New teachers in New Canaan schools

About 37 new faculty and faculty members will be from Canaan Public Schools New this year. Here are their biographies and assignments.

Robin Collins, a specialist in writing. Collins received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and an MA from the University of Colorado. She is pursuing a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Columbia University Teachers College. Collins began his teaching career as a specialist in independent reading, working with students in K-12.She moved to become an ESL / Title I teacher in the Woodland Park School District and over the years he has taught kindergarten, first and fifth years. Since 2007 she has also served in Woodland Park as a staff developer for literacy. While at Teachers College, she served as program supervisor of literacy specialists and the supervisor of elementary inclusive service program.

Aziza Force, the first year. Group holds a BA in liberal arts from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and a Masters in elementary education from the University of Bridgeport.Group completed his internship and teaching students in school East, and recently completed an assignment to long-term substitute teaching in grade school East.

Caitlin Barnes, the first year. Barnes received a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Vermont and a master's degree in curriculum and teaching from Columbia University. She also obtained a certificate in health counseling from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.After completing his education to students, Barnes served as an assistant professor at the Mead School in Stamford, and more recently as a mentor and substitute in the Mentorship Program Norwalk Public Schools. Barnes also has experience playing and coaching ice hockey and serves as a hockey coach in private Stamford Twin Rinks.

Marianne Gorski, OT. (Shared with New Canaan High School) Gorski holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and a Masters in Occupational Therapy from Quinnipiac University.Gorski has completed internships in Occupational Therapy at South Oaks in Amityville, NY, Lifecare Center of Stoneham, Massachusetts and in the public schools of Cheshire. More recently, it has been a pediatric occupational therapist in the rehabilitation Associates, Inc. in Fairfield.

Ball Announces Plan to Phase-Out MTA Payroll Tax - Yorktown, NY Patch

New York State Senators Greg Ball, R, C-Patterson, and Lee M. Zeldin, R-C, I-Shirley, presented the details of a bill   that would eliminate the Metropolitan Transit Authority payroll tax for schools and small businesses by January 2012. 

They were joined by lawmakers, community members and business owners during a press conference on Wednesday in Yorktown.

"We’re in the midst of one of the worst economies that we’ve had since the Great Depression," Ball said. "And it is absolutely insane to think that we can dig our way out of this problem and out of this economy by taxing jobs that were already hemorrhaging."

The MTA payroll tax represents $1.4 billion in revenue of the MTA's overall budget, he said, and that must change. 

"If we're gonna make sure that we repeal and rescind this horrific tax that's killing jobs in the Hudson Valley and throughout New York State," Ball said. "We've got to make sure we build a broad coalition to get it done." 

What he calls a "piece of landmark" legislation would phase out entirely the MTA payroll tax over the next two and a half years throughout Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester, Orange, Rockland, Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Zeldin said he and Ball have been trying to come up with a "as close to a perfect solution as possible" by reviewing audits, budgets and consolidated balance sheets. 

Under the bill, small businesses with 25 employees or less, as well as public and non-public schools, would be completely exempt from the tax on Jan. 1, 2012. All other businesses with 25 or more employees will be included in a phase-out plan that calls for the tax’s complete repeal on Jan. 1, 2014.

The seven counties outside of New York City will be completely phased out by the end of 2013; and for the five counties within New York City the tax will be reduced to .21 by 2014.

As a result of repealing the tax, all seven counties will see savings. For Westchester County, the savings would be $29.1 million in 2012, $60 million in 2013 and $90.9 million by 2014. The numbers, Zeldin said, are during the phase out and does not include the money the small businesses and schools will see as a result of the bill. 

"The MTA has the ability to do more with less," Zeldin said. "Right now the state and local government is tightening its belt. Small businesses, families, right here in Westchester County are doing the same thing to tighten their belts. The MTA needs to do the same.

New York Legislative Documents

The Martindale-Hubbell law directory

Brooklyn daily eagle almanac

Who's who in New York City and State

Biographical directory of the state of New York, 1900