David Reinbold, administrative director for Carbon Career & Technical Institute, introduced several new teachers and staff to the Joint Operating Committee at its May meeting.

Amy Guth teaches in the Science department and started in October, 2023. She has a background in physics and astronomy. Guth graduated from CCTI, then went on to graduate from East Stroudsburg University. She also had the opportunity to work on the Discovery Channel Telescope.

“We want to try to bring a telescope to CCTI and get all the science faculty on board, and use the telescope in the various scientific fields,” Guth shared.

Ashleigh Rehrig is the new culinary department instructor.

A 2009 graduate of CCTI, she went on to a restaurant school, and worked in pastry shops in Miami. Rehrig is helping to integrate more fresh ingredients in the school menus.

“The kids are learning to make things from scratch,” Rehrig explained. “No prepackaged foods that you throw into a steamer.”

Julian Valentini joined the social studies program and also helped with the special education department. He worked as a substitute and as an instructional aide at CCTI before becoming a full-time instructor. Valentine is also a published author, and wrote a sci-fi book called “Defiant” in 2016, which can be found on Amazon and other places.

Deb Kunkel-Christman served as a substitute teacher at CCTI more than thirty years ago. She moved to Allentown and taught at the Carbon Lehigh IU 21 as a special-education teacher for 33 years before retiring.

“After two years being retired,” she explained, “I missed working with kids, so that’s why I applied to be a substitute here at CCTI. What it takes to make the school work as well as it does is the Joint Operating Committee Members, the administrators, the teachers, the instructional aides, and the custodial/maintenance staff – it takes a village.”

Integrated Tutor John Gunsser has been an instructor for 63 years He will be 85 years old next month. Gunsser works side-by-side with the students, offering an extra layer of learning; something he feels other schools should offer.

“There’s a family here,” he pointed out. “CCTI is a family, all working together for a common goal.”

CCTI Chairwoman Renee DeMelfi took a moment to share that because of her absence from last month’s meeting due to a family emergency, she missed the opportunity to congratulate Reinbold on his appointment to director of CCTI.

Reinbold served as CCTI’s Principal in 2005 and became administrative director in 2008, where he served until 2022. In 2023, he became interim administrative director upon the resignation of Brent Borzak, and recently entered into contact to be the administrative director. Reinbold and his wife, Maritza, live in Hometown. Maritza currently works as the graphic design instructor at CCTI.

DeMelfi also thanked Heather Neff for stepping up through her role as vice chairman and running the meeting in her absence; board secretary Chris Graver for all that she does; the teachers and staff, the yearbook staff and its adviser Jamilynn Johannsen; Solicitor Robert Yurchak; Henry Woods, school police officer, and everyone who contributed to making the 2023-2024 school year such a great year.

DeMelfi was appointed JOC chairwoman as a special meeting June 30, 2023, and is approaching the end of her first year at chair.