Meet the PTA Faculty Liaisons for 2009/2010
Elementary School Rep -- Nina Blauner
Nina Blauner has been teaching for eight years, the past four in the first-second year loop in Bronxville. She previously taught in the Bronx, where she says she learned a lot and worked with kids for whom the sun sometimes shone only at school.
Teaching is actually Nina’s second career – she started in sales in the garment industry – and she believes she was meant to work with kids. “I feel incredibly lucky that I have a job that I look forward to waking up to everyday,” she says. “I hope my enthusiasm for what I do and where I am is contagious.”
Nina lives in Riverdale, but hopes to move closer to Bronxville, where her two children, Ethan and Zeke, attend school. Ethan, a ninth grader, would like nothing more than to be able to walk to school and back, she says, adding that Zeke, a third grader, would be happy with any space where he could play ball.
Besides loving her work, Nina says she dreams of someday appearing on the shows “Survivor” or “Amazing Race.” She quickly adds that the shows would have to be filmed in the summer.
Elementary School Rep – Justine Rutherford
Justine Rutherford, our other PTA Faculty Liaison representing the Elementary School, has been with the Bronxville School for three years, teaching the 1st and 2nd grades.
The daughter of two educators, she grew up in Thornwood, N.Y., and, as a little girl, enjoyed playing school with her two sisters. Justine has always wanted to be a teacher. She received her undergraduate degree (Psychology) from Purchase College and Masters degree (Early Childhood Education and Literacy) from Long Island University.
Justine's husband Michael is also an educator in Westchester. He teaches physical education in Valhalla. Justine and her husband live in White Plains.(and her parents still live in the house she grew up in). During the summer months, and any other time Justine has free time, she enjoys reading, playing with her niece and nephew and spending time outdoors.
Justine is thrilled to be teaching in Bronxville and considers herself extremely fortunate to spend her days working with amazing students, supportive parents and dedicated educators.
Middle School Rep – Meg Weiss
Meg Weiss, our PTA Faculty Liaison representing the Middle School, is enjoying her second year of teaching English at Bronxville. She previously taught high school for five years in Rockland County. In May she completed a Masters in Adolescent Special Education at Lehman College. She earned her Masters in English Education from Teachers College and spent four cold years at the University of Rochester.
Meg grew up in Rockland County and lives in Manhattan. Traveling is one her biggest passions. This past summer she went on a tour for teachers to Poland and Israel, which she says was one of her most meaningful learning experiences. She also has led teen tours around the U.S. and Canada for Westcoast Connection, You could say Meg loves adventure. In her spare time, she also enjoys cooking and exploring NYC.
This year Meg became Advisor to the Middle School Student Government. Stay tuned for the return of the Bronco Card, a card for students that offers discounts at local businesses.
"I feel lucky to work in such a warm, wonderful school," she says. "Getting to know my students is the best part."
High School Rep -- Jim Agnello
Jim Agnello has been a high school special ed counselor in Bronxville for 12 years.
“I love working with the students and find it especially rewarding to see the kids’ transformation as they move from ninth to 12th grades,” he says. He previously was a school counselor at Croton Harmon High School.
During the school year, Jim coaches Bronxville's varsity cross country and ski teams. And during Spring break and summer vacation, he travels with the kids to Nicaragua, where they build homes, and to Tanzania, where they work in an orphanage. He joined the board of the JBFC Orphanage in Tanzania after his first visit two years ago.
Jim also serves the district as a member of its Staff Development Governing Board, a group of teachers and administrators who oversee training and develop goals. In addition, he is a member of the State University of New York's Enrollment Management Board, which addresses issues in the college admissions process.
