Many new faces greet returning YHS students

by Amanda Bernardi

As students look around the Yosemite High School campus this year, they will see many new faces among the staff – 22 to be exact, according to the Yosemite Joint Union High School District Personnel Director Jeanne Holcroft.

According to a district spokesman, most of the new staff was hired to fill positions left vacant by retirements.

Among the new staff members are two administrators: Tom Fiormonti is a new assistant principal and the athletic director. Al Nocciolo is the director of special education and a resource teacher.

The new staff members are: Daniel Barnett, physics teacher; Phil Branstetter, geography / driver education teacher; Patricia Burnham, instructional aide; Daniel Butterfield, lead mechanic; Sandy Dew, bus driver and secretary; Tom Hilborn, utility worker and bus driver; Carey Hurst, band director; Judy Larsen, secretary; Denise Lowe, instructional aide; Todd Luker, heating and air condition and bus driver; Debora Miller, resource teacher; Dana Minard, resource teacher; George Montoya, electrician; Tony Mowrer, choral teacher; Rusty Oetinger, resource teacher; Kellie Romine, campus supervisor; Lisa Rose, AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) instructional aide; Lars Thorson, drama teacher; Krista Van Zeyl, campus supervisor; and Amy Weigel, English and yearbook teacher.