GCPS Welcomes New Teachers - gardencity.k12.ny.us



Garden City Public Schools56 Cathedral AvenueGarden City, NY 11530Coordinator of Public InformationCatherine Knight, Ed. D.516 478-1079August 27, 2018For Immediate Release:GCPS Welcomes New Staff for the 2018-2019 School YearGarden City Public Schools welcomed a dozen new faculty at New Teacher Orientation - an intensive three-day program that was held on August 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. The new staff members were welcomed on Day 1 of the orientation program by district and building leadership teams, Board of Education Trustees Stefanie Granville and Michael Cassaro, PTA Director Danielle Atteritano, SEPTA Co-President Cristina Dickey, and Garden City’s Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Kusum Sinha. In addition to attending workshops covering a variety of topics ranging from “District Goals” for the new school year to technology training, the new staff toured the Village, learning about Garden City’s fascinating history from Stewart School Principal, Miss Linda Norton. Miss Norton grew up in Garden City, attended the school district, and has remained in the Village, first working as a teacher, then as an Assistant Principal, and finally as a Principal at Hemlock, and then Stewart. She explained what it was like to grow up in such a supportive community where sprinting through the neighborhood to play in a local park with friends or spending time at the library or pool was how she contentedly spent many summers. Miss Norton’s enthusiasm for the Village and the school district was inspirational: “It was an honor to share Garden City’s proud history with our newest staff members.” Superintendent Dr. Sinha also attended the tour, listening carefully to Miss Norton’s insights into Garden City’s past, and building on what Deputy Village Administrator Mr. Joseph DiFrancisco shared with the new superintendent on a previous tour. “We learned about the rich tradition of community values and the amazing history here in Garden City,” Dr. Sinha said to the new teachers. “We wish you much success as you begin your careers in this outstanding school district, and urge you to continue the traditions that have made Garden City such a great community.” Welcome to our new teachers and best wishes for a successful 2018-2019 school year! Included here are brief professional biographies. Caption for 8-22-18IMG_2098GCPSCathedral.jpg:No tour of Garden City would be complete without a stop at the Cathedral. Caption for 8-22-18IMG_2092GCPSNewTeachers.jpg:Pictured just prior to their bus tour of Garden City are the school district’s new teachers and staff with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kusum Sinha (far right) and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Maureen Appiarius (far left). Left to right are: Meagan Carr, Kelly Donnelly, Erin Gruosso, Kate Valente, Matthew Gomm, Barbara Hefner, Kirsten Schiffer, Catherine Munoz Lara, Katherine Forte, Valarie Grosset, Laura Sciacca, and Elona Roth (too new for the photo: Alexa Brown, Briana Giustiniano, and Julianne Link).Alexa BrownElementary EducationStratford SchoolMs. Brown holds a BS in elementary education from the State University of New York at Oneonta, and an MS in early childhood education from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. She holds a NYS initial certification in childhood education, grades 1-6. Ms. Brown served as an elementary education teacher in the Margaretville Central School in Margaretville, New York from August, 2017 to June, 2018. From August 2015 to August, 2017, she served as a teaching assistant and substitute teacher in Denton Avenue Elementary School in New Hyde Park, New York.Megan CarrElementary EducationStewartMs. Carr holds a BS in elementary education from Iona College and an MS in special education from Brooklyn College. She holds NYS permanent certifications in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and grades 1-6, and in special education. Ms. Carr served as a per diem substitute teacher and as a regular substitute teacher in the Garden City School District from January, 2017 to June 30, 2018. From 2004 to 2013, she served as an early childhood SETSS/IEP teacher and from 2000 to 2004, she served as a first grade teacher in PS 230 in Brooklyn, New York. Ms. Carr will be joining us at Stewart School.Kelly DonnellyElementary EducationStewartMs. Donnelly holds a BA in education studies from The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. and an MS in childhood education from Long Island University, C. W. Post Campus, Brookville, New York. She holds a NYS initial certification in childhood education, grades 1-6, and a teaching assistant, level I certification. Ms. Donnelly served as a lead teacher in PS 87 in Middle Village, New York from September, 2016 to June, 2018. From 2014 to 2016, she served as a teacher aide in the Garden City School District. Ms. Donnelly will be joining us at Stewart School.Katharine ForteENLHemlockMs. Forte holds a BS in theatre arts; political science/Spanish, and an MS in childhood education. She holds NYS initial certifications in childhood education, grades 1-6, and English to speakers of other languages. Ms. Forte served as a teacher assistant in Waverly Park Elementary School in Lynbrook, New York from 2016 to June, 2018. She served as an ENL pre-kindergarten teacher at Our Lady of Peace School in Lynbrook, New York from 2011 to 2016. Ms. Forte will be joining us at Hemlock School.Briana GiustinianoElementary EducationStratfordMs. Giustiniano holds a BS in elementary education, grades 1-6, and an MS in literacy education, grades birth-6. She holds a NYS initial certification in childhood education, grades 1-6. An initial certification in ESL is currently pending. Ms. Giustiniano served as an elementary education teacher in Riverhead Charter Schools from August, 2015 June, 2018. From August, 2014 to June, 2015, she served as a kindergarten lead teacher in Success Academy Charter Schools in Brooklyn, New York. Ms. Giustiniano will be joining us at Stratford School.Matthew GommMusicStratfordMr. Gomm holds a BA in music from Queens College, Aaron Copland School of Music. He holds a NYS initial certificate in music K-12. Mr. Gomm served as a regular substitute music teacher in the Garden City School District from April, 2018 through June, 2018. From November, 2017 to March, 2018, he served as a leave replacement music teacher in Marino Street Elementary School in the Lynbrook School District. Mr. Gomm will be joining us at Stratford School.Valarie GossetMathPrimaryValarie Gosset holds a BS in accounting from Binghamton University and an MS in elementary education from Hofstra University. She holds NYS initial certifications in childhood education, grades 1-6, and in business and marketing. She served as a teacher in the Schechter School of Long Island and as a math academic, intervention support teacher/leave replacement in the Port Washington School District. Ms. Gosset will be joining us at the primary schools.Erin GruossoSpecial Education StratfordErin Gruosso holds a BS in childhood education and an MS in special education from Long Island University, C. W. Post Campus. She holds a NYS professional certification in students with disabilities, grades 1-6. She served as an ABA teacher 6:1:2 in The Hagedorn Little Village School in Seaford and as a 1:1 consultant teacher with Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism in Commack. Ms. Gruosso will be joining us at Stratford School.Barbara HefnerNurseSt. Anne’sBarbara Hefner holds a BS in nursing from Ohio University. She served as a school nurse in the Lawrence School District and as a permanent substitute school nurse in the Oceanside School District. Ms. Hefner holds a NYS certification as a registered professional nurse. Ms. Hefner will be joining us at St. Anne’s.Catherine Munoz LaraENLStewartMs. Munoz Lara holds a BS in childhood education from SUNY Cortland and an MA in TESOL from Teachers College, Columbia University. She holds NYS professional certifications in English to speakers of other languages, early childhood education birth - 2, and childhood education 1-6. Ms. Munoz Lara served as a teacher in P.S. 280 in Jackson Heights, Queens from September, 2012 to June, 2018. From July, 2009 to August, 2012, she served as a community language program instructor at Teachers College Columbia University in New York. From July, 2008 to July, 2009, Ms. Munoz Lara served as a second grade teacher in The International School in Queretaro, Mexico. Ms. Munoz Lara will be joining us at Stewart School.Julianne LinkTeacher AideHemlock SchoolMs. Link holds a BA in fine arts, digital art and design from Long Island University, C. W. Post Campus, and an MS in art education from CUNY, Queens College, Queens, New York. She holds a NYS professional certification in visual arts. Ms. Link served as an art and computer teacher in Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy in Douglaston, New York from 2013 to June, 2018. From 2014 to 2015, she served as an art teacher for the New York City Department of Education in Waterside School for Leadership in Long Island City. Ms. Link will be joining us at Hemlock School.Elona RothSpecial EducationStratford SchoolElona Roth holds a BA in elementary education and history from Hofstra University and an MS in special education from Queens College. She holds NYS professional certifications in childhood education, grades 1-6, and students with disabilities, grades 1-6. She served as a part time resource room teacher here in the Garden City School District from April, 2018 to June, 2018. From August, 2012 to November, 2017 she served as a special education teacher in Cotting School in Lexington, Massachusetts. Ms. Roth will be joining us at Stratford School. Kirsten SchifferGerman/ENLMS/HSMs Schiffer holds an MS in TESOL from Molloy College and a BA in Germanic language and literature from SUNY, Stony Brook. She holds NYS professional certifications in German, grades 7-12, English to speakers of other languages & Spanish, grades 7-12. She served as a German teacher in the Smithtown Central School District and as an ESL teacher at Nassau BOCES. Ms. Schiffer also served as an ESL/Spanish teacher in the East Hampton School District and Hauppauge School District. Ms. Schiffer will be joining us at the middle school and high school.Laura SciaccaReadingStewartMs. Sciacca holds a BS in childhood education and an MS in education from St. John’s University, Queens, New York. She holds NYS professional certifications in early childhood education, birth - grade 2, literacy, birth - grade 6, English to speakers of other languages and childhood education grades 1-6. Ms. Sciacca served as an AIS reading teacher from September, 2012 to June, 2018 and as a kindergarten teacher from September, 2008 to June, 2012 in PS 149 Q Christa McAuliffe, in Jackson Heights, New York. From September, 2006 to June, 2008, she served as a substitute teacher in New York City Public Schools. Ms. Sciacca will be joining us at Stewart School.Katelin ValenteSpecial EducationStratfordMs. Valente holds a BA in elementary education and psychology and an MSE in childhood special education grades 1-6. She holds NYS professional certifications in childhood education grades 1-6, and students with disabilities, grades 1-6. She served as a special education head teacher from September, 2012 to June, 30, 2018, and as special education associate teacher from August, 2011 to August, 2012 in the West End Day School in New York City. Ms. Valente will be joining us at Stratford School. ................
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