The Board of Education hired Corrina Parsio to be its new 9-12 grade STEM Supervisor at its Thursday monthly meeting. Parsio replaces Jameel Misbahuddin, who left in August for a new position in the Caldwell-West Caldwell school district.
According to the agenda, Parsio’s contract runs “1/3/23 or sooner [through] 6/30/23”. Her salary will be $105,377.
Three board members voted against the appointment: Kaitlin Wittleder, Elissa Malespina and Johanna Wright.
There was no discussion before the vote, other than Malespina stating, “I think I made my points clear previously and I stand by them.”
Parsio was not mentioned by name by Superintendent Ronald Taylor, Board President Thair Joshua or any board member.
Village Green followed up with Taylor with a request for biographical information or any comment or statement about Parsio; he declined to respond.
Update: On Monday, November 21 at 3:12 p.m., SOMSD Director of Communications sent the attached PDF (see below) and a quote from Ann Bodnar, Asst. Supt. Curriculum & Instruction: “I am happy to welcome Corrina Parsio as one of the newest hires to our C&I team as the STEM Supervisor for grades 9 – 12, and thank the Board for their vote of confidence in our team’s decision. We believe that Ms. Parsio’s years of experience, accomplishments and dedication to student learning in the STEM field will be a great addition to the District and look forward to having her officially join us in January.”
According to her LinkedIn profile, Parsio has been a Biology Teacher Leader and an AP Biology, Anatomy & Physiology Educator in the Somerville Public Schools for four years. (see Ms. Parsio’s resume attached below)
In October, she was one of two New Jersey teachers inducted into the New Jersey Education Association’s 2022 Class of Emerging Leaders, which honors teachers “who have made an impact as leaders in their schools, districts, and communities and have been in education for 5 to 15 years.”
From a release from the New Jersey Education Association: “I am not surprised that Corrina has received this award,” said Somerville Education Association President Patrick Frain. “She is an amazing teacher who goes above and beyond, day in and day out, for all of her students.”
