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Great teachers learn from great teachers...like those you'll find at the metropolitan College of Saint Rose.

To get a taste of the credentials and experience you'll gain during your time at the metropolitan College of Saint Rose, review the following partial selection from our faculty list.

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Admin Instructors

Stephen J. Lobban, Ed. D
Presently, Steve serves as The College of Saint Rose’s Director of Contract Programs for Metropolitan New York. He has had 30 years of administrative experience as a principal at the elementary and middle school levels in New York and Massachusetts. In the Educational Leadership program, Steve has taught Curriculum Development (EDA 503), Critical Issues (EDA 590) and Research Seminar (EDA 595).

Katherine H. Verbeck, Ph. D, Ed. D
Kitty is currently a faculty member at The College of Saint Rose in the Literacy Program. She has had 21 years in public school education as an English teacher, reading specialist, elementary teacher, and administrator. She has taught Curriculum Development (EDA 503), Critical Issues (EDA 590) and Research Seminar (EDA 595). She is an advocate for both non-traditional and traditional pathways in education.

Dean Spaulding, Ph. D
Dr. Spaulding is a professional evaluator and also serves on the faculty at the College of Saint Rose in the Department of Educational Psychology, where he teaches educational research methodology and program evaluation. Dr. Spaulding has in-depth experience serving as an external evaluator on multiple-state (e.g. Goals 2000) and federally funded (e.g. National Science Foundation) projects. More specifically, he has conducted evaluation for programs focusing on K-12 settings, the use of technology in classroom, as well as working in the area of teaching and learning with at-risk youth populations. In addition, Dr. Spaulding has experience serving as an external evaluator on technology-related projects such as state and federal technology catalyst grants PT3: Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers to Use Technology, and several Title III Technology Literacy Challenge Grants. Dr. Spaulding has also specific experience serving as evaluator on previous 21St Century After-School Grants when under the federal funding cycle. Dr. Spaulding is one of the authors of Methods in Educational Research: Theories to Practice (2007), Jossey-Bass Wiley: San Francisco and the author of Program Evaluation in Practice: Core Concepts and Examples for Discussion and Analysis (in press, Jan. 2008), Jossey-Bass Wiley: San Francisco.

Richard Hawkins, Ed. D
Dr. Hawkins recently retired as the Superintendent of William Floyd School District on Long Island. His career there spanned over 31 years, the last 11 and a half spent as Superintendent. Dr. Hawkins’ tenure was marked by growth in student enrollments, increased student achievement, rebuilding the district’s infrastructure as well as numerous other systemic changes designed to make students, their school environs, their local community, and faculty and staff successful in the 21st century. In addition to working as an adjunct professor for The College of Saint Rose, Dr. Hawkins is currently a professor in the Master’s and Doctoral programs in Educational Leadership at the College of St. Elizabeth in Morristown, NJ.

Lydia A. Begley, Ed. D
Dr. Begley is currently the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction in the Wantagh School District. Dr. Begley is a respected member of the Long Island Educational community, teaching for BOCES, Roosevelt School District and the New York State Middle School Association.

Stuart Grossman, Ed. D
Dr. Grossman is currently the District Director of Special Education/Special Services. He has a Master’s in School Counseling and a Doctorate in Educational Administration. He has worked in New York City and Long Island Schools in a number of building level positions including School Counselor, Assistant Principal, Summer School Principal and Chairman of PPS and Special Education.

Ellen Margolin, Ph. D
Dr. Margolin earned her doctorate from New York University in Educational Administration. Before retiring in 2004, she spent 13 years as principal of P.S. 88, which was nationally recognized for both its inclusion program and law-related education program. Currently she is Associate Professor and Mentor at St. John’s University, and Instructor and Internship Advisor for College of St. Rose. Dr. Margolin is currently a member of the School Quality Review Team for the New York State Department of Education. She is a presenter for Houghton-Mifflin Publishers.

Bruce Levenberg, Ph. D
Dr. Levenberg has served as an award winning elementary school and secondary school principal, special education supervisor, and teacher. He is now the president and principal mentor of educationforensics.com, a consulting corporation. He is a court qualified expert witness who provides technical support for case work involving child custody, educational malpractice, educational neglect, special education evaluation and placement, supervision of school personnel, “U” ratings and 3020(a) proceedings.

Herb Brown, Ph. D
Dr. Brown is currently a Superintendent for the Oceanside School District. He is recognized throughout New York State as an expert on school finance.

Carl Bonuso, Ph. D
Dr. Bonuso is currently the Superintendent of Schools for the Wantagh School District. His leadership has played and important role in the honoring of each of the district’s schools as a “Blue Ribbon School of Excellence” by the United States Dept. of Education.

Anthony Pecorale, Ph. D
Dr. Pecorale has over 40 years of experience and is well respected in the New York educational community. He has served as the Trustee for the Vanderbilt Museum, and has been appointed by the County Official to a Subcommittee on Education. In 1999, the State of New York called upon his expertise when he was asked to take over the Roosevelt Union Free School District, which had been taken over by the State.

Judith Stewart, Ed. D
Dr. Stewart is Principal Emerita of PS 164 in Brooklyn. She has held positions as an Administrative Internship Advisor and Adjunct Professor at Bank Street College of Education, and has been a consultant and mentor for principals through the Dept. of Education. She has been a member of the New York Academy of Public Education, the Association of Supervision & Curriculum Development, the Council of Supervisors and Administrators, the Elementary School Principals Association, and the Phi Gamma Sigma International Professional Society. Dr. Stewart has also written several administrative and resource guides for teachers and principals for the NYCDOE.

Jerry L. Jackson, Ed. D
Dr. Jackson has 34 years of experience as an educator. He began his teaching career at his alma mater, Port Richmond HS, on Staten Island. After getting his Master’s in Special Education in 1978, he was hired by the Half Hollow Hills Central School District to teach special education on the middle school level. Following this, Dr. Jackson accepted an administrative position as an Assistant Principal in the Central Islip Union Free School District. He worked in Central Islip for more than 18 years, and in addition to serving as an Assistant Principal he has been an Assistant to the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. Dr. Jackson has worked as an adjunct professor at Dowling College, The College of Saint Rose, and the College of New Rochelle teaching graduate courses in curriculum development, personnel administration, educational administration and school finance. He is a life member of the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Robin E. Finnan-Jones, Ed. D
Dr. Finnan-Jones is an educator with over 29 years of experience. Currently she is the Data Specialist Administrator at PS 16 in Queens. She has been an Assistant Principal and an Educational Administrator – Instructional Support Specialist for English Language Learners. In addition, she is an experienced classroom teacher, literacy specialist, teacher mentor, and staff developer. Specific areas of expertise include professional development, designing graduate courses in literacy, and grant writing. She holds a Doctorate in Education from St. John’s University in Administration and Supervision. Dr. Finnan-Jones is an active member of the state and national TESOL associations, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, American Educational Research Association, the International Reading Association, and Phi Delta Kappa. She was the recipient, in the year 2000, of NYC District 24’s Teacher of the Year award.

Michael Yazurlo, Ed. D
Dr. Yazurlo is the Superintendent of the Tuckahoe Union Free School District in Eastchester, NY. Since 1984, Mike has held positions as a teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal and, now, Superintendent where he has led his district to new heights of academic excellence with his strength, ability, compassion and wisdom. He has been the recipient of numerous honors and was nominated to be New York State’s Principal of the Year, awarded Principal of the Year by the Spanish Community Progress Foundation in 1992. In 1991, he was named Administrator Year by the Yonkers Rotary and Yonkers Board of Education. He was honored as one of the nation’s top 10 educators by the Reader’s Digest American Hero in Education Award in 1997. In 2002, he was bestowed an Honorary Life Membership by the National Congress of Parents and Teachers.

Marilyn Johnson, Ed. D
Dr. Johnson has been a member of the central office administrative team of the North Bellmore School District since 1984. Having served as Assistant Superintendent since 1998, she has had the opportunity to acquire a wealth of technical knowledge and experience. Her administrative experience includes leadership in the areas of curriculum development and implementation of the New York State standards, implementing and monitoring grant-funded programs, contract negotiations, leadership in the area of school safety and wellness, participation in budget preparation, integrating technology into instruction, recruiting outstanding professional staff and implementing quality staff development, and program evaluation and student assessment.

Gary Schorr, Ed. D
Dr. Schorr began his career teaching elementary school in the Bronx and Queens. He taught fifth and sixth grade, fifth grade intellectually gifted classes, and math and computers in grades K – 6. He was appointed Budget Coordinator and Assistant Principal at Louis Armstrong Middle School, a nationally recognized magnet school in the New York City system. He then was named Assistant Principal at Clarke Middle School in East Meadow and served as Principal of the Abbey Lane Elementary School in Levittown, a school of over 800 students in grades K – 5. Dr. Schorr also served as Principal of the Alexander Robertson School, a K – 5 independent school in New York City. He holds an Ed. D in Administration of Schools and School Systems from Columbia University and an Advanced Certificate in Administration and Supervision from the City College of New York. In addition, he earned an M.Ed. from Columbia University and an M.S. from CCNY. Dr. Schorr is certified as a School Administrator and Supervisor and School District Administrator in New York State. He is a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Deborah De Luca, Ed. D
Dr. Deborah De Luca has a B.S. in Elementary Education from SUNY Fredonia, a M.S. in Reading from CW Post, and has earned from Dowling College her Administrative Certificates and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Administration and Technology. She spent most of her educational career in the William Floyd School District where, as a teacher, she spent 20 years teaching Kindergarten, First and Fourth grade. She was also an Elementary School Assistant Principal and Principal. Currently, she is the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education for the Bellmore Public School District. Dr. De Luca’s educational passions and expertise lie in the areas of Character Education, social/emotional literacy, and in using “systems thinking” to create and nurture learning communities so that the school community can achieve its desired future and vision. Dr. De Luca has published articles and presented at conferences in the areas stated above.

Gail Bell-Baptiste, Ed. D
Dr. Bell-Baptiste graduated Fisk University with a B.A. in Political Science/Sociology. She earned her M.S. in Guidance Counseling/Math Education from Long Island University, her P.D. in Educational Administration and Supervision from Brooklyn College, and her Ed.D in Administration, Policy and Urban Education from Fordham University. A consummate educator, she has been a teacher, guidance coordinator, assistant principal, Assistant Director of Funded Programs, Director of AIDP, and currently she is the proud principal of the Clara Cardwell Elementary & Middle School Academy for the Gifted.

Barry Finkelman
Barry has served as an Acting Deputy Superintendent and Elementary Principal in New York City. He is a member of the NYC Academy of Public Education, as well as an Adjunct Professor at St. John’s University, Touro College and The College of Saint Rose.

James Hayden
Mr. Hayden has more than 30 yeas experience working in the New York City school system as a principal, assistant principal and teacher. He is a long-time member of the American Federation of School Administrators, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, and the Council of Supervisors and Administrators.

Robert Golomb
Before his retirement from the NYC Board of Education, Robert served as an assistant principal for approximately 20 years. Prior to that, he taught English for 12 years. During his time as a teacher, Mr. Golomb was elected as a U.F.T. delegate for two, two-year terms. During his tenure as an A.P., he served as a CSA legislative representative for four years. Mr. Golomb holds a combined eight NYC and NYS teaching and supervisory/administrative licenses and certifications, has published articles addressing public education issues in several outlets. Mr. Golomb also is a Professor of study for The College of Saint Rose and Touro College.

Mark Shapiro
Mark Shapiro is a lifelong resident of New York City, educated in its public schools, serving them subsequently for his entire professional career. His career steps include teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal and principal. In his later position, which covered two decades, he stabilized the school through a major socio-economic and ethnic transition. Notable approaches included the introduction of Bilingual Education, which earned the school designation as a Bilingual Pilot School by the NYSED, and Arts in General Education, which resulted in his choice for the Schools and Culture Award by the Alliance for the Arts and the NYC Commission for Cultural Affairs. Publications in which he has been featured include An Arts in Education Source Book by the JRD 3rd Fund, American Council for the Arts; Does Anybody Give a Damn? by Nat Hentoff; as well as co-authorship of Arts in General Education: An Administrator’s Manual, published by the NYC Board of Education. In addition to supervising interns in CITE’s Administration program, he has mentored Supervisors and Fellows, monitored Affirmative Action hiring and the evaluation of funded programs for the NYC Public Schools, Fordham and Pace Universities.

Patricia Black
Ms. Black spent 30 years in the NYC public school system as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and Superintendent of High Schools, in which she was responsible for 33 high schools. After retirement, she worked as a consultant for four years to The City College of NY, and three years as Director of Admissions. She is presently an educational consultant to such organizations as the Audubon Society and the National Foundation for the Teaching of Entrepreneurship. She has supervised and evaluated programs – K-12, and has presented at various educational forums. Patricia earned her B.S., M.S in Education, and Advanced Certificate in Administration & Supervision at CCNY, as well as holding SBL and SDL certifications.

Harold Golubtchik
Mr. Golubtchik began his career in education as an elementary school general education teacher and soon moved on to teach emotionally handicapped middle school students in the New York City public schools. After five years of teaching, he joined the Teachers Centers as a consultant and ultimately became the associate director of this staff development organization. He served as the principal of an elementary school in Brooklyn for four years and then served as the principal of the Lillian Rashkis High School for severely handicapped students. This school was formally recognized for increasing graduation rates, as well as moving significant numbers of students to less restrictive learning environments. Presently, he is an instructor and mentor at Brooklyn College where he works with Teaching Fellows. Additionally, he has been teaching special education and educational administration courses for The College of Saint Rose. He is enrolled as a doctoral student in the field of educational leadership at North Central University.

Carl Sanfilippo
Mr. Sanfilippo was a public school educator for 34 years. He was a middle school principal for 15 years, both in New York City and Suffolk County. He retired from public education in 2003. Presently, he is teaching graduate courses for the College of Saint Rose graduate SBL/SDL program. Mr. Sanfilippo is the coordinator of CITE’s New York City staff development program.

James F. Mattern
Mr. Mattern is currently an Assistant Principal with the NYCDOE in the Bronx, working with a population of students consisting of autistic (pre-kindergarten – 8th grade), multiply challenged (kindergarten – 5th grade), emotionally handicapped (kindergarten – 8th grade) and inclusion classes (1st-12th grade). His school has been designated by the chancellor as a Collaborative Community School. He as worked for the NYCDOE for 29 years. Mr. Mattern currently holds a license for Principal and Assistant Principal for NYS and NYC and a teacher’s license in Special Education.

Laura Mastrogiovanni
Ms. Mastrogiovanni is currently the Principal of MS 137, a large middle school of 1900 students in Queens. She supervises 150 staff members and is responsible for overseeing a $10 million budget. She is currently teaches Educational Law and is qualified to administer a variety of supervisory courses.

Graduate Professional Development Instructors

Maria P. Heim, Ph. D
Dr. Heim, a psychologist specializing in Child and Adolescent development, is currently working as a school psychologist at the BOCES Program for Alternative Comprehensive education where she provides a full range of psychological services and supervises doctoral interns providing these services. She has a long history of teaching at the university level, including teaching graduate courses and seminars at Brooklyn College and The College of Saint Rose.

Stuart Grossman, Ed. D
Dr. Grossman is currently the District Director of Special Education/Special Services. He has a Master’s in School Counseling and a Doctorate in Educational Administration. He has worked in New York City and Long Island Schools in a number of building level positions including School Counselor, Assistant Principal, Summer School Principal and Chairman of PPS and Special Education.

Teuta Feinberg, Ph. D
Dr. Feinberg is a Licensed Psychologist who has a private practice and also works as an Adjunct Professor for the College of Saint Rose and LaGuardia College. Dr. Feinberg has had a distinguished career as a School Psychologist with the New York City Department of Education and as a Personnel Director for a private company.

Tulsa Knox, Psy. D
Dr. Knox earned her doctorate from New York University, as well as a Master’s in Education and an Advanced Certificate in Psychology from Brooklyn College. She currently works as a NYCDOE Psychologist and as a Consultant Psychologist to Supportive Child Advocacy Network. From 1995 – 1997 she served as a member of Illinois Governor Ryan’s “Violence Against Children Task Force.”

Jeanne Marie Villani
Ms. Villani is a certified School Psychologist at both the city and state level in New York. She is a fifth-year doctoral candidate at St. John’s University where she is pursuing her Ph. D in Psychology. She has been a School Psychologist for New York City Board of Education since 1993. Dr. Villani is also an instructor for Touro College and The College of Saint Rose.

John DeLibero
Mr. DeLibero is a reading specialist with a Master’s Degree in Reading along with doctoral credits from Teachers College. Mr. DeLibero has 35 years of experience teaching grades kindergarten to grade 5, along with being the elementary reading specialist in his school district. Mr. DeLibero served in the role of district Curriculum Liaison Director in Westchester County. Mr. DeLibero also initiated and coordinated the mentoring program between his school district and a local college.

Mehri M. Fryzel
Ms. Fryzel is currently the Nassau BOCES Assistant Director for Special Education and has been teaching Special Education graduate level courses for CITE for more than ten years with Touro College and The College of Saint Rose.

Judy Alexander
Ms. Alexander has been in Special Education for 32 years. She has expertise in all aspects of Special Education, including curriculum development and behavioral management. She has a B.S. in Special Education from the College of New Jersey and an M.S. in Special Education from Fordham University, where she attended as a graduate fellow. Ms. Alexander also has a Professional Diploma from Brooklyn College in Administration and Supervision and serves as an Assistant Principal in Special Education.

Harold Golubtchik
Mr. Golubtchik began his career in education as an elementary school general education teacher and soon moved on to teach emotionally handicapped middle school students in the New York City public schools. After five years of teaching, he joined the Teachers Centers as a consultant and ultimately became the associate director of this staff development organization. He served as the principal of an elementary school in Brooklyn, NY for four years and then served as the principal of the Lillian Rashkis High School for severely handicapped students. This school was formally recognized for increasing graduation rates, as well as moving significant numbers of students to less restrictive learning environments. Presently, he is an instructor and mentor at Brooklyn College where he works with Teaching Fellows. Additionally, he has been teaching special education and educational administration courses for The College of Saint Rose. He is enrolled as a doctoral student in the field of educational leadership at North Central University.

Julia Pocalyko
Ms. Pocalyko is certified in NYS as a Special Education Teacher N-12, General Education Teacher N-6, and Reading Specialist. She also holds a certificate in School Administration/Supervisor and School District Administration. She has an educational and instructional background in Special Education, Inclusion, Reading/Literacy, Staff Development and Data Driven Instruction. Ms. Pocalyko is currently working as a Learning Consultant for South Orangetown Schools, focusing on linking special education programs to general education, as well as coordinating building level supports in Reading and Math to support the at-risk population, AIS students, and ELL students. Additionally, she is an adjunct professor for various colleges and universities teaching graduate courses from the fields of special education, literacy and reading, and child development.

Robert Kazanowitz
Mr. Kazanowitz is currently the Regional Administrator for Special Education located in the Region #6 for the New York City Dept. of Education. Mr. Kazanowitz has also been an adjunct College Instructor for the past 15 years.

Marie Calder
Ms. Calder has been a CITE instructor for several years, teaching three different courses in the area of English/Language Arts as well as being a staff developer for workshops and in-class coaching in elementary and middle schools. As a former Director of Language Arts, she has much experience in the area of staff development, curriculum and instruction. Since her retirement as an elementary school principal, she has continued to be active professionally as an adjunct professor at Molloy College in Rockville Centre, NY.

Eugene Coco
Mr. Coco is a licensed Clinical Social Worker employed by the NYC Department of Education. Mr. Coco earned his MSW from Hunter College in 2003. He works with emotionally disturbed, autistic, and physically handicapped children. His specialty is Behavior Management and Conflict Resolution. He is currently working on a curriculum, “Teaching Little Hearts to Be Big” with both general education and special education students to teach them compassion and caring.

Theodore Gary Trotz
Mr. Trotz is an Adjunct Professor of Education at Long Island University (Rockland Campus) and City College of New York. Mr. Trotz received his B.A at Utica College and earned his Master’s in Special Education from Syracuse University. He is a Supervisor of student teachers at LIU, CCNY, and Grand Canyon University. He teaches graduate special education courses at LIU and CCNY. Mr. Trotz has 30 years of experience teaching emotionally disturbed, learning disabled and mentally challenged students for Rockland BOCES.

Michael Iannarone
Mr. Iannarone is currently the Coordinator for Special Education Services for Long Beach Public Schools on Long Island, as well as an adjunct professor at SUNY Old Westbury. He has over 30 years of experience working with people with special needs, and earned his Master’s Degree in Special Education from Manhattan College. He also earned his certification in Educational Administration in 1986 from Hofstra University.

Jane E. Maslin
Jane is a literary specialist with more than 25 years of experience in elementary and middle school education. In addition to teaching graduate courses and conducting ELA staff development for schools and professional organizations, she has copyrighted material on reading strategies and has been published in The Reading Teacher. Ms. Maslin has an interest in technology, in particular using multi-media authoring and videoconferences as literacy-building activities for students.

To begin learning from the best call us toll free at 1-888-222-3016 or contact us today.