New Teacher Profiles
Luke Archambault is a new teacher here at the high school. He teaches a history class and multiple special education classes. He previously taught history for four years, at an out of district placement school in Holyoke called N.E.A.R.I. School. Archambault also coaches cross country and indoor/outdoor track at here at the high school and he is an ice hockey official. His coaching job and the fact that he grew up in South Hadley were factors in his decision to work here. He is dually certified in Special Ed and History. Archambault states he was ready for a change and this job is working out really well for him. His goal this year is “making the high school a better place to come to school on a daily basis.”
Megan Lee is a new teacher this school year. Here in the high school she teaches numerous subjects including: biology, environmental science, earth and space science, and academic tutoring. Before Lee came to South Hadley, she worked as a Special Ed and science teacher at Springfield High School of Science and Technology. She taught there for seven years before deciding a change was needed. When a job similar to Lee’s previous position opened up, she said she decided to take it. Lee’s goal is to educate students and work on her teaching skills. “I want to learn the process of IEPs a little more, and just work with kids.”
Paula Lonergan is not new to this school, but she is taking up a new position this year. Although she has taught ESL (English as a second language) before, this will be her first position as a Spanish teacher. Apart from leading her own class, Lonergan also works as a paraprofessional and helps Amy Foley. She worked in Special Ed for quite some time and before that she was a social worker. She doesn’t have another job right now; however, she is the mother of three kids, which she says is a full time job in itself. After leaving social work to care for her kids, she found a new path in education. She stated Spanish is a marketable skill in life. “I really feel great about teaching something that I feel like kids can really use in their real life after they graduate.”
Andy Meeker is the Work Based Learning Program Coordinator here at the high school. He mainly teaches career and college readiness skills. He is a licensed school counselor and has a background in community mental health care. This is Meeker’s first teaching job and he also works part time as a mental health counselor. For the past two years he was an intern in the guidance department at the highschool and he decided to take over as the Work Based Learning Program Coordinator. When he’s not busy working, he says he enjoys collecting comic books and related items. Overall, Meeker said he thinks that the students are a pleasure to work with and his goal is “to reach as many students as possible and provide additional support in their search for a fulfilling career.”
Lora Stasio teaches three subjects at the high school: CP Biology, Forensic Science, and Anatomy and Physiology. She taught at Putnam High School and Chestnut Middle School, both of which are in Springfield, MA. Stasio came to South Hadley because she said she had been recently teaching at a lower grade level than she wanted to. In addition to being a teacher here, she works as a veterinarian technician at VCA Shaker Road Animal Hospital and Boston Road Animal Hospital. Stasio says hopes to work with AIC or another college soon on a college level Forensic Science course so that her students can get college credits. She says she wants students to be excited about taking her course. “I love pushing kids beyond their potential. I must say, I haven’t been disappointed yet with my current students.”
