The departments within this grouping include Art, Music, Theatre, Family & Consumer Sciences and TV in Grades 7-12. Each of these five areas offers exciting electives as well as extra-curricular clubs and activities. FPPA classes are project based, requiring students to perform or create based on the concepts and skills studied and mastered in each class. Whether drawing, painting, singing, acting, playing an instrument, sewing, filming a movie, designing or cooking, students gain the valuable experience of practical application of what they have studied. Students grow in their individual talents as well as having multiple opportunities for teamwork.
The Rutherford FPPA Department consists of a dynamic teaching staff in grades 7-12. Grades 7 and 8 are taught in Union Middle School. Grades 9-12 are taught at Rutherford High School.
For a description of each course offered in these departments, please visit the Rutherford High School Curriculum Guides.
Our staff is comprised of:
Mrs. Stephanie Baumann, Family and Consumer Sciences, Grades 9-12, Rutherford High School – Mrs. Baumann attended Marist College where she received her undergraduate degree in Fashion Merchandising and minor in Business. She then attended Montclair State University where she received her dual graduate degrees in Education and Teacher of Students with Disabilities. She has since earned certificates in Reading and Family Consumer Sciences. Mrs. Baumann started her career in the Wallington School District teaching Special Education for 10 years. She joined RHS in the 2022-2023 school year and teaches Textiles and Advanced Textiles. She is also the co-advisor of the nationally recognized organization, FCCLA. Mrs. Baumann is an alumnus of RHS and has two children in the Rutherford schools.
Mrs. Patricia Blanchard, Vocal Music, Grades 9-12, Rutherford High School – Mrs. Blanchard has been teaching choir at Rutherford High School since 2005. She received her Bachelor’s of Music Education from Indiana University in both choral and instrumental music and a Master’s in Music Education from Montclair State University. In addition to Concert Choir, she also directs the RHS Select Choir and teaches AP Music Theory. Mrs. Blanchard serves as the director for the Fall Play and is the Musical Director for the school musical.
Mr. John Brigante, Instrumental Music, Grades 7&8, Union Middle School – Mr. Brigante began his career at Rutherford schools in 2010 and is currently the Union Middle School Band Director. He received his Bachelor’s of Arts in Music Education from The John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. He also holds a Master’s of Music in Music Technology from Southern Utah University. In addition to Concert Band, he also teaches the Modern Music Making class and directs the UMS Jazz Band.
Mrs. Robyn Cafiero-O’Brien, Family and Consumer Sciences, Grades 9-12, Rutherford High School – Mrs. Cafiero-O’Brien earned her Bachelor’s degree from Montclair State University in Home Economics Education, and joined Rutherford Public Schools in September of 2005. She received her Master’s Degree in Health Education in 2009 from Jersey City University, and earned a certificate of Nutrition and Exercise Science from Montclair State University in 2014. Mrs. Cafiero-O’Brien completed her second Master’s Degree in Nutrition Education from Montclair State University in January of 2017. Mrs. Cafiero-O’Brien was published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior in July 2017 and in the International Journal of Nutrition in 2020 for a study she completed from 2015-2016. Mrs. Cafiero-O’Brien currently teaches Fitness through Nutrition and Foods. She is also the co-advisor of the nationally recognized organization, FCCLA.
Miss Vanessa Calvello, Art, Grades 7&8, Union Middle School – Miss Calvello joined the UMS faculty during the 2023-2024 school year and is excited to begin her teaching career.
Mrs. Stephanie Castellano, Art, Grades 9-12, Rutherford High School – Mrs. Castellano attended Montclair State University, where she received her undergraduate degree in Fine Arts Education. She followed that with a graduate degree from Rutgers University, where she studied Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education and earned a certificate in Supervision. She began her career teaching Fine Arts in the Palisades Park school district, but has been a part of the Rutherford family for 11 years. Throughout the years, Mrs. Castellano has taught a variety of fine arts classes including Ceramics, Drawing and Design, Photography, AP Art History, Art by Computer Design, and Studio Art, and has proudly been the Art Club advisor for 11 years, and looks forward to continuing her expansion and love of the arts with all of her students!
Mr. Joseph Cavezza, Instrumental Music, Grades 9-12, Rutherford High School – Mr. Cavezza has been a music teacher in the Rutherford Public School for many years. He was excited to move to RHS to lead the RHS Marching Band and the instrumental program in the 2023-2024 school year.
Mrs. Veronica Grillo, Art, Grades 9-12, Rutherford High School – Mrs. Grillo attended Ramapo College of New Jersey where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts with a concentration in Drawing and Painting and a certificate for K-12 education in the arts. Prior to coming to Rutherford, her career began at Kittatinny Regional High School and then Don Bosco Prep, where she gained her first 5 years of experience and taught a wide variety of courses in the arts at the high school level. Students in her classes will get to create art using dry and wet media, photography and design, and even printmaking and alternate forms of 3D! Mrs. Grillo is also the advisor for the yearbook where she gets to share her passion for design in an extra-curricular setting.
Miss Tricia Lalla, Vocal Music, Grades 7&8, Union Middle School – Ms. Lalla attended the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada, where she received her undergraduate degree in Music Education. Her professional development includes studying opera at The Juilliard School Evening Division Program under the direction of Maestro Vincent La Selva. In addition to Concert Choir, she directs the UMS Select Choir. Choral teaching opportunities beyond UMS include preparing children’s choirs for the Verismo Opera Company of NJ and the New York Grand Opera Company, as well as the conducting 2015 Region 1 Junior High School SSA Choir and the 2016 Morris County Junior High School Honors Choir.
Mr. Steven Mett, Art and TV, Grades 9-12, Rutherford High School – Over the past 14 years Mr. Mett has taught Photography 1, Photography 2, TV Production 1, TV Studio Workshop and TV Production 3 at RHS. Outside of the classroom, Mr. Mett also engages the students of RHS through the RTV Club, Photo Club, Ski Club and the Boys JV Tennis team. Before joining us at RHS, Mr. Mett graduated from TCNJ with a degree in Technological Studies in 2000 and earned a masters from Ramapo College in Educational Technology in 2010. He also taught Photography and Video Production in the Lenape Regional School District for three years.