BOE Approves Agreement with CFEA
On June 4, the Chagrin Falls Board of Education approved an agreement with the Chagrin Falls Education Association that will be in place until August 2021. The union consists of district teaching staff.
The agreement is a result of work between the board of education and union leadership.
“We appreciate the collaborative effort in working through critical issues facing the district as we continue to sustain a high-quality education for our students,” said Superintendent Robert Hunt. “The agreement includes a shared responsibility in the area of healthcare that will assist with long-term fiscal stability of the district.”
Teacher of the Month Award
Kathleen Aranavage, the eighth-grade Spanish teacher at Chagrin Falls Middle School, has earned the recognition of “Teacher of the Month” by the Ohio Lottery.
The Ohio Lottery “Teacher of the Month” award recognizes outstanding teachers and faculty for their excellence in the classroom, leadership, creativity and community involvement and dedication on behalf of Ohio students grades K-12.
Laila Discenza, principal of Chagrin Falls Middle School, nominated Aranavage and said, “I have had the pleasure of working with her for the last year two years and I am consistently impressed with the instructional strategies used daily, the level of school commitment, dedication depicted, and the contagious passion exuded. A passion for teaching. A passion for learning. A passion for middle-level students.”
In her nomination, Discenza said it is apparent by all that Aranavage loves her job. She has a smile on her face and views changes as challenges in which to find student benefit. Her dedication is exemplary as she called in from her vacation to be a part of an interviewing team for hiring new teachers. She is constantly improving through examining her work as an educator and taking feedback from others.
This year she created a teacher book study with a book about how to reach all students. The group of teachers meets monthly after school to discuss the book and integrate the lessons into the classroom. She not only brings innovative ideas to her classroom, but also shares them with co-workers.
Aranavage works to better herself as a teacher by attending multiple conferences. She attended a National World Language conference in Boston in 2017 and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) conference, to find the most relevant methods of teaching and collaborate with other educators. Aranavage also attended a team development workshop to see first-hand what adolescents are doing to support their social, emotional, and academic needs. She has also taken part in a mentoring program where she became certified to assist teachers who are new to the field. She has already taken on a new teacher to mentor and opened her classroom to the teacher, where they willingly share experiences, knowledge, and advice with each other.
Discenza writes about Aranavage, “She is a team leader, past department chair, Spanish book club leader, teacher book study leader and advisor to student ambassadors and student council. She created a one-stop shop document for our school that includes all major references for teachers to quickly get the data they need.”
She is a member of the Building Leadership Team and has helped create a program for teachers to connect with all students. She uses literacy and technology in the classroom and has even had her students Skype with students in Spain. The Spanish culture is promoted in her lesson plans by having students read a Spanish novel and visiting exhibits at the Cleveland Art Museum. She even flew to Chicago to take part in educational Spanish videos called “Señor Wooly.”
Her students benefit from her lessons as the majority of them advance to Spanish 3, 4 and Advanced Placement.
She leads an interdisciplinary unit called “Monumental Experience” before chaperoning students on a trip to Washington, D.C., in May. The program provides students a better understanding of the development of monuments Aranavage organized a “Diversity Day” at the middle school to teach the students to appreciate other’s differences and focus on being kind and accepting of everyone. This included an eighth-grade field trip to volunteer at St. Herman’s Homeless Shelter in Cleveland and an ice cream social for students and residents at Chagrin Falls Hamlet Senior Center. Aranavage continued to connect students to the Spanish culture by helping with a Zumbathon to get kids moving while raising money for “H(e)arts for Guatemala.”
“Kathleen Aranavage is an inspiring example to all. She is always present for her students; listening and providing help. She is always present for her team of teachers; leading team meetings and assisting them with all the intricate parts of a school, such as curriculum, student advisory, choice offerings and technology. She is a ‘go-to’ person for many as everyone feels comfortable with her. Our school would be quite a different place for students and staff if Kathleen wasn’t around. I’m so thankful and grateful that she’s part of Chagrin Falls Middle School,” said Discenza.