History teacher Joseph Celia has taken on a new position at Triton. This occurrence happened mid-way through the school year and it has stunned his students.

Celia has taken on many different positions at Triton since he first came to the high school. He first began teaching business, transferring to history last year. However, after just a few months of this current school year, Celia has now taken on the REACH program.

For anyone who is unaware of REACH, it is a voluntary, in school program designed to assist students who may need support academically, socially, and /or emotionally.

Since Celia has taken on this job, he had to explain to his students the change they should expect as he leaves teaching history for the remainder of the year.  

¨I can tell you that it was very difficult saying goodbye to my history classes.  I was very fortunate to have some of the best students in the school, who I will miss seeing on a day to day basis,¨ said Celia.

But as disappointing as it was to leave his students, he explained why he came his decision. ¨The REACH program needed a teacher who had experience, and that knew the students in that program.  Since I already had a strong relationship with most of the students in REACH, the move seemed to make sense.  We have a lot of work to do-but I’m hopeful the REACH program will have a ton of success,¨’ Celia said.

Principal Timothy Ruggere described the transition and how everything happened very abruptly. “When the person who was in the REACH position got asked to go over to the middle school, Ms. Dawe and Mr. Brennan came to me and said Mr. Celia would be a perfect fit because he is already teaching the REACH kids in one of his classes and already knew the students,” Ruggere said.

“He had a background which happened to be an administrator in Lawrence, and when I went to him and asked him he seemed very interested and said that it sounded like a great idea. He worked with me and the superintendent in order for him to take over the position,” said Ruggere.

“We then opened Mr. Celia’s position up, so we will be interviewing people,” continued Ruggere. Mr. Ciccone is filling in until we choose the people that we interview, obviously we will be interviewing him as well and whoever the best candidate is will get the job.”

“With English and social studies you’re going to get like 90 applicants. Math and science jobs for some reason I have more of those opened up lately than I have Social studies and English so their tougher jobs to ge. Therefore there’s more applicants,” Ruggere said.

“Mr. Ciccone is certified in Social Studies and has taught what Mr. Celia teaches and I thought it would be a good chance for him to get some experience and help him out,” said Ruggere.

Since Celia has left the history department at this time, Mr. Ciccone has taken charge. Ciccone was originally an aide helping out with special education and went from class to class with the students he works with, including one being Mr. Ceila’s history class.

¨I went to school to become a history teacher and that is ultimately what I am passionate in and want to do in the future. However, I will miss the interactions with the kids in helping out with special ed a lot,¨ said Ciccone.

When asked by the Triton Voice if this is what he sees himself doing in the future, he considers it as something he definitely would like to undertake.  ¨Administration asked me to take this role. I took this position because I love history and it was a great opportunity. I do see myself doing this in the future because this is where I went to school for and ultimately what I want to do as a career even if this position is currently temporary.

Junior Paige Zukowski discussed her feelings about the changes that has been made and is fairly disappointed Celia decided to transition. “When Mr. Celia told us he was leaving it was really surprising. No one saw it coming and I was upset about it because he’s a really good teacher and I was excited to have him for the rest of the year,” said Zukowski.

Zukowski, as a student believes Mr. Ciccone fit right in and made the adjustment a lot more efficient. “Out of everyone to replace him I’m happy it was Mr. Ciccone because he’s been working with Mr. Celia for a while. The class pretty much runs the same way so there isn’t much of a change which is so relieving,” Zukowski said.

Mr. Ruggere states that he will have better knowledge of the history teacher for the rest of the year some time after Christmas Break. As for now, time will only tell until administration makes a final decision after the interviewing process.