Below are brief bios of new Garden City School District employees:
Nicole Bass
Elementary Education
Stratford School
Nicole Bass holds a B.A. in psychology and an M.A. in childhood education from Adelphi University. She served as an elementary leave replacement teacher in Copiague Public Schools from September 2013 to June 2014. Bass holds initial New York State certification in childhood education, grades 1-6, and students with disabilities, grades 1-6. She will be filling in for Lauren Lavelle, who is on child care leave.
Amanda Conte
Music
High School/Middle School
Amanda Conte holds a B.M. in music education and an M.M. in performance from SUNY-Fredonia. She served as a graduate assistant at SUNY-Fredonia from August 2012 to May 2013 where she taught a voice class to music and non-music majors. She did her student teaching at Kings Park High School during the spring of 2012 where she conducted chamber and concert rehearsals for grades 9-12. Conte holds initial New York State certification in music, grades K-12. She is replacing Nicole Morace, who resigned.
Deanna Cupolo
Music
Primary Schools
Deanna Cupolo holds a B.S in music education from Adelphi University. She did her student teaching at Farmingdale’s Howitt Middle School and at Bellmore’s Winthrop Avenue Elementary School during the spring of 2014. She has also served as a music instructor in the Garden City Winter Program for Kids since 2012. Cupolo holds initial New York State certification in music, grades K-12. She will be replacing Katherine Riker, who resigned.
Michele Kemnitzer
English
High School
Michele Kemnitzer holds a B.A. in English from SUNY Geneseo and an M.S. in adolescent education from Pace University. She served as an English teacher at the High School for Health Professions and Human Services in the New York City Public School System from September 2010 to present and was an English and business teacher at Manhattan’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School from September 2008 to June 2010. Kemnitzer holds initial New York State certification in English/language arts, grades 7-12. She will be replacing Nathan Guc, who retired.
Michele Kerr
Elementary Education
Stewart School
Michele Kerr holds a B.A. in elementary education and English, an M.S. in special education and a certificate of advanced study from Hofstra University. She served as an elementary education leave replacement teacher in the North Shore School District from February 2013 to June 2013. She was both a leave replacement and part time teacher in the Mineola School District from November 2009 to June 2011, and served as an elementary education teacher in the Merrick School District from September 2002 to June 2007, where she received tenure in 2004. Kerr holds permanent New York State certification in elementary education N-6, special education K-12 and school district administration. She will be filling in for Victoria Tomasheski, who is on child care leave.
Evangeline King
Library Media Specialist
High School
Evangeline King holds a B.A. in visual and performing arts from West Virginia University and an M.S. in library and information science from Palmer School of Library and Information Science, LIU Post. She served as an interlibrary loan librarian at Nassau BOCES School Library Services in Westbury and did an internship at Jericho Middle School from November 2012 to February 2013. King holds initial New York State certification in library media specialist. She is replacing Lois Kuster, who retired.
Alexandra Koenig
School Psychologist
Stewart/Stratford Schools
Alexandra Koenig holds a B.A. in psychology from Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College and an M.A. in educational psychology from Teachers College at Columbia University. She did her school psychology internship at the Farmingdale School District from September 2013 to present, and her student fieldwork at St. Raymond’s High School in the Bronx from September 2012 to June 2013. Koenig holds provisional New York State certification in school psychology. She is filling in for Jacklyn Shlisky, who is on child care leave.
Lisa Krawciw
Elementary Education
Stewart School
Lisa Krawciw holds a B.S. in education and psychology and an M.S. in early childhood education from Wagner College. She served as a regular substitute elementary education teacher at Homestead School from September 2013 to November 2013 and at Stewart School from December 2013 to June 2014. Krawciw holds initial New York State certification in childhood education, grades 1-6, and early childhood education, birth to grade 2. She will be filling in for Gina Sambus, who is on child care leave.
Brittany Kupferman
Science
Middle School
Brittany Kupferman holds a B.A. in geology from SUNY Binghamton and an M.S. in secondary earth science education from Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus. She served as a 7th grade science and environmental science teacher at Syosset’s South Woods Middle School from September 2012 to present. She was also a substitute teacher at the Jericho School District from January 2012 to June 2012. Kupferman holds initial New York State certification in adolescent earth science, grades 7-12 and initial extension certification in adolescent general science, grades 7-12. She will be replacing Janice Burkett, who retired.
Ashley Cole Long
Special Education
Locust School
Ashley Cole Long holds a B.A. in child study and an M.A. in infant and toddler special education from St. Joseph’s College. She served as a special education teacher at Holbrook’s Grundy Avenue Elementary School from September 2013 to present. She also served as a special education teacher at Holtsville’s Waverly Avenue Elementary School from 2012 to 2013 and 2010 to 2011. Ms. Long holds initial New York State certification in students with disabilities, birth-grade 2, students with disabilities, grades 1-6, early childhood education, birth-grade 2, and childhood education, grades 1-6. She is replacing Kara Kachuba, who resigned.
Claire Mitchell
Library Media Specialist
Primary Schools
Claire Mitchell holds a B.A. in economics from New York University, an M.S. in education from Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus, and an M.L.S. in school media specialist from Queens College. She served as a librarian at Seaford Manor Elementary School in Seaford from 2012 to present and was an interim librarian at Port Washington’s South Salem Elementary School from 2007 to 2010. She was also an elementary education teacher at St. Peter of Alcantora School in Port Washington from 2010 to 2012. Mitchell holds professional New York State certification in library media specialist, grades K-12 and elementary education, pre-K to 6. She is replacing James McAleese, who retired.
Pamela Monfredo
Elementary Education
Stratford School
Pamela Monfredo holds a B.A. in speech, hearing and psychology and an M.S. in
education from Queens College. She served as an intervention teacher in the East Meadow School District from September 2011 to present. She also served as a kindergarten teacher in the same district from September 2010 to June 2011. Monfredo holds permanent New York State certification in elementary education, K-grade 6, and initial certification in literacy, birth-grade 6. She is filling in for Jenny Campbell, who is on child care leave.
Alyssa Saracino
Elementary Education
Stratford School
Alyssa Saracino holds a B.S. in elementary education from the University of Tampa. She served as an elementary education teacher at Trinity School for Children in Tampa, Fla. from November 2010 to June 2014. Saracino holds initial New York State certification in childhood education, grades 1-6. Saracino also holds Florida teaching certificates in elementary education K-6, exceptional student education K-12, and English as a Second/Other Language. She is filling in for Jessica Crofton, who is on child care leave.
Stephanie Rubino
School Psychologist
High School
Stephanie Rubino holds a B.A. in psychology and health from Hofstra University and an M.S. in school psychology from Touro College. She served as a school psychologist at Westhampton Beach High School from January 2013 to present and at Port Jefferson’s Edna Louise Spear Elementary School from September 2012 to December 2012. Rubino holds provisional New York State certification in school psychologist. She will be filling in for Mandi Stefankiewicz who is on child care leave.
Karen Whiston
Guidance Counselor
High School
Karen Whiston holds a B.A. in sociology from Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus and an M.S. in school counseling from Hofstra University. She served as a guidance counselor in the Brentwood School District from August 2004 through June 2013 where she was granted tenure. Whiston served as a leave replacement guidance counselor in the Smithtown Central School District and the Massapequa School District during the 2013-14 school year. Whiston holds permanent New York State certification in school counseling. She will be replacing Joanne Meyer-Jendras, who retired.
