Faculty & Staff

Mrs. Kathy Burke graduated from Glassboro State University (aka Rowan University) with a B.A. degree in Elementary Education and from Kean University with and M.A. Instruction, Curriculum: ESL Concentration. Mrs. Burke has worked for the Linden Public Schools since 1991 as both a classroom teacher in grades 1, 3, 4 and 5 and as an ESL teacher serving grades K through 5. She is currently working with Linden’s English language learners in School 8.

She is a member of NJEA and NJTESOL.

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Mr. Eloy Delgado graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a B.A. degree in Political Science and Theater Arts. Prior to being an ESL teacher he worked for the New Jersey Department of the Treasury where he assisted tax payers comply and remain in compliance with NJ tax laws and regulations. He enrolled in an alternate route-teaching program in the spring of 2012 and was certified to teach English as a Second Language by June 2012. In September of 2012 he began teaching ESL at Linden High School in Linden. Currently, Mr. Delgado is enrolled in a MA program of Instruction, Curriculum: ESL Concentration at Kean University.

He is a member of the current professional organizations: NJEA and NJTESOL. He currently serves as the Treasurer of the Elizabeth Public Library’s Board of Trustees.

Ms. Duckett has been an ESL teacher for 9 years with experience teaching at the elementary, middle, high school and college levels. She gained early interest in the study of languages and cultures as an undergraduate student while pursuing a major in English and a minor in Spanish. She went on to pursue teacher certification and a degree in education with a specialization in teaching English as a second language and has recently completed an additional advanced degree in school administration and educational leadership.

Ms. Duckett’s two favorite things are education and travel. She has spent the last 10 years traveling to various countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Central America learning more about the people, history, culture, and languages. Locally, Ms. Duckett has also volunteered her time as an advocate for children and with organizations such as literacy volunteers of America. Ms. Duckett has a deep passion for teaching and learning, language and literacy, working with English language learners and continuing to pursue additional study around the intersections of language, literacy, society, and culture.

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Anna Pelesz graduated from The John Paul II University (in Poland) with a Master’s Degree in teaching Polish language and World Literature. After moving to the United States, she completed her post-graduate studies at University of New Hampshire (UNH), becoming certified in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to Speakers of Other Languages.

She is a member of the following professional organizations: NJEA, NJTESOL-BE, and PCF (Polish Cultural Foundation).

Mr. William Simonitis has earned a B.A. in both Spanish and Education as well as an M.A. in both Instruction, Curriculum, and Administration and Educational Leadership. As a certified, highly-qualified English as a Second Language teacher, Mr. Simonitis has worked at Linden High School since 1994. He has taught all levels of ESL and is currently the Department Chair of the World Languages/ESL Department.

He is a member of NJTESOL/NJBE (New Jersey Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages/New Jersey Bilingual Educators), NADSFL (National Association of District Supervisors of Foreign Languages), and ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development). He is one of two internal coordinators for high school accreditation via the Middle States organization as well as the person responsible for maintaining the World Languages/ESL webpage you are currently reading.

“An interesting life is full of questions; a boring life is full of answers.”
– P. Coelho

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Mrs. Bozena Szulc  graduated from Jagiellonian University (Krakow, Poland) and Moscow University (Moscow, Russia) with a Master’s Degree in Russian Language and Literature. After moving to the United States, she completed her post-graduate studies at Kean University, becoming certified by the state of New Jersey in the following areas: ESL Teacher, Elementary Education Teacher, Bilingual/Bicultural Education Teacher, and Teacher of Russian.

She is a member of the following professional organizations: NJEA, NJTESOL-BE, FLENJ, FLEX, AATSEEL (American Association of Teachers of Slavic and East European Languages), and ACTR (American Council of Teachers of Russian). In addition, she is a co-chairperson and judge at the Russian Essay Contest on the national and international levels as well as a judge at the state Contest of Spoken Russian.

“Per Aspera Ad Astra” – “Through Hardships to the Stars”
– Latin Proverb

Mrs. Zolotucha-Skiba graduated from Higher School of Languages in Czestochowa (Poland) with a B.A. in Foreign Languages: Applied Linguistics in 2000. Next, she has earned an M.A. in Education from Higher School of Humanities in Pultusk, Poland. After moving to the United States, she has earned a Master’s Degree in English as a Second Language from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2008. Mrs. Skiba has worked with the Linden Public Schools since 2006.

Mrs. Zolotucha-Skiba is a member of the member of NJTESOL/NJBE (New Jersey Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages/New Jersey Bilingual Educators).

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
– M. Gandhi