The Town of Webb School UFSD will welcome new staff for the 2013-2014 school year when it opens its doors on Wednesday, September 4, including teachers Hannah Payne and Emily Herrmann.
Hannah Payne comes on as the new kindergarten teacher following the retirement of Barbara Borwick after 28 years of teaching. Emily Herrmann joins the faculty as the new instrumental music teacher.
Hannah Payne
Payne grew up in Poland and got a degree in childhood and early childhood education from SUNY Oneonta. She did her student teaching in the North Syracuse School District.
She received a Masters degree in Math and Science education from SUNY Cortland. Her thesis was on the integration of literacy and science.
“It is something I am passionate about,” Payne said.
For the past year she as been working as a teaching assistant in Long Lake where she taught fifth grade reading and preschool literacy, co-taught fifth grade math, and did a lot of one-on-one tutoring.
This is her dream job in her dream place, she said, adding that she loves the small school because it provides a sense of community.
“There are so many opportunities to get the kids out,” she said.
Payne describes her teaching style as very hands-on—especially at this age level where she wants her students to get excited and passionate about learning.
“I intend to carry out a lot of the traditions that have been going on here in Old Forge, but at the same time add my new ideas,” she said.
Payne has been living in Old Forge for the past year while commuting up to Long Lake. She has been coming up to Old Forge since she was young, having family in the area, and says she is excited about becoming part of the community.
“Now I can finally settle in and call this my home.”
She will welcome 14 children to her kindergarten class.
Emily Herrmann will start the new school year as the band director for the fifth through twelfth grade bands. She will also instruct the Junior and Senior high bands and the jazz band, otherwise known as the stage band.
She will also provide individual music lessons to students and teach small group lessons to fourth through sixth graders at the Inlet Common School.
Originally from Penn Yan, Herrmann received a Bachelor of Music from Houghton College in music and music education. She received a Master of Music from University of Texas at El Paso.
While in Texas she was the brass specialist at El Dorado High School and assisted the director with the full concert band.
After receiving her Masters degree she returned to New York and tutored students in math, English and science at BOCES and Penn Yan Academy.
Herrmann is excited to be teaching music in Old Forge and “being in a community that values music so much.” She marveled at the “incredible legacy” of the music department and the “incredible amount of instruments” available to the students.
The school provides an instrument for any student that wants to play. She has already started practice with the fifth graders.
Herrmann plays both the trombone and euphonium. Last year she played with the Rochester area Perinton Concert Band and currently plays with the Fairport Fire Department band and in her family’s brass quartet.
As of Thursday, August 22, enrollment at Town of Webb UFSD for the upcoming school year is 267, with 94 elementary students and 173 students in grades six through twelve.
