Mr. Kelly
Mr. Kelly will begin teaching this year at Verona High School as a social studies teacher. He comes from the West Orange School District, where he has been teaching U.S. History since 2022. At Verona High, he will be teaching Honors U.S. History 1 as well as Modern World History. Mr. Kelly’s goal as a social studies educator is to challenge students to develop their critical thinking skills, helping them embark on the lifelong process of becoming informed citizens who actively participate in their communities and society at large. Studying and debating history is a passion of his, and he hopes to share that enthusiasm with the students in his classroom. Before becoming a teacher, Mr. Kelly worked in the publishing industry for about 10 years. He lives in West Orange with his wife, Erica, and their two-year-old daughter, June. Most of his free time is dedicated to caring for his daughter, but in between naps he enjoys reading, watching movies, and playing the drums. Verona High School is excited to welcome Mr. Kelly to the faculty and looks forward to the positive impact he will have on students and the school community.
Mr. Scholl
Mr. Scholl is a special education and English teacher returning to Verona, where he previously lived for several years. He is very excited to be back teaching in the community. Mr. Scholl earned Bachelor’s Degrees in English Literature and Journalism from the University of Maryland and worked briefly in the journalism industry before choosing to pursue a career in education. He is certified by the New Jersey Department of Education as both an English and Special Education teacher and holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education. Outside of teaching, Mr. Scholl enjoys a wide variety of hobbies, including hiking, biking, cooking, reading, and watching movies—preferably in the theater. Verona High School is thrilled to welcome Mr. Scholl back and looks forward to the contributions he will make to the students and school community.
Ms. Rotella
Ms. Rotella grew up in Bergen County and graduated from James Madison University with a degree in English and Secondary Education. A fun connection to Verona High School is that she is the niece of Al Rotella, a former VHS football coach. Before joining Verona High School, Ms. Rotella taught 6th and 8th grade English Language Arts at Marco Island Charter Middle School in Collier County, Florida. This year, she will be teaching 9th and 10th grade English and is excited for what the future holds. Verona High School is delighted to welcome Ms. Rotella to the faculty and looks forward to the positive impact she will have on her students.
Ms. Buck
Ms. Buck is entering her second year of teaching and her first year at Verona High School. She is thrilled to join the VHS team. Ms. Buck is from Mount Olive, NJ. She earned an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from County College of Morris and later received her Bachelor’s Degree in History along with her teacher certification from Montclair State University. During her first year of teaching, Ms. Buck served as a leave replacement in the Chester School District and has experience teaching both U.S. and World History. This year at VHS, she looks forward to continuing to teach social studies as well as business courses. Verona High School is excited to welcome Ms. Buck to the faculty and looks forward to the energy and passion she will bring to the classroom.
Ms. Powers
Ms. Powers is a dedicated and passionate educator with a profound love for the English language. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing from the University of Central Florida, along with minors in Writing and Rhetoric and Medical Sociology. During her undergraduate studies, she discovered her passion for English through her work with literary magazines and writing workshops, where she thrived in collaborative, creative environments. Following graduation and the onset of the global pandemic, Ms. Powers began her teaching career in Florida’s public schools as an Intensive Reading teacher for 6th through 8th grade students. Eager to expand her skill set, she pursued graduate studies in Media Management at The New School in New York City, where she explored how publicity and media intersect across platforms and industries. After completing her graduate degree, Ms. Powers returned to the classroom, where her passion for English education truly came to life. She found deep fulfillment in engaging her students and watching them grow as readers, writers, and thinkers. Now in her fourth year of teaching, we are excited to welcome Ms. Powers to the Verona High School team, where her creativity, experience, and enthusiasm will be a tremendous asset to our school community.