years, I’ve applied
for three or four different grants as
high as $2.5 million … My experiences are varied. As I said, I think
I covered the whole spectrum,”
Hernandez said.
After an executive session, the
board approved and swore in Scipione to fill the vacant position. All
board members approved without
the approval of Barbara Berenato.
Local resident Mary Gillespie
spoke in support of past board
member Johnson.
“I’m here tonight speaking as an
educator with 30 years experience
in the classroom who’s very interested in the direction and the welfare of our district. I’ve also served
on the Hammonton Education
Foundation for 12 years, many of
them as vice president. I’m here
because as a Hammonton High
School graduate, I support Dr. Johanna Johnson … v