School Administrative Team
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Kevin Barnes, Ed.D.
Principal
Dr. Barnes has 30 years of experience in public education, most
of which have been as a principal in the Caldwell-West Caldwell
School District. This is his fifth year as the principal of
James Caldwell High School. Prior to assuming his duties at J.C.H.S., Dr. Barnes was the principal of the Grover Cleveland
Middle School and Wilson Elementary School.
He is the co-author of articles that have appeared in Research
in Middle Level Education Quarterly and The Journal of School
Leadership. He is interested in the development of school
climate measures, organizational health measures and school
culture dynamics. He teaches as an adjunct at several local
colleges and universities.
When
he’s not in school, Dr. Barnes enjoys spending some time with
his wife, Karen, his daughter, Kristin, and his son, Kevin.
When they’re not home, he enjoys his time with his black lab,
Rudy. Occasionally, he rides his bicycle, as far as
possible.
Dr. Barnes received his Bachelor's
Degree from the College of William and Mary and his Master's
Degree and Doctorate Degree from Rutgers University. Prior to
becoming an administrator, Dr. Barnes taught high school health
and physical education. |
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Mr. James Brown
Vice Principal
Mr. Brown begins his third
year as Vice Principal at James Caldwell High School.
During his 12 years in education, Mr. Brown taught English
at both the middle school and high school level, has served as
a high school
Dean of Students, and
was an assistant varsity coach for football and
girls' basketball. He is interested in the areas
of school-community relations, school climate and culture,
and the use of technology to improve classroom instruction.
He is
pleased to be a part of the JCHS staff and is looks forward
to working with the students, staff, and community.
When he’s not in school, Mr. Brown serves as a volunteer
youth baseball and football coach and enjoys spending
his free time with
his wife, Sherry, his son, James, and his daughter, Kayla.
Mr. Brown received his Bachelor's
Degree in
English Literature from Rutgers University and his Master's
Degree in Educational Administration from Kean University.
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Ms. Claudia Dargento
Supervisor of Students and Academic Affairs
Mrs. Dargento is extremely excited to join James Caldwell High
School this year. During her 16 years in education Mrs.
Dargento was a Business teacher at Fair Lawn High School. For
the past ten years she was also the Coordinator of Student
Activities which is responsible for the 52 clubs at the high
school level. In addition to teaching and advising the Future
Business Leaders of America, Mrs. Dargento also coached boys and
girls Volleyball.
Mrs. Dargento received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business
Education from Montclair State University, Master’s Degree in
Technology from New Jersey City University and Master’s Degree
in Administration and Supervision from Montclair State
University. She also enjoyed an intensive mentorship program
with NJ EXCEL for her principal certification.
When she is not in school, Mrs. Dargento enjoys spending time
with her husband, Mark, and two sons Jake and Matthew.
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Mr. Richard Porfido
Director of Athletics
Mr. Porfido begins his fourth year as the Athletic Director at
James Caldwell High School.Prior to assuming his current
position, Mr. Porfido was a high school social studies teacher
as well as a soccer coach. He was the Northern Hills conference
coach of the year in 2002. He loves working at J.C.H.S. because
his colleagues and coaches
are
among the best that education has to offer. When he isn't
working, Mr. Porfido enjoys golf, college football, reading, and
running marathons. He resides with his wife Deb and twin
daughters Rebecca Clancy and Emily Peyton.
Mr. Porfido completed his undergraduate studies at Jersey
City State College and earned his Master's Degree from New Jersey
City University.
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Mrs. Maryanne Melnyk
Supervisor of Guidance
Mrs. Melnyk
begins her fourth year as Supervisor of Guidance at James
Caldwell High School. She has over 30 years in the educational
field in which she has taught multiple grade levels of special
education and served as a guidance counselor for the past 17
years. She has published a guidance-related article that
appeared in the NJEA Review and was also interviewed by NBC news
about the college application process.
Mrs. Melnyk
is pleased to work with such a great staff and administrative
team. Her favorite part of the day is working with students
(and their parents) to prepare for the next phase of their
educational experience.
When she
isn’t working, Mrs. Melnyk enjoys traveling with her husband,
John, and spending time with their two daughters, Jennifer and
Lauren.
Mrs. Melnyk
completed her Bachelor’s Degree with dual certification in
special education and elementary education at William Paterson
University. She received a Master’s Degree in Behavioral
Science from Kean University and completed certifications in
Student Personnel Services and Director of Student Personnel
Services at Montclair State University.
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Mr. Scott Chamberlain
Supervisor of Music
Mr.
Chamberlain started teaching elementary instrumental music in
1985 . In 1992, he accepted a position in the Caldwell-West
Caldwell Schools as a brass specialist and high school concert
band director. While in Caldwell, Mr. Chamberlain has taught
brass lessons in all the schools, conducted the James Caldwell
High School Concert Bands, Brass Choir, and Pep-Band, and Grover
Cleveland Middle School Sixth Grade Band. In 2000, he was
appointed District Supervisor of Music and holds that position
presently. Mr. Chamberlain recently was bestowed the honor of
getting listed in the 2002 7th Edition, Volume I of
Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.
In addition to his teaching
positions, Mr. Chamberlain has stayed active as a freelance
trombonist in the Metropolitan area. Throughout the years, he
has shared the stage with jazz artists such as Jimmy Knepper,
Urbie Green, Jon Faddis, Harold Lieberman, Robin Ubanks, John
Swana, Rob McConnell, and Dave Brubeck. He and his wife, singer
and songwriter Nancy Chamberlain, formed a duo called ‘Hip’ Bone
Connection’ in 1997 where they have performed eclectic popular
music enhanced with MIDI accompaniment in a variety of venues.
You can hear Mr. Chamberlain on several tracks of Nancy
Chamberlain’s latest CD, ‘Late Bloomer’.
Mr. Chamberlain received
his Bachelor of Music Degree, Magna Cum Laude, in Music
Education at West Chester University in May 1985. Mr.
Chamberlain also received his Master of Arts Degree in
Administration and Supervision from Montclair State University
in 1996. |
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