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Rensselaer City School District

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Chain of Communication Home

Chain of Communication

The Rensselaer City School District’s Communication protocol helps to promote direct, open, and respectful interactions so that problems and concerns can be worked out quickly and efficiently. The district encourages any and all questions from parents and residents regarding school matters. Phone numbers can be found below.

A RENSSELAER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT GUIDE

Superintendent’s Office
Joseph Kardash, Superintendent
Shailyn Payton, District Clerk
518-465-7509 x4101

WHO TO CONTACT IN THE DISTRICT IF YOU REQUIRE ASSISTANCE 

If you have questions or concerns with transportation:
Bus Garage
Brad Chmielewski, Transportation Supervisor
518-283-0671

If you have questions or concerns with School Registration: 
Guidance Office
Tracy Foust, District Registrar
518-396-3518 EXT 3401

If you have questions or concerns in regards to Pupil Personnel Services:
PPS Office
Brenda Headley, CSE Secretary
518-465-6440 EXT 6305

If you have to call in an absence (any grade level) or have attendance concerns please contact: 
Contact the Attendance Office
Jay Foust, District Attendance Officer
Attendance Hotline – 518-436-8564

If you have questions or concerns regarding technology or with your child’s Chromebook:
Contact the IT Department
Sylvi Joseph, Director of Technology
Patrick Brunette, Network Administrator
IT Helpdesk – 518-275-4349

If you have questions or concerns regarding Title IX or DASA:
PPS Office
Danielle Remillard, Director of Pupil Personnel Services
518-465-6440 Ext. 6001

If you have questions or concerns regarding ARP or Stimulus Funds Spending Plan:
Business Office
Meghan Lekkas, School Business Administrator
518-465-6871

Van Rensselaer Elementary School

If you have questions regarding Van Rensselaer Elementary School please find your area of concern through grade level and subject then contact that individual:

Phone number: 518-436-4618
FAX- 518-436-4692

VRES Office
Jeffrey Palmer, Principal
Angela Leinfelder, Secretary
518-436-4618 Ext 1003

Discipline or student concerns:
Dave Martyn – Dean of Students
518-436-4618 Ext 1302

School Nurse 
Gerry Colliton RN
518-396-3484

Prekindergarten:
Kiera Chenot
Kim Mooney
Michelle Parella-Forrest (CEO Teacher) 

Kindergarten:
Theresa Deso
Rita Fisher 
Christina Lane / Kristin Darby – Common Branch 
Brittany Wanko / Kristin Darby – Common Branch 

Grade 1:
Sarah Agans 
Heidi Blake / Monica Cooley – Common Branch 
Medea Jones 
Kristin Gentile 
Tara Kyer

Grade 2:
Kelly Clum / Maria Rowe – Common Branch 
Jackie Lindemann – ELA / Social Studies 
Annemarie Spencer 
Morgan Wyman 

Grade 3:
Shannon Kerr / Kendra Hadden – Common Branch 
Tricia Nixon – Math 
Matt Nunziato – ELA / Science 

Grade 4:
Abby Alix-Hansen / Stephanie Carbone – Common Branch 
Janelle Endres – Math/Science/Social Studies
Kathy Dominy-White – ELA

Grade 5:
Meghan Alonzo / Katie Bloomer – Common Branch 
Brad Endres – Math/Science/Social Studies
Amy Mooney – ELA 

Special Classes:
Kristin Alonzo (3-4) 
Hannah Gillis (4-5) 
Chelsea Pekala (2-3) 
Rachna Shankar (K-1) 

Special Areas:
Paddy Bailey – PE 
Krista Sousa – PE 
Anna Bruno – PE 
Rob Hosley – Music 
Nicole McNamara – Library / Tier 2 Support 

Reading Support:
Tammy Verhagen
Pam Goodwin

Math Support:
Sarah Hurley
David Martyn

ENL Services
Megan Nahal
Charles Seagle

Additional Services:
Kristin Crouch - Instructional Coach
Caroline Macrae - Speech
Meagan McGuiness – Speech

Rensselaer Junior/Senior High School

If you have questions regarding Rensselaer Junior/Senior High School please find your area of concern; alphabetical order, grade level & subject and then contact that individual:

Phone Number- 518-436-8561
FAX- 518-436-8563

Dominic Pitaniello, Principal
Ann Marie Coulombe, Secretary

518-436-8561 Ext 3002

Discipline or student concerns:Bob Martinelli

School Nurse
Tammy Slingerland RN, School Nurse
518-396-3486

English
Craig, Anna – English 7
Gray, Connor – English 6 
Higgs, Andrew – English 9, English 12 
Herrick, Kristin – English 10, Journalism
Leonard, Jen – English 8, Instructional Coach 

Math
Charron, Meghan – Math 8 
Dobert, Ann – Algebra, Foundations of Algebra 
Keddy, Josephine – Algebra, Foundations of Algebra 
Murphy, Meghan – Math 7  
Quinn, Michael – Math 6 
Santiago, Noel - Math 
Schacht, Jackie – Algebra Lab, Algebra II, Calculus, Instructional Tech Coach 
Tamburrino, Beth – Geometry, Geo Lab, Algebra II Lab, Pre-Calculus 

Physical Education
Davey, Chris - PE, ISS 
Preston, Joel – PE Boys 7, HS PE 
Sousa, Krista – Elementary PE, PE Girls 7, PE Girls 8 
Spath, William – HS PE, PE Boys 8, Athletic Director 

Science
Beiter, Scott – Science 8, SUNY Biology, Biology Lab 
Boland, Lisa – Living Environment, Living Environment Lab 
Curran, Jonn – Earth Science, Earth Science Lab, General Earth Science
Fountain, Kristina – Science 6 
Muzio, Stephanie – Chemistry, Chem Lab, General Chemistry 
Sharlow, Kate – Science 7 

Social Studies
Quackenbush, Kaitlin – Humanitarian Crises & Global 10
Connor, Kelly – Global History 9, Government, Intro to Social Justics 
Frasco, Laura – US History, Public Speaking, Eco 
Gumbs, Marylou – Social Studies 6 
Hillerman, Robert – Social Studies 7, Current Events 
Hoffman, Rob – Pysch / 20th Century, Intro to Law 
Murray, Kristin – Social Studies 8 

Spanish
DelCarmen, Shannon – Spanish 7, Spanish I 
Sklar, Deb – Spanish I, III and IV
Steck, Tricia – English 11, English 12, English 12 U-Alb 
Zimbal, Ashley – Spanish 8, Spanish II 

Specials
Apunte, Rachel – Music 7, 7 & 8 Chorus, Elementary Music 
Boone, Brian – Health 6, Health (Sage) 
Bryden, Ed – Intro To Design I, PLTW 8x, Introduction to Design II, PLTW 7 
Jenner, Heather – Librarian, English 6, English 7 
Kent, Tessa – Studio Art, Advance Art, Art 7, Art 8 
Mahar, Mary – Home & Careers 6 – 8, Adult Living Skills, Parenting, Food & Nutritions, Clothing & Interior Design 
McGough, Mike – Lessons, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Music Theory, 7 & 8 Grade Band, Music 8 

Alternative Education
Addorisiso, Rob – AE English 7 & 8, , AE English 9 & 10, AE 11 & 12, AE Spanish 7 
Capozzola, Barbara – AE Social Studies 7 & 8, AE Eco & Gov, AE US History, AE Global 9 & 10 
Mouawad, Jessica – DC English, DC Foundations of Algebra, Foundations Algebra, Foundations General Earth Science, DC English 9 & 10 
Weischedel, Jason – APEX Credit Recovery, AE General Science, AE Algebra, AE College Prep Math, AE Math 7 & 8 

Additional Services
Alonzo, Kristin – Resource 6,  English 6, Math 6, Science 6, Social Studies 6 
Britton-Smith, Laurie – Foundations, Self Cont. Global 9/10, Living Environment, Resource, English 9/10 
Danz, Deb – English 7, Math 7, Social Studies 7, Resource 7 
Hall, Carrie – Self-Contained 6 
Jacobs, Abigail – English 8, Science 8, Resource 8, Social Studies 8, Math 8 
Ryan, Roberta – Direct Consultant ​​​​
Lang, Shannon – Living Environment, Foundations, English 9, Resource, Global 9 
Seagle, Charles – ESL Grade 7 
Shanahan, Vanessa – English 10, CC Algebra, Earth Science, Global 10 
Zobel, Regina – Self-Contained 7 & 8