New educators on staff at District 90 schools BY HOLLY M. ANDERSON STAFF WRITER Some new staff faces greeted River Forest students as they began the new school year last week. New principal Pamela Hyde took the reigns at Lincoln School, where new third grade teachers Nicole Batson and Kc Brandsma also started on the job. They are joined by new staff social worker Sharon Agacinski and new speech and language pathologist Brooke Bean. Hyde began her career in Philadelphia and later moved to Illinois where she was a teacher at District 90's Willard School for eight years. She later took an assistant principal's job in Elmwood Park and after three years went on to serve as a principal in Riverside. "Now I'm back home," Hyde said. "I'm able to work with a lot of people I knew before. It's very nice to come back. The teachers here are bright and passionate about their work." Other new staff members have been added at Lincoln School. "We have some staff changes, including a few new teachers and a new social worker," Hyde said. A growing third grade population lead District 90 to hire one new third grade teacher. Another third grade teacher was hired to replace a teacher who left to take an administration position in Palatine. New teachers also have joined the staff at Willard School. Barbara Mayer and Cara Gutstein teaches second grade and Tethnie Forbes is the new physical education teacher. Sarah Colton is a new part-time speech and language teacher, and Joy Evans will teach 4th grade accelerated math. At Roosevelt Middle School, the new one-way stretch of Oak Street is working out well, according to Principal Joanne Trahanas. "It's excellent. There's a marked difference in the traffic and safety over there. We couldn't be more happy with that and we've gotten a lot of positive comments from parents." The River Forest Village Board in July voted to make Oak Street one way westbound between Jackson and Lathrop avenues on school days between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Within the first week of school 5th grade students were already working on team building activities. "We're settled in and last week the 5th grade had two days of adventure education, where they do rock climbing and kayaking," Trahanas said of the middle school students. "Team building is important because we're pulling two schools together; Willard and Lincoln." The Roosevelt Parent Teacher Organization is planning a block party Sept. 12 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will feature food, music, games and a silent auction. Oak Street will be blocked off between Lathrop and Jackson Avenues.