By Chris Neidenberg / Reporter

EAST RUTHERFORD (Oct. 29, 2009) — Responsibility for unifying the curriculum between Henry P. Becton Regional High School and its two sending districts rests chiefly with a veteran Georgia educator, whose husband’s job transfer to the New York area ultimately landed her in the right place at the right time.

Bringing Becton and the K-8 districts of East Rutherford and Carlstadt into a closer working relationship academically has been much discussed through the years. This arrangement is now in place. And Regional Curriculum Director Melissa Varley is assuring concerned parents and educators the task is in capable hands.

Of course, Varley, hired over the summer to a totally new position, cannot do it alone.

Through her Office of Regional Curriculum Director, she will facilitate the dialogue among superintendents, principals and every teacher within the three systems.

This, over a five-year curriculum revision schedule. At the same time, she will be tasked with ensuring the systems continuously comply with meeting the state Department of Education’s “core content standards.”

Perhaps Varley’s role can best be described using the words of Becton Board Member Richard Vartan, offered while running for the board in 2007.

“This person will train, evaluate and lead all those involved with developing a seamless curriculum, common from kindergarten through the 12th grade, as students move through the system,” he explained at the time.

Varley’s ultimate goals include helping improve certain standardized test scores once the eighth graders reach Becton, upgrading curriculum tools such as textbooks, where applicable, and linking the entire academic program across the spectrum — from pre-K through the 12th grade — so students won’t skip a beat in their long quest for high school diplomas.

She’ll put her people skills to extensive use. According to the manual outlining the duties of her office, Varley must meet periodically with a regional curriculum committee and separate instructional council, as well as separate principals and superintendents committees.

Though based in Becton, she must continuously shuttle between the high school, Carlstadt Public School and East Rutherford’s McKenzie and Faust schools.

The official mission statement, regarding her role in all three systems, outlines three separate points. They encompass developing “the scope and sequence of content objectives” for all 14 grade levels, improving “curriculum development, articulation and implementation” and exploring “the development of successful instructional practices through professional development activities.”

“Things are going really well. Everyone’s been so nice and I’m very excited to be here,” said the easygoing Varley, in a recent phone interview, regarding the early stages of her journey.

“I’ve been analyzing test scores to see which subjects must be addressed first, in terms of curriculum revision,” explained Varley. “Our main focus this year is math.”

She cited a recent meeting of teachers from all three math departments, concerning algebra, as the “first joint session of its kind in a very long time.”   

Speaking earlier this month, Varley explained that she planned to discuss with the three systems math faculties “what the National Council of Math Teachers has identified as best practices” for “delivery of instruction” in the current academic environment.

The soft-spoken Varley stressed that any observations are not meant to reflect negatively on the teachers’ efforts.

Yet she maintained these math instructors need guidance in implementing a more updated methodology.

“I think the teachers are very dedicated and doing a great job,” said the educator, 41, her friendly southern twang prevalent. “I just think the curriculum in the three districts has not been updated. The latest I could find was East Rutherford’s, in 2002. Carlstadt’s was last updated in 1999.”

Varley received her doctorate in educational leadership, with an emphasis on curriculum and instruction, from the University of Georgia and moved to New Jersey in 2007.

She outlined further objectives:

• Raise expectations, regarding academic performance, in all three districts.

• Implement a Spanish I program, at the middle school level, so students can take Spanish II upon reaching Becton.

• Eventually require eighth graders to take Algebra I

• Have Becton teachers temporarily instruct students in the lower grades. That is, to see if there are gaps in the program which might affect high school performance.

• At the same time, have teachers in the three elementary/middle schools teach at the high school. She wants them to do so “just to see what it’s like,” and “to promote the need for teamwork in developing curriculum.”

• Move Becton up “a few levels” from the school’s current ranking in its “district factor group” for the state’s High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA). She noted his can be accomplished, in part, by “increasing math scores” on the HSPA. Varley has already started meeting with Becton teachers toward that goal.

In terms of math, Varley said she expects to furnish her findings to all three boards by April. This, so any new “curriculum materials,” such as textbooks, can be ordered for the start of 2010-11.

She also promised to next start “a more limited review” of the systems’ language arts programs this school year.

Ultimately, she wants to implement any extensive program revisions in the area for 2011-12.

In the future, Varley must also eventually start discussing timetables for reviewing other programs, including physical education, science and social studies. She assured those decisions will be made in concert with Becton Interim Superintendent of Schools Paul Saxton and his counterparts in Carlstadt and East Rutherford.

For now, Varley, whose salary and benefits are jointly funded by all three districts under a shared services agreement, operates on a one-year contract.

Carlstadt Board Member Hernan Lopez served on the Becton board, before winning election to his current post earlier this year.

“I have always made the need to coordinate curriculum a priority any time I’ve run,” he told The Leader. “When I served on Becton, I concluded some students coming from Carlstadt were somewhat disconnected from the high school program — based on test scores.”

Steven Kollinok, Carlstadt superintendent, stressed curriculum revision is a “multi-year process,” which will hopefully achieve positive results over time.

“We (superintendents) give her direction and she does what needs to be done,” he explained. “At this point, the three districts are articulating their concerns together and that’s an important beginning.”