A new school year is set to begin Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Along with new students, programs and policies, the Oxford school district welcomes with open arms 16 new staff members who are going to help mold and shape young minds for years to come.
New staff members include:
Justin Dickerson ? Dickerson will be a Behavioral Consultant to all the schools within the District. He will also coach the JV Boys Basketball team.
He received his BBA in Business from Baker College, a grad certificate in Economics at New College Oxford in the United Kingdom and his M.A.in Special Education from West Virgina. He has six total years of classroom experience in Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia. He is 30 years old and married with a 9-year-old son.
Jeanne DiCicco ? DiCicco will be part of the Post-Secondary Special Education Program. She received her Bachelor’s from Wayne State in Education/Special Education, and her Master’s in Learning and Behavioral Disorders from Saginaw Valley State.
She has been in the education system for 18 years prior to Oxford. She lives in Macomb Twp. with her husband and three daughters. She describes herself as a soccer and cheer mom. ‘My passion is teaching and I enjoy watching children grow and become independent learners,? she said.
Connie Garza-Beyer ? Garza-Beyer will be an Oxford Middle School Special Education Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) teacher. She received her Bachelors Degree from Eastern Michigan and her Master’s Degree from Madonna University.
She is married with two daughters ages 12 and 10 and a stepson who is 11.
She has taught in a variety of settings and is excited to be a part of Oxford Schools and the new ASD program and feels like it is a privilege to help students learn to their fullest potential.
Luis Gomez ? An OHS graduate himself, Gomez returns to be a Special Education teacher at Lakeville Elementary. He received his Bachelors in Cognitive Impairments for Kindergarten through 12th grade and Elementary Education from Wayne State. ‘I am excited to be back in Oxford,? he said.
Jim Gourlay ? Gourlay will be teaching both Biology and Chemistry at Oxford High School. He graduated from Wayne State in 2007 and is certified to teach Science, Math and Social Studies. He has coached both wrestling and football in the past and hopes to continue coaching in Oxford.
Yuan Huang ? Huang will be an Elementary Chinese Teacher. She completed the Alternative Chinese Language Teacher program at Ohio State two years ago. She is currently working towards her Masters Degree in Bilingual/Bicultural Education at Wayne State.
She is currently living in Troy with her family, husband, 10-year-old son and cat Mimi.
Leigh Ann Huller ? Huller will be a Special Education Teacher at Daniel Axford. She graduated from Michigan State University and taught Special Education for 10 years before staying home with her two boys.
She has been tutoring for the past six years. ‘I look forward to getting back in the classroom in Oxford,? she said.
Brad Keeney ? Keeney will be teaching Special Education at OHS. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University.
Born in Pennsylvania, Brad brings his wife and daughter to the school district. He loves to coach wrestling and is excited about becoming part of the Oxford community and school district.
Min Liu ? Liu came to Oxford after graduating from the Chinese Pedagogy Institute of Indiana University. She is going to teach Kindergarten Chinese at Clear Lake Elementary and Daniel Axford Elementary. Liu is originally from China and moved to the United States in 1991.
‘I hope my background can fill the gap between two different cultures and two different understandings,? she said.
Paul Marfia ? Marfia is going to be a Social Studies teacher at OHS and coach the Varsity Boys Basketball team. He received his bachelor’s from Central Michigan and his master’s from Western Michigan. Marfia comes from Manistee High School, where he taught for 11 years. During that time he also coached Varsity basketball. He has been married for seven years to his wife Rebecca, and has three daughters Isabel, Madison and Savanna.
Sarah Martin ? Martin will be teaching Kindergarten at Lakeville Elementary. She graduated from Michigan State University.
She grew up in Romeo and recently bought a house in Leonard. She has a passion for children and loves to read and cook.
Matt Robydek ? Robydek comes to Oxford as a first year teacher who will be teaching fifth grade at Oxford Elementary.
He attended Michigan State University and graduated in May 2009 with his teaching major in Integrated Science.
He is originally from Cheboygan, MI.
Sara Rosenthal ? Rosenthal will be teaching at Clear Lake Elementary in a second and third grade blended classroom.
She graduated from Michigan State in 2005 and is pursuing her master’s degree and will graduate in December 2009.
This will be her fourth year teaching in both public and private schools.
Rong Sun ? Sun will be teaching AP Statistics and Geometry at Oxford High school. Coming over from China four years ago, she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Foreign Language Education and a Master’s in Teaching from Wayne State. She is also certified in Secondary Education and has teaching majors in Math and Chinese.
Rick Vaughn ? Vaughn graduated from Eastern Michigan University and will be teaching Geometry and Algebra 2 at OHS.
He loves sports, being active and going up north with family and friends.
Cynthia White ? White will be teaching English and Spanish at OHS.
She received her bachelor’s through University of Alabama and she received her teaching certificate from Oakland University. She is working on completing her master’s through Oakland University.
She is originally from Tuscalousa, Alabama and has been living in Michigan for almost 17 years. She has three children, ages 14, 10 and 4. She enjoys spending time with her family and traveling and is an avid reader.
Language Education and a Master’s in Teaching from Wayne State.
She is also certified in Secondary Education and has teaching majors in Math and Chinese.
Rick Vaughn
Rick graduated from Eastern Michigan University and will be teaching Geometry and Algebra 2 at Oxford High School.
He loves sports, being active and going up north with family and friends. ‘I am very excited to be a part of Oxford Community Schools and look forward to a successful school year,? he said.
Cynthia White
She will be teaching English and Spanish at Oxford High School.
She received her Bachelors through University of Alabama and she received her teaching certificate from Oakland University. She is working on completing her Masters through Oakland University.
She is originally from Tuscalousa, Alabama and has been living in Michigan for almost 17 years. She has three children, ages 14,10 and four. She enjoys spending time with her family and traveling and is an avid reader.