The Harrison Central School District Welcomes New Teachers Harrison High School Alison Holt Christine Catapano Health Ms. Catapano will serve as a leave replacement health teacher for the 2012 13 school year. She earned her Bachelor s degree in physical education from SUNY Cortland and her Master s degree in health education from Lehman College. Ms. Catapano served as a leave replacement health teacher at Harrison High School last year, and her prior teaching experience includes serving as a physical education and health teacher in the Mahopac Central School District for the past five years. Meredith Devine Ms. Devine graduated on the Dean s List from Pennsylvania State University and holds a Bachelor s degree in secondary mathematics education. She completed her student teaching at North Allegheny Senior High School in Wexford, Pennsylvania, where she taught Pre calculus and Trigonometry. Ms. Devine has served as a tutor for students in grades 5 11, providing instructional support in basic mathematics, algebra, and calculus. Ms. Holt will serve as a leave replacement mathematics teacher during the 2012 13 school year. She earned a Bachelor s degree in civil and environmental engineering from Villanova University and a Master s degree in adolescent education from Mercy College. Ms. Holt served as a leave replacement mathematics teacher last year at Harrison High School, and she previously served as a leave replacement teacher in mathematics at Somers Middle School. Sarah Janssen Ms. Janssen graduated on the Dean s List with a Bachelor s degree in mathematics from Syracuse University, where she also earned several academic scholarships. She also holds a Master s degree in secondary education from Manhattan College. Ms. Janssen completed her student teaching at Sandy Creek High School in Sandy Creek, New York, where she taught Algebra, Algebra II/Trigonometry and Precalculus. She also served as a teaching assistant at Syracuse University where she taught Statistics and Precalculus to undergraduate students. Kimberly Grogan Matthew Pringle Physical Education Ms. Grogan will serve as a long term substitute teacher during the 2012 13 school year. She graduated on the Dean s List from Binghamton University with a Bachelor s degree in Rhetoric and Comparative Literature, and she holds a Master s degree in adolescent education from SUNY New Paltz. Ms. Grogan completed her student teaching in a 12 th grade class at Marlboro High School in Marlboro, New York, and in an 8 th grade language arts class in Monhagen Middle School in Middletown, New York. Mr. Pringle will serve as a long term substitute physical education teacher during the 2012 13 school year. He holds a Bachelor s degree in physical education from Saint Bonaventure University and a Master s degree in sports management from SUNY Cortland. Mr. Pringle served as a long term substitute at Harrison High School this past spring, and he serves as the varsity soccer coach. He completed his student teaching in physical education at Bishop Kearney High School in Rochester and at Wellsville Elementary School in Wellsville, New York.
Jason Rabinowitz Alyssa Mascaretti Mr. Rabinowitz earned his Bachelor s degree in Business and Sociology from Southern New Hampshire University and his Master s degree in secondary social sciences from Lehigh University. For the past two years, Mr. Rabinowitz has served as a high school social studies teacher at the Eximius School in New York City, where he taught World History and U.S. History. Mr. Rabinowitz has also served as a summer school social studies teacher and he currently coaches the Harrison High School Varsity Lacrosse team. Ms. Mascaretti will serve as a leave replacement social studies teacher during the 2012 13 school year. She earned a Bachelor s degree in history and a Master s degree in educational technology from Stony Brook University, where she graduated on the Dean s List. This past year, Ms. Mascaretti taught 8 th grade social studies at the Hicksville Middle School, and her prior experience includes serving as an academic tutor for struggling students and as a substitute teacher at Rolsyn Middle School on Long Island. Pantelis Ypsilantis Daniel Recktenwalt Science Mr. Ypsilantis will serve as a long term substitute teacher during the 2012 13 school year. He holds a Bachelor s degree in mass communications from Iona College and a Master s degree in teaching from Empire State College. Mr. Ypsilantis served as a longterm substitute teacher at Harrison High School last year, and his prior teaching experience includes teaching at Yonkers High School. He also serves as an assistant varsity football coach and has experience with theater direction and production. Louis M. Klein Middle School Christine Angevine Ms. Angevine holds a Bachelor s degree in mathematics and a Master s degree in secondary education from Ithaca College, where she graduated with honors and received a Leadership Scholarship. Ms. Angevine completed her student teaching in Pre calculus and Trigonometry at Ithaca High School and as a middle school math teacher at Boynton Middle School in Ithaca and Frederick Douglas Academy in Rochester. She has served as a mathematics tutor and mentor to language learners. Jessica Balun Ms. Balun will serve as a long term substitute social studies teacher during the 2012 13 school year. She earned a Bachelor s degree in History from Brandeis University and a Master s degree in teaching social studies from Teachers College at Columbia University. This past year, Ms. Balun taught social studies at Croton Harmon Middle School and served as a leave replacement social studies teacher at the Louis M. Klein Middle School during the 2010 11 school year. Mr. Recktenwalt holds a Bachelor s degree in environmental science from SUNY Geneseo and a Master s degree in adolescent education from Pace University. For the past seven years, Mr. Recktenwalt has been a 6 th grade science teacher in the Arlington Central School District, where he was also the building coordinator of the Arlington Math, Science, and Technology Expo. Mr. Recktenwalt also has experience in private industry and as a fishery research biologist. Lindsay Volpe Guidance Counselor Ms. Volpe graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a degree in business administration and management, and she holds a Master s degree in school counseling from C.W. Post, Long Island University, where she earned an academic scholarship and graduated with honors. For the past three years, Ms. Volpe has served as a guidance counselor at the Caroline G. Atkinson Intermediate School in Freeport, New York, where she managed a counseling case load of 300 5 th and 6 th grade students. Her prior experience also includes serving as a leave replacement guidance counselor in the Mineola Middle School on Long Island. Linda Warsaw as a Second Language Ms. Warsaw served as a part time ESL teacher during the 2011 12 school year and will become a full time ESL teacher this year. She earned a Bachelor s degree in and America Literature and a Master s degree in TESOL (Teaching to Speakers of other Languages) from Hofstra University, where she graduated with distinction. Ms. Warsaw has worked as an elementary ESL teacher in the Copaigue Public Schools, and she taught to French students in Montpellier and Carcassonne, France.
Bradley White Christina Schwartz Grade 3 Mr. White holds Bachelor s degrees in and communication from SUNY Fredonia and Master s degrees in and adolescent education from SUNY New Paltz. He has served as an academic enrichment teacher in The After School Project in Newburgh, where he provided instructional support to at risk middle school students. He completed his student teaching in a 7 th grade language arts class at Valley Central Middle School and in a 10 th grade class at the Newburgh Free Academy. Harrison Avenue Elementary School Jessica Burke Grade 4 Ms. Burke earned a Bachelor s degree in psychology and women s studies from Pennsylvania State University, a Master s degree in counseling and guidance from New York University, and a Master s degree in childhood education and special education from Pace University. She has served as a 6 th grade teacher for three years at the West Bronx Academy for the Future and for the past year as a 5 th grade teacher at the Neighborhood School in New York City. Ms. Burke s prior experience also includes serving as a 6 th grade summer school ELA and math teacher and as a teaching assistant at Pennsylvania State University. Marisa Lifrieri Ms. Lifrieri graduated on the Dean s List with a Bachelor s degree in elementary education from the Catholic University of America and a Master s degree in special education from the College of New Rochelle. She has also completed advanced graduate course work in applied behavior analysis through Mercy College. For the past five years, Ms. Lifrieri has served as a special education teacher and behavior intervention specialist at the Holistic Learning Center in White Plains. Her prior teaching experience also includes serving as a pre school special education teacher and as a teaching assistant in kindergarten and 1 st grade in the Mamaroneck Central School District. Ms. Schwartz holds a Bachelor s degree in theater education from New York University and she is completing her Master s degree in elementary special education at Hunter College. For the past four years, Ms. Schwartz has served as a 1 st and 3 rd grade teacher at the Harlem Success Academy in New York City, where she was a grade level leader and participated in professional development related to the Reader s and Writer s Workshop approach through Columbia University s Teachers College. Parsons Elementary School Katelynn Ariss Kindergarten Ms. Ariss earned a Bachelor s degree in elementary education and psychology from Hofstra University, a Master s degree in literacy from Hunter College, and an advanced certificate in elementary gifted education from Teachers College at Columbia University. Ms. Ariss has served as a kindergarten teacher at the Saint Patrick s School in Huntington, New York and as a kindergarten and first grade instructional assistant at the Variety Child Learning Center in Syosset, New York. This past summer, Ms. Ariss served as a literacy teacher in Harrison s Bridges to Literacy program. Catherine Egan Grade 5 Ms. Egan graduated with high honors from the University of Rochester with a Bachelor s degree in childhood psychology, and she holds a Master s degree in inclusive elementary education from Teachers College, Columbia University. For the past three years, Ms. Egan has been 1 st and 4 th grade teacher at the Success Academy in Harlem. Her prior experience also includes working under a fellowship as a teaching assistant at the University of Rochester and serving as a literacy coach in the Rochester City School District.
Kayla Hauck Ms. Hauck will serve as a leave replacement special education co teacher during the 2012 13 school year. She graduated on the Dean s List with a Bachelor s degree in elementary inclusive education and a Master s degree in literacy from SUNY Cortland. This past year, Ms. Hauck served as a 5 th grade special education coteaching in the Dryden Elementary School in Dryden, New York. Ms. Hauck completed her student teaching in special education in the Cortland City School District. Nicole Loizzo Grade 2 Ms. Loizzo holds her Bachelor s degree in childhood and special education from the College of Saint Rose and her Master s degree in literacy from Mercy College, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. For the past three years, Ms. Loizzo has served as a 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd grade teacher at P.S. 457 Sheridan Academy for Young Leaders in the Bronx. Her prior teaching experience also includes serving as a long term substitute and permanent building substitute at the Lakeview Elementary School in Mahopac. This past summer, Ms. Loizzo served as a literacy teacher in Harrison s Bridges to Literacy program. Josephine Occhipinti Grade 1 Ms. Occhipinti served as a leave replacement teacher during the 2011 12 school year and she will continue as a full time probationary teacher this year. She holds a Bachelor s degree in mathematics with a concentration in elementary education from Mount Saint Mary College. She also holds a Master s degree in education with a concentration in reading from Western Connecticut State University. For the past six years, Ms. Occhipinti has served as a second grade teacher in the Pawling Central School District. Samuel J. Preston Elementary School Erin Roy Ms. Roy will serve as a leave replacement special education teacher during the 2012 13 school year. She holds a Bachelor s degree in psychology and elementary education from Marist College and a Master s degree in special education from Teachers College at Columbia University. This past year Ms. Roy served as a special education teacher at P.S. 146 Anna Morse School in New York City. She completed her student teaching in elementary special education classrooms at the Netherwood Elementary School in Hyde Park and the Dutchess County Board of Cooperative Educational Services. Christopher Stelluti Music Mr. Stelluti will serve as a part time music teacher during the 2012 13 school year. He holds a bachelor s degree in music from Western Connecticut State University and a Master s degree in music education from Bridgeport University. He taught general music and chorus as a student teacher in the Greenwich public schools, and he has served as an adjudicator at the New York State School Music Association Festival. Mr. Stelluti has tutored students on guitar, saxophone, clarinet and flute and performed as a professional musician at several local venues. Purchase Elementary School Stephanie Clendenin as a Second Language Ms. Clendenin will serve as a part time ESL teacher during the 2012 13 school year. She holds a Bachelor s degree in political history from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master s degree in professional studies from Manhattanville College. Ms. Clendenin completed her student teaching in ESL at the Bedford Hills Elementary School in Bedford and the Anne M. Dorner Middle School in Ossining. She also served as a long term substitute as an ESL teacher at the Harrison Avenue Elementary School during the 2011 12 school year.
Robyn Levy Grade 1 Ms. Levy graduated with a Bachelor s degree in speech communication from Ithaca College and a Master s degree in elementary education from Teachers College at Columbia University. For the past five years, Ms. Levy has been a 1 st grade teacher at P.S. 277 Evelina Lopez Antonetty Children s Literacy Center in the Bronx. She has also served as a teaching assistant at the Kramer Learning Center in Bay Shore, New York and as an academic tutor. Multiple School Locations Charles Bennett Music Mr. Bennett served as a part time music teacher last year, and he will become a full time music teacher this year at Preston Elementary School and the Louis M. Klein Middle School. He holds a Bachelor s degree in music, with a minor in jazz studies, from the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York, Potsdam and a Master s degree in music and human learning from the Butler School of Music at The University of Texas, Austin. Mr. Bennett has worked for the University of Texas Austin String Project, where he served as a cello and bass instructor and preschool program coordinator. He also has experience as a strings teacher in the Saratoga and Niskayuna School Districts, and he has extensive training in the Suzuki method of musical instruction.