I know there are some Hambden children that I wave to when I see them in the hallways that I had in previous years. It’s kind of comforting because I think for the kids, it gives them an understanding of, OK, I’m in a new place, but there’s a familiar face. – Colleen Williams
It seems all over Geauga County, schools are closing, with staff and students condensing into other districts or school buildings.
While the community talks about levies, taxes and the practical matters of how the adjustments will be made, it’s easy to forget there’s a human mental and emotional aspect to the transitions.
At Munson Elementary School, that human element is demonstrated clearly. After Hambden Elementary School closed its doors last year, several staff members were reassigned to Munson Elementary School.
Mat Prezioso, who served as principal of Hambden for four years, now sits at the helm of Munson — where his office recently had balloons and streamers hanging from the door.
“It was my birthday yesterday,” he explained with a smile during a recent interview. “So they did this.” Prezioso discussed his experience as an administrator and the challenges and unexpected joys he has found leading the schools through the reconfiguration.
“It’s good,” he said, about the transitions. “With the K-3 building, I like that I can focus on the K-3 issues. Early literacy and early numeracy is what we really focus here at Munson.”
A new tradition at the school is the One School One Book program, which a volunteer committee of teachers, tutors and administrators spearheaded and organized over the summer.
Serving his teachers through the transition was important to Prezioso.
“The true mark of a good teacher is when you see someone who wants to be there in that moment, doing what they’re doing right now. In this building, I’m lucky enough to have that in every room,” he said.
For some staff members, such as second-grade teacher Jennifer Turk — who taught at Hambden for seven years — the reconfiguration spurred a range of emotions.
“Obviously, very shocked at first, and then the uncertainty of everything. It was challenging,” she said. “Once we knew where we were going, everything fell into place. We had staff meetings. We met our new team teachers. They were very welcoming here. ”
When she arrived, the staff at Munson had a welcome card ready, Turk said.
“They were very willing to show me around and help me,” she said, noting Munson teachers organized staff outings for everyone to get to know one another.
Her classroom is brightly decorated, full of banners and pompoms. Using the furniture from her room at Hambden, she planned her space so the students would have an opportunity to work in groups.
Having experienced a transfer herself, she wanted to create a space where every student could work together and make friends, she said.
Colleen Williams, who taught at Hamdben for over 20 years, began teaching first-grade this year at Munson.
“The toughest part was packing up and saying goodbye to my room. I had been there for so long,” she said. “Once I got here, the next part was melding two staffs together. The Munson staff has been amazing on making us feel welcome and filling us in on stuff and including us. We had welcome gifts, it was very, very nice the way they welcomed us to be part of their staff. I’m happy to be part of this new part of Chardon”
Williams’ classroom also bears traces of her former Hamdben space, including a giant rocking chair she salvaged and painted.
In fact, Williams said traces of her old school are everywhere.
“I know there are some Hambden children that I wave to when I see them in the hallways that I had in previous years,” she said. “It’s kind of comforting because I think for the kids, it gives them an understanding of, OK, I’m in a new place, but there’s a familiar face.”
