Ronald Villone

Pascack Valley physical education teacher Ronald Villone was an exemplary student during his time at Pascack Valley. He was active in the school’s community and participated in many school-wide events such as the spring musicals and open mic night. 

“He has always been a top-notch person, and it’s nice to see him now as a teacher,” PV science teacher Russ Grier said. “He is just continuing that legacy of being just a great guy.” 

Throughout his years at PV, Villone participated in baseball and soccer, and he was a manager for basketball. 

“My mom always said, be involved in everything,” Villone said. “[I learned] so many lessons whether it’s from sports or different clubs. You learn how things aren’t always going to be maybe the easiest. You have to put hard work in for good things to happen.”

While talking to PV science teacher Allion Petaccia about possible career paths she mentioned physical education during Villone’s senior year of high school.

“I get to play games all day. You know, get my heart rate up, teach kids how to live a healthy better lifestyle, have fun, and wear shorts to work,” Villone said. “That doesn’t sound too bad.”

Through Villone’s college program at Salisbury University, he was given opportunities to work with elementary and high school students. 

“I worked with younger students, high school students, and special needs students,” Villone said. “So I think that the program was really good. [Those experiences] made me want to [become a PE teacher] even more.”

After graduating from college, Villone applied to several different places.

“It just happened that PV had something open,” Villone said. “PE is a tough job to get into. There are a lot of people who graduate [and want to teach PE but there] aren’t many job openings. I was very lucky to get an interview and land the job.”

Coming back to work at PV, Villone said it was an easy transition from once being a student at PV to being a colleague with his former coaches and teachers. 

Grier was in Villone’s same situation, as he had gone to PV as a student and returned as a teacher years later. 

“It was a little strange like calling them like Mr. or Mrs,” Grier said. “So, it was interesting for me being the older person who’s now a colleague with a younger person, is not really that awkward, so it’s probably more awkward for him.”

When Villone thought back to high school he couldn’t remember a PE class that wasn’t fun. 

“There were always games going, and the teachers would always be involved. That’s why I wanted to come back, to keep making it fun for [students].”