Pictured: Back row, left to right: Brian Faehndrich (Principal), Frank Barbagallo (Board Vice President), Kristin Fullam (Assistant Principal), Sarah Clooney (Math Teacher), Georgina Nico (Board Trustee), Susan Yadoff (School Nurse), Sheila McLean (Counselor), Marissa Harrichand (Social Studies Teacher), Jeanine Perrotta (Math Teacher), Dr. Kathleen Greaney (Board Trustee), Grace White (Assistant Superintendent), Tiffany Collins (Language Arts Teacher), James Schappert (Board Trustee), Vivek Bhushan (Board Trustee), Dr. Kerry Postma (Superintendent), Richard Delmonaco (Co-Chair, NJAMLE). Front row, students holding the banner, left to right: Annabel Santana and Ava Preziosi.
Photo Credit: Patricia Salvati, CPA
Eisenhower Middle School Honored with AMLE Schools to Watch Redesignation
On Monday night, Richard Delmonaco, Co-Chair of the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) Schools to Watch program, attended the Wyckoff Board of Education meeting to present Eisenhower Middle School with a prestigious redesignation award. This redesignation is a testament to the school’s continued excellence and dedication to high-quality education for middle-level learners.
The AMLE Schools to Watch program, as outlined on the New Jersey Schools to Watch website, recognizes schools that demonstrate sustained growth and exemplary performance in four key areas:
Academic Excellence – Schools must provide rigorous, relevant, and engaging academic programs that support all students in meeting or exceeding state standards.
Developmental Responsiveness – Schools must create an environment that is sensitive to the unique needs of young adolescents, fostering their physical, emotional, and social development.
Social Equity – Schools must ensure equitable access to opportunities and support for all students, embracing diversity and fostering inclusion.
Organizational Structures and Processes – Schools must have effective systems in place to support innovation, collaboration, and the professional growth of staff.
To achieve redesignation, a school must not only meet these criteria but also demonstrate sustained improvement since its initial designation. This rigorous process involves an in-depth self-assessment, a review of data, and an on-site visit by program evaluators to ensure the school’s practices align with the high standards of the Schools to Watch program.
Principal Brian Faehndrich welcomed Mr. Delmonaco, and Assistant Principal Kristin Fullam was present to share in the honor. Superintendent Dr. Postma later highlighted the significance of the achievement, saying, “This redesignation validates the commitment of Eisenhower Middle School to fostering an exceptional learning environment for all its students.” The recognition serves as both an honor and a responsibility, as Schools to Watch recipients are expected to serve as models for other schools. They share their strategies and best practices, contributing to broader educational improvement efforts across the state and beyond. For Wyckoff School District, this redesignation reinforces the district’s mission to provide an innovative and nurturing education that prepares students for the challenges of tomorrow.