Grade 5

Mr. Craig Clausen ~ Science

Mr. Clausen has been teaching in the Mendham Township School District since 2001.  He graduated from the Pennsylvania State University where he studied environmental education.He earned his teaching certification from the College of Saint Elizabeth and his Master of Arts degree in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove College.Mr. Clausen also coaches the middle school boys volleyball and baseball teams.He also enjoys spending time in the outdoors, tending to his garden, music, and cheering on his favorite sports teams, the Yankees, Jets, and Nittany Lions.

Mrs.  Megan Fazio ~ Social Studies

Mrs. Fazio began teaching in 2015 at Mendham Township Middle School. During her first year, she was a seventh and eighth grade special education teacher. She then transitioned to teach fifth grade social studies in 2016. Mrs. Fazio graduated from Providence College with a degree in Special Education as well as Elementary Education. She believes that a warm, accepting, and respectful environment is the key for students to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Mrs. Fazio is very passionate about teaching and feels lucky to be able to spend her days at her dream job!

Mrs. Erica Hays ~ Language Arts (Literature)

Mrs. Hays earned an Associate degree in Photography from County College of Morris, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Rutgers University, and a Master of Arts degree in Education from University of Phoenix. She has been working in the district since 2006 teaching fifth grade Language Arts. Mrs. Hays believes that every child deserves to know they are valued as unique, capable, human beings. She believes when students share an atmosphere of respect and belonging, they can take the risks necessary for academic and personal growth. She loves to incorporate music and technology into her classroom and looks forward to giving away many smelly stickers. When she is not teaching, Mrs. Hays enjoys spending time outside with her family and her dachshund.

Mrs. Jessica Costanzo ~ Language Arts (Writing)

Mrs. Costanzo (nee Mallonee) graduated from Seton Hall University in May 2020 with a degree in Secondary/Special Education and English. She believes in offering student choice in the classroom, which as a result will allow students to take ownership of their learning and create pieces of writing that feel authentic to them. Her classroom will be a place where all student's interpretations and ideas are welcome,  to create a fun and creative outlet while maintaining the rigors of academia.

Mrs. Amanda Porter ~ World Language

Mrs. Amanda Porter is a 2004 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University; earning a BS in K-12 Spanish Education and a minor in International Studies. Mrs. Porter studied abroad in high school and college in Seville, Spain, where she experienced total immersion in the Spanish language and culture. Mrs. Porter was excited to join the MTMS teaching staff in 2016, bringing many years of experience and a passion for teaching world languages to middle level learners. Mrs. Porter believes in the importance of making connections with students that extend beyond the school walls. She is currently an active member of FLENJ, the advisor of a Jump, Stunt, and Tumble Cheerleading Club at MTMS and the Head Coach of the nationally ranked Varsity Competitive Cheerleading Team at Mendham High School.

Ms. Diana Gomez ~  Math

Ms. Gomez is passionate about education and holds a Masters Degree in Educational Management from UNIBE in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  She has been a Middle School Math teacher for over 15 years and for the last 6 years worked as Middle School Principal at an international school in the Dominican Republic.  Outside of school, Ms. Gomez loves to draw, read, and spend time with her family and is very excited to join the team at Mendham Township Middle School.