The Sussex County School Boards Association (SCSBA) held its final meeting of the school year on May 6 at the Newton Country Club. SCSBA President Wayne Dunn from High Point Regional called the meeting to order and welcomed both in-person and virtual attendees.
Brian Bosworth, principal of Kittatinny Regional High School, introduced Mary Houghtaling, who has been named the Sussex County Teacher of the Year for 2024-25. Houghtaling, an English teacher at Kittatinny Regional, shared an impactful message about what school board members should understand from a teacher’s perspective.
John Burns, senior legal counsel at the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA), provided an update from the NJSBA Advocacy Team. Kelly Mitchell, an NJSBA field service representative, shared insights from the field service team, and Ronald Hoffman, an alternate on the NJSBA Board of Directors, updated attendees on the recent NJSBA board meeting.
Robert Acerra, the NJSBA county activities coordinator, presented milestone awards and acknowledged the achievements of board of education members in Sussex County. This year, twenty board members were recognized for their collective 350 years of service to their communities.
The following board members were honored:
New Board Member Boardsmanship Certification
- Ann Marie Cooke, Green Township
- Avery Badolato, Stanhope
- Debra Cook, Kittatinny Regional
- Kaitlin Gagnon, Sparta Township
- Mary Jones-Schaming, Kittatinny Regional
- Rachel Kabbash, Franklin Boro
- Allison Orsi, High Point Regional
Certified Board Member Certification
- Kathleen Clohessey, Franklin Boro
- Debra Cook, Kittatinny Regional
- Kristy McFarlane, Byram Township
- Raymond Zimmerman, Vernon Township
Master Board Member Certification
- Ann Marie Cooke, Green Township
- Wayne Dunn, High Point Regional
- Joseph Sweeney, Vernon Township
Certified Board Leader Certification
- Mattia Scharfstein, Stanhope
10-Year Milestone Awards
- Joshua Belardo, Sandyston-Walpack
- Nick Demsak, Hardyston Township
- Brendan Donegan, Ogdensburg
- Wayne Dunn, High Point Regional
- Krista Galante, Stillwater Township
- Timothy Gillen, Hamburg
- Virginia Jones, Wallkill Valley Regional
- Robert Koroski, Andover Regional
- Suzanne Ross, Lafayette
- Mattia Scharfstein, Stanhope
- Louis Slyvester, Kittatinny Regional
15-Year Milestone Awards
- Moira Douglas, Kittatinny Regional
- Raymond Morris, Newton
20-Year Milestone Awards
- Sheila Frayko, Hamburg
- Thomas Kabatra, Wallkill Valley Regional
25-Year Milestone Awards
- Ann Marie Cooke, Green Township
30-Year Milestone Awards
- Robert Carlson, Wallkill Valley Regional
- Joseph Santora, Hampton Township
35-Year Milestone Award
- Robert Greene, Kittatinny Regional
50-Year Milestone Award
- Joyce Anderson, Hampton Township
Marie Bilik, chair of the Sussex County SBA Nominating Committee, presented the slate for the 2025-27 Sussex County SBA officers and members of the NJSBA board of directors, who include:
- Wayne Dunn (High Point Regional) – President
- Raymond Morris (Newton) – 1st Vice President
- Mattia Scharfstein (Stanhope) – 2nd Vice President for Legislation
- Ronald Hoffman (Hardyston Township) – NJSBA Board of Directors Delegate
- Kaitlin Gagnon (Sparta Township) – NJSBA Board of Directors Alternate
Robert Acerra conducted the elections and administered the oath of office for Dunn, Morris, Scharfstein, Hoffman, and Gagnon. President Dunn closed the meeting by sharing some final remarks.
