Garden City Welcomes New Staff at New Teacher Orientation

After a rigorous screening and selection process of the nearly 10,000 applicants who applied online for positions in Garden City Public Schools for the 2010-2011 school year, 14 new staff and two administrators were recently appointed.

At New Teacher Orientation, an intensive three-day orientation program for new employees held prior to the start of the school year, the newly appointed were welcomed by Board of Education members, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Feirsen, PTA president Gail Madigan, SEPTA vice president Melanie Donus and members of the administrative team.

As noted by Assistant Superintendent for Personnel, Dr. Fino Celano, "Just like in every profession, there are constantly changing new developments in the field of education. We want to cultivate your professional growth here in Garden City Public Schools."

To that end, new appointees attended workshops and instructional sessions that explained district instructional goals, Business Office procedures, Right-to-Know training; provided an introduction to Garden City's special education and athletic programs, and Annual Professional Performance Review; enjoyed a bus tour of the Village of Garden City led by former social studies teacher/department chair and current coordinator of community programs Doug Sheer; attended Understanding by Design training by Dr. Feirsen and a presentation by Garden City Teachers' Association; met with building principals and district curriculum coordinators; if provisionally certified, were introduced to their mentors and participated in an in-depth technology workshop.

The district congratulates and welcomes the following new staff members and wishes each a successful school year:

Gina Christel, Director of Guidance

Gina Christel holds a B.A. in political science from Siena College, an M.S. in counselor education from Hofstra University and a P.D. in educational administration and leadership from L.I.U./C.W. Post Campus. She has served as a school counselor at Sewanhaka High School from 1994 to present and at Elmont Memorial High School from 1987 to 1993. She completed her administrative internship at Sewanhaka High School in the spring of 2009. Christel also served as assistant director of admissions from 1985 to 1987 and admissions counselor in 1984 at Hofstra University. Christel holds permanent New York State certification as school counselor, initial New York State certification as school building leader and professional New York State certification as school district leader. She is replacing Kitty Klein who resigned.

Eileen Vota, Principal - Stratford School

Eileen Vota holds a B.A. in English literature from the State University of New York at Albany, an M.S. in special education from Queens College and an M.S.Ed. in educational leadership from Bank Street College of Education. She has served as assistant principal at Saw Mill Road Elementary School, North Bellmore School District from 2008 to present, was assistant principal at Central Boulevard Elementary School, Bethpage Union Free School District from 2007 to 2008 and was a special education instructional support specialist in the New York City Department of Education from 2004 to 2006. She was also a collaborative team teacher at P.S. 150 from 1999 to 2004 and was a special education teacher at P.S. 90 from 1996 to 1999. Vota holds permanent New York State certification as school administrator/supervisor, school district administrator, elementary education Pre-K-6 and special education K-12. She is replacing Diane Hopkins, who retired.

Stephen Arena, English - High School

Stephen Arena holds a B.A. in English from the State University of New York at Albany and an M.S. in adolescence education, English from L.I.U./C.W. Post Campus. He has served as a regular substitute English teacher at Garden City High School since April 2010 and was a per diem substitute teacher in Garden City Public Schools from October 2009 to April 2010. Arena holds initial New York State certification in English language arts, grades 7-12. He is filling in for Crystal Ferraiolo, who is on child care leave.

Andrea Diffendale, Special Education - Locust School

Andrea Diffendale holds a B.A. in elementary education from Loyola College and an M.S. in elementary special education from St. John's University. She has served as a special education teacher at Lawrence Middle School from September 2008 to June 2010 and was a teacher assistant at Rhame Avenue Elementary School, East Rockaway, from September 2006 to June 2008. Diffendale holds initial New York State certification in students with disabilities, grades 1-6, childhood education, grades 1-6 and initial certification in students with disabilities, birth to grade 2. She is filling in for Kara Salierno, who is on child care leave.

Janelle Economou, Family & Consumer Sciences - Middle School

Janelle Economou holds a B.S. in health education from the State University of New York at Cortland and an M.A. in liberal studies from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She has served as a teaching assistant at Centereach High School since February 2010. She was a family and consumer sciences teacher at South Ocean Avenue Middle School in Patchogue from September 2009 to February 2010, a health teacher at South Ocean Avenue Middle School from January 2009 to June 2009 and at Oregon Middle School, Medford, from May 2008 to January 2009. Economou also taught health at West Babylon High School from February 2007 to August 2007 and at Centereach High School from May 2006 to February 2007. She holds initial New York State certification in both family and consumer sciences and health education. Economou is replacing Barbara Esterow, who retired.

Stacey Esmond, School Psychologist - Primary and Elementary Schools

Stacey Esmond holds a B.A. in broadcast journalism with a minor in psychology from Boston University and an M.S. in education from Brooklyn College. She has served as a regular substitute school psychologist at the primary schools in the spring of 2010. Esmond holds provisional New York State certification as a school psychologist. She is filling in for Kelly Spagnola at the primary schools, and subsequently filling in for Gina Tornicaso at Stewart and Stratford Schools, and for Jessica Berenbroick at Stratford School, all of whom are on child care leave.

Ruth Fuller, Special Education Assistive Technology – District Specialist (Support Teacher)                                                      

Ruth Fuller holds a B.A. in print journalism and an M.A. in early childhood and elementary education, both from New York University. She has served as the founder and assistive technology specialist at Long Island Learning Solutions from 2006 to present and was an assistive technology specialist at Accessible Learning Technology Alternatives from 2006 to present. Fuller was a special education teacher at North Shore Schools from 2001 to 2006 and taught reading at P.S. 345 from 1997 to 2001. Fuller holds permanent New York State certification in special education, grades K-12 and elementary education, Pre-K-6 grade. This is a new position funded by American  Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant funds.

Brant Kasschau, Physical Education - Homestead School/Locust School

Brant Kasschau holds a B.A. in sociology from Hartwick College and an M.S. in physical education from Adelphi University. He has served as a physical education teacher in the Northport-East Northport School District since September 2009.  He also taught physical education in the New York City Public Schools, Belle Harbor, NY from September 2006 to June 2009 and Bushwick, NY from October 2005 to June 2006, where he was granted tenure. Kasschau holds professional New York State certification in both physical education and health education, K-12. He is replacing Robert Busch, who retired.

Jonathan Levinson, Social Studies - High School

Jonathan Levinson holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Wisconsin and an M.A.T. in social studies education from Stony Brook University. He has served as a substitute teacher in the Babylon School District from January 2010 to present. Levinson holds initial New York State certification in social studies, grades 7-12. He is filling in for Kathryn Lindholm, who is on child care leave.

Joanne Lupo, Special Education - Middle School

Joanne Lupo holds a B.A. and an M.A. in government and politics from St. John's University and an M.S. in special education and history from Queens College. She has served as a regular substitute special education teacher at Garden City Middle School since March 2010. She has also been a per diem substitute teacher in Garden City Public Schools and the New York City Department of Education from 2008 to present. She was also a social studies leave replacement in Plainedge Middle School from 2005-2007. Lupo holds initial New York State certification in students with disabilities – social studies, grades 7-12 and initial New York State certification in social studies, grades 7-12. She is replacing Madelyn Keegan, who retired.

Stephanie Mancini, Speech - Middle School

Stephanie Mancini holds a B.A. in speech-language-hearing sciences and psychology from Hofstra University and an M.A. in speech-language pathology from New York University. She has served as a speech-language pathologist at All in One Spot with Theratalk, Whitestone, NY from April 2009 to present. Mancini holds initial New York State certification in speech-language disabilities, grades K-12 and a New York State license as a speech-language pathologist. She is filling in for Danielle Goodwin, who is on child care leave.

Elizabeth Maro, Elementary Education - Locust School

Elizabeth Maro holds a B.A. in psychology from Sacred Heart University and an M.S. in childhood/special education from L.I.U., C.W. Post Campus. She has served as a regular substitute elementary education at Locust School since April 2010. Maro holds initial New York State certification in childhood education, grades 1-6 and students with disabilities, grades 1-6 and childhood education, birth-grade 2. She is filling in for Kristine Veltri, who is on child care leave.

Nicholas Martielli, Science - High School

Nicholas Martielli holds a B.S. in physics from New York Institute of Technology and an M.A. in liberal studies from Stony Brook University. He has served as a physics teacher at Holy Trinity Diocesan High School, Hicksville, NY from February 1995 to present. He was a G.O.L.D. Program tutor at the New York Institute of Technology from August 1992 to February 1995 as well as a laboratory manager/instructor at the School of Natural Sciences at NYIT from January 1990 to June 1995. Martielli holds permanent New York State certification in physics, grades 7-12 as well as mathematics, grades 7-12. He is replacing George Dreher, who retired.

Annmarie Moscato, Reading - High School

Annmarie Moscato holds a B.A. in elementary education from Queens College and an M.A. in elementary education from Hofstra University. She has served as a reading specialist at Walter G. O'Connell Copaigue High School from June 2006 to present and taught reading at Susan E. Wiley Elementary School, Copaigue, NY from September 2000 to June 2006. She was also an elementary education teacher in the Deer Park Public Schools and the New York City Public Schools from 1994 to 2000. Moscato holds permanent New York State certification in reading, grades K-12 and in elementary education, N-6. She is replacing Eva Daniels, who resigned. 

Elizabeth Stack, English - High School

Elizabeth Stack holds a B.A. in general literature and an M.A. in philosophy, both from the State University of New York at Binghamton. Stack has served as a regular substitute English teacher at Garden City High School since March 2010. She was also a substitute teacher in the Rockville Centre Schools from 2007 to 2009 and taught English at the Abraham Lincoln High School, Brooklyn, NY from 1987 to 1994. Stack holds initial New York State certification in English, grades 7-12. She is filling in for Amy Regis, who is on child care leave.

Lisa Wasnofski, School Nurse - Hemlock School

Lisa Wasnofski holds an associates' degree in nursing from Suffolk Community College. She served as a permanent substitute nurse in the Mineola Union Free School District from January 2009 to the present and was a substitute nurse there from September 2008 to January 2009. She also worked as a registered nurse in St. Francis Hospital, Port Washington, from June 2009 to May 2000 and was an emergency medical technician at Valencia College, Apopka, FL in 1994. Wasnofski holds a New York State certificate as a registered professional nurse. She is replacing Marianne McLaughlin, who retired.