Versatile volunteer

Amy Bell with Matheny student Tasha Santiago-O’Keefe.

Shortly after her family moved from Atlanta to Peapack, NJ, in August of last year, Amy Bell noticed the Matheny sign at the intersection of Main Street and Highland Avenue.  “I looked Matheny up online,” she recalls, “contacted the Volunteer Services Department and came up for a tour.”

In September, Bell began volunteering “wherever they needed me.” That includes helping out with the Tea Time Café, a snack bar run by Matheny students for employees; assisting with the students’ sandwich shop sales; and providing assistance to the Transportation Department when students are preparing to go on special trips.

“I’ve enjoyed getting to know the staff,” she said, “and seeing what they do on a day-to-day basis. I’m amazed at what the students get to experience.” Bell’s husband works for Verizon, and the move from Atlanta was triggered by a transfer to the company’s Basking Ridge, NJ, office. So far, Bell loves living in Peapack, where she says “everyone is very welcoming.”

Matheny needs volunteers from the community during weekdays, evenings and weekends. Individuals can serve as recreation assistants, classroom aides, tutors or just friendly visitors. To get more information, call (908) 234-0011, ext. 282, or email volunteers@matheny.org.

At the Matheny School’s recent Open House, Matheny student Natalie Tomastyk talked about her work experience at the Gurukul Yoga Holistic Center with Ryan MacNaughton, assistant principal, special services, and Kathleen Simpson, special education case manager, at the Kittatinny Regional High School in Newton, NJ.

The Matheny School’s Transition program is designed to increase the independence of its students both within the school and in the surrounding community. One way that is accomplished is through community-based experiences and structured learning environments that simulate real-life working situations. Matheny students are currently receiving an opportunity to learn on-the-job skills at both the Bridgewater, NJ, Township Library and the Gurukul Yoga Holistic Center in Bridgewater.

Students also encounter an authentic work environment in the Tea Time Café, Matheny’s in-house school refreshment stand, equipped with an adapted cash register, AbleNet and Point-of-Sale technology. And they are able to enhance functional and social skills during weekly trips to local stores to apply what is learned in the classroom to real-world experiences.

Darlene Tammara receives her award from Kim Mulligan, left, co-host of WDHA’s morning show; at right is the other co-host, Jim Monahan.

Matheny teacher Darlene Tammara was one of 23 teachers honored by Greater Media radio stations WDHA 105.5FM and WMTR 1250AM of Cedar Knolls, NJ, at a special dinner held April 23 at Ravello Elegant Weddings & Banquets in  East Hanover, NJ.

The honorees were welcomed by Dan Finn, Greater Media New Jersey senior vice president and regional general manager, and Nancy McKinley, manager of both stations. Then, on-air personalities hosted the remainder of the evening and made a special presentation to each teacher individually.

Four years ago, Tammara started Matheny’s Tea Time Café, a snack bar managed by Matheny students for Matheny employees. Now, in her transition class, she has her students count money from Tea Time sales, enter the results on a special math worksheet and make bank deposits. The students also work on clerical jobs for Matheny and fill packages for Operation Shoebox, an organization that sends care packages to U.S. troops deployed overseas.

Darlene Tammara with her son, A.J., left; husband Tony and daughter Alyssa.

Darlene Tammara uses picture symbols to make a story more understandable to student Deborah Eike. At left is occupational therapist Debbie Goodheart.

Darlene Tammara, a teacher at the Matheny School, has been selected as one of the “Teachers Who Rock” by Greater Media radio stations WDHA 105.5FM and WMTR 1250AM. The stations annually recognize 24 outstanding teachers in New Jersey for their important contribution to society. Each Friday, two winners are announced, and their stories are read on both stations’ morning shows. Tammara’s name was announced on Friday, January 25. She and the other 23 honorees will be feted at a dinner on April 23 at Ravello Elegant Weddings & Banquets in East Hanover, NJ.

Tammara teaches a transition class at Matheny, meaning she instructs older students in life skills that will help them after they graduate. Four years ago, she started the Tea Time Café, a snack bar managed by Matheny students for Matheny employees. Her students count money from Tea Time sales, enter the results on a special math worksheet and make bank deposits.  The students also work on clerical jobs for Matheny and fill packages for Operation Shoebox, an organization that sends care packages to U.S. troops deployed overseas.

A resident of Bridgewater, NJ, Tammara appreciates Matheny’s trans-disciplinary approach, “where therapists work in the classroom with teachers. We all work together. I feel very strongly about that – it’s such a collaborative effort.” Her colleagues apparently feel the same way about Tammara as they nominated her Matheny’s educator of the year for the 2012-2013 school year.

Darlene Tammara uses picture symbols to make a story more understandable for student Deborah Eike. At left is occupational therapist Debbi Goodheart.

Darlene Tammara looks at her students and sees their abilities, not their disabilities. “Who knows how far they can grow?” she asks. Tammara teaches a transition class at the Matheny School, instructing older students in life skills that will help them after they graduate.

Four years ago she started the Tea Time Café, a snack bar managed by Matheny students for Matheny employees. She has her students count money from Tea Time sales, enter the results on a special math worksheet and make bank deposits. The students also work on clerical jobs for Matheny and fill packages for Operation Shoebox, an organization that sends care packages to U.S. troops deployed overseas. On December 1, her students, along with some Matheny adult patients, participated in an Operation Shoebox packing event at the YMCA in Hillsborough, NJ. And in January 2013, both groups were scheduled to make weekly visits to the Bridgewater, NJ, Library and a local yoga studio to learn appropriate job skills.

Tammara, a resident of Bridgewater, NJ, is in her 17th year at Matheny. One of the things she loves about working there is the creative freedom. “If you have an idea, you can go with it,” she says. “Matheny gives you an opportunity to try things. I love working with students at all different levels, coming up with creative ways to bring the world to my students, giving them every opportunity to grow themselves.”

Tammara also appreciates Matheny’s trans-disciplinary approach, “where therapists work in the classroom with teachers. We all work together. I feel very strongly about that – it’s such a collaborative effort. When there is collaboration among the teacher, therapist and administration, it’s like a well-oiled machine. I enjoy being given the chance to discuss my students with my colleagues.”

Her colleagues apparently feel the same way about her as they nominated Tammara as Matheny’s educator of the year for the 2012-2013 school year.

Teaching assistant Jenny Pianucci, left, helps student Matthew Detgen use a switch to register a smoothie sale for Julia Stoumbos, program manager at the Kessler Foundation.

Last fall, Matheny received a $30,000 Community Employment Grant from the Kessler Foundation to fund our “21st Century Skills Transition to Employment Opportunities Program.” This grant will enhance and expand prevocational realistic learning activities for our transition students (ages 18-21).

Recently, Julia Stoumbos, Kessler Foundation program manager, visited Matheny to view the program firsthand. Among the activities she observed was the Tea Time Café, a snack bar run by students for Matheny employees.

Twice a week from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., three students, a teacher and an occupational therapist are stationed in the rotunda near Matheny’s dining rooms to offer cappuccino, smoothies, English muffins and other treats for sale. A new feature of the Tea Time Café is the opportunity for students to use two HP Touchsmart 610 xt series computers, donated by Francis Mancho of Budd Lake, NJ. Mancho had received a  $30,000 grant  from the Jenny Jones Foundation so Matheny could purchase the computers, which are important because the students’ disabilities make it difficult for them to ring up sales on a cash register.

Student Yasin Reddick practices using one of the new Touchsmart computers.