The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page B15

MYCENTRALJERSEY.COM COURIERNEWS 15B As a longtime speech-language specialist with an equally long list of leadership activities and memberships, Shannon Sharkey was uniquely poised to assume the recently created position of supervisor of special education in Warren Township Schools. The position to me because it allows me to continue to make a difference in the lives of my students on a larger scale, as well as to work collaboratively with district staff and the said Sharkey, who began the new job on July 1. am passionate about special education and find the field extremely Sharkey earned bachelor's and master's degrees in speech-language pathology from The College of New Jersey in 1998 and 2000, respectively. After completing credits toward professional educational development at Marygrove College and Andrews University in Michigan, Sharkey enrolled in the Education Specialist program in Education Leadership, Management and Policy at Seton Hall University, earning a doctoral degree in the spring of 2015. Her professional experience in speech-language pathology began in May 2000 at the Center of Monmouth County in Neptune Township where she provided a continuum of assessment and intervention services of speech-language skills to a diverse community of students.

From there, Sharkey worked in public school districts and at the Developmental Learning Center in New Providence before joining the Warren Township School District in September 2010. is a problem-solver, has exceptional people skills and always works from the perspective of collective collaboration, inclusive experiences, and a positive approach to programming for student said Director of Special Services Candida Hengemuhle, who hired Sharkey for the position. is a natural leader and understands the importance of the school culture and family involvement in As chairperson of the Related Services Professional Learning Community (PLC), Sharkey a team in creating an evidence-based speech-language service intervention that more consistently outlines the provision of services and standardizes practice across the district. Now several months into the new role, Sharkey who is married with three children works closely with Hengemuhle to implement all aspects of special education services. She participates in district curriculum meetings to reinforce and support instruction, while utilizing and coordinating curriculum resources to establish appropriate guidelines for special education programs.

She assists in coordinating the state- mandated Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) alternate testing for eligible students. In addition, she provides professional development training to special education teachers that promotes the principles of Universal Design for Learning, an inclusive educational culture, and the creation of so-called SMART (Specific, Measurable, Agreed Upon, Realistic, Time-Based) goals to support individual student needs. 16 years of experience in improving language and cognition in my students, I plan on transferring my skills to the successful implementation and creation of tiered interventions that support all she said. Sharkey named supervisor of special education MARY ANN MCGANN COURTESY OF WARREN TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS Shannon Sharkey, new supervisor of special education at Warren Township Schools. Kathy Herrington, Cathy Heuschkel and Lillian Guenther, members of the Neshanic Garden Club, were presented recently with Certificates of Appreciation from the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Office on Aging Disability Services.

is with grateful appreciation that we honor your caring and dedicated volunteer service to the Montgomery Senior Center Clients for the care and maintenance of the gardens at the Otto Kaufmann Senior the certificate states. The gardens are located behind the Montgomery Township Senior Center and includes the outside patio, the flag pole and two gardens near the parking lot. For information about the Neshanic Garden Club contact Marion Nation at or 908-359-6317. COURTESY OF DIANA REINHARDT Members of the Neshanic Garden Club (left to right) Kathy Herrington, Cathy Heuschkel and Lillian Guenther were presented Certificates of Appreciation from the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Office on Aging Disability Services. Garden Club members thanked for volunteer work at center STAFF REPORT Alexis Moore, a senior in Hunterdon nursing program, recently had the opportunity to put her education into practice when she spent two weeks on a mission trip shadowing an doctor in the Dominican Republic, according to a district news release.

The trip was organized by Students International an organization focused on long-term, ongoing development in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. During her time on the trip, Moore was worked in variety of different settings, seeing patients in various hospitals and clinics, and even making home visits to certain individuals. entire experience was very rewarding," she said in the news release. "Not only did I learn a lot while I was there, I was also able to put into practice alot of skills I learned from Loraine Skeahan nursing instructor). I was able to check blood sugar, blood pressure, heartbeats, and perform so many other tests." One patient in particular provided some excitement when his blood pressure reading came back at an abnormally high level.

we practice in class, we get used to normal readings and taking that for granted. It was awesome to see how asituation like this is truly handled and how rapidly the patient was transported to a Moore said. In addition to applying her nursing skills, Moore visited schools to speak to students about the importance of defending against mosquito-borne illnesses. are a significant health problem in the countries that Students International provides aid to, and important children understand the measures they can take to reduce the risk of being exposed to these she said. She is also currently planning a presentation to deliver to her Polytech class regarding her experiences in the Dominican Republic and the healthcare system they utilize.

Moore plans to apply to Southeastern and Evangel Universities and pursue a career in nursing. She is also looking forward to spending time in Albania providing nursing assistance to Syrian refugees. skills I learned from Loraine Skeahan at Polytech allowed me to feel comfortable and prepared to go on this trip, and also what makes me believe I can help the Syrian refugees in Moore said. known since seventh grade that I want to pursue this career, and all these experiences are supporting that For more information regarding Nursing program, contact Dan Sexton or call 908-788-1119, ext. 2024.

Polytech senior spends two weeks on mission trip STAFF REPORT COURTESY OF HUNTERDON COUNTY POLYTECH CAREER TECHNICAL SCHOOL Nursing student Alexis Moore spent two weeks shadowing a doctor in the Dominican Republic. The Wardlaw-Hartridge School in Edison conducted its annual Alumni Awards Ceremony and Reception at the conclusion of Fall Fair and Homecoming Day on Oct. 15. The Distinguished Faculty Award was presented posthumously to William P. Kenny, a beloved teacher, coach, administrator and mentor who worked at Wardlaw Country Day School and W-H from 1970-1981.

Adam Kenny of Middlesex, the youngest of six Kenny children and a 1985 graduate of the school, accepted the award on behalf of the Kenny family. Bridget McCormack of Ann Arbor, Michigan, the first female state supreme court justice in the state of Michigan, received the Distinguished Alumna Award. Her close childhood friend, Dr. Corinna Crafton of Edison, W-H Middle School coordinator, made the introductory presentation for Justice McCormack, who graduated from Wardlaw-Hartridge in 1984. Eloise Cordasco of Bernards, Steve Maxwell of Brooklyn, Ryan Hegna of Brielle and the 1980-81-82 golf teams, winners of three consecutive State Prep titles, were inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.

COURTESY OF THE WARDLAW-HARTRIDGE SCHOOL The award winners (left to right) Jim Howard (coach of the 1980-81-82 golf teams), Eloise Cordasco (Athletic Hall of Fame), Adam Kenny (on behalf of Distinguished Faculty Member William P. Kenny Bridget McCormack (Distinguished Alumna), Steve Maxwell (Athletic Hall of Fame) and Ryan Hegna (Athletic Hall of Fame). Wardlaw-Hartridge honors alumni at awards ceremony STAFF REPORT people Crossword Puzzles Posers Sudoku Zig-Zag Quote Cryptogram Wordy Gurdy Answers to puzzles Today's.