Advisors

Anton Robert Berzins, Great Neck North High School

  • Ed. M., N.C.S.P. (Nationally Certified School Psychologist)
  • Psychology and history (double major) undergraduate degree from Loyola College in Maryland
  • 4 year member of Mens Varsity Soccer Team at Loyola College in Maryland (2 NCAA Tournament appearances)
  • Graduate degree from Teachers College, Columbia University
  • Co-Founder and On-Site Director for Ecuador Professional Preparation Program (www.EcuadorPPP.com)
  • Full time, tenured school psychologist, Great Neck Public School system, Great Neck, New York
  • Case Manager to the Academic Career Exploration (A.C.E.) program; comprised of students with significant physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities
  • Case Manager to the English as a Second Language (E.S.L.) program; comprised of students from the Middle East, South America, Central America, Europe, and Asia
  • Boys JV Soccer Coach at Great Neck North HS
  • Presented at district-level and national conferences. Articles, book reviews, and book chapters published in national psychology journals. Research interests include: school-sports psychology; resiliency; gratitude; positive psychology; and multicultural issues in psychology

Christine Bolger, MetroLacrosse

  • Program Director at MetroLacrosse in Boston
  • About 5 years working in Sports Based Youth Development organizations
  • Undergraduate degree from Middlebury College- Sociology/Anthropology
  • MBA from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management (Brandeis University)
  • Collegiate soccer player and track athlete
  • Curriculum Experience: Author or co-author of Service Learning Curriculum, Hip Hop Curriculum, Leadership Curriculum for America SCORES

Jacquie Cammarata, Vocational Tech

  • History Teacher at Essex County Vocational Technical Schools
  • 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens (Leadership Program) Committee
  • Varsity Volleyball Coach at ECVTS (West Caldwell Campus)
  • Assistant Varsity Softball Coach at Columbia High School
  • Collegiate softball player

Louis G. Cicenia, South Orange, NJ, Middle School

  • 16 year Middle School Science Teacher (9 years in Montville, 7 years in South Orange)
  • Varsity Softball Coach at Columbia High School
  • Respect, Reflect and Remember Coordinator at South Orange Middle School- 2006
  • “Run for Character” Coordinator at SOMS (charity run for Character Education)

Jacqueline Colaneri, Sandyston-Walpack, NJ

  • Taught 10 years Vernon Township, NJ
  • 24 years teacher/Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction in Sandyston-Walpack School district
  • S. degree and Master of Arts degree
  • Currently educational consultant, curriculum writer, and presenter for Standards Solution, LLC

Jefferson H. Crowther, Advisor

  • Father of Welles Remy Crowther
  • VP, Hudson Valley Bank
  • A., New York University
  • Treasurer and Chaplain, Empire Hook & Ladder Co., No.1
  • Member, Almoner’s Committee, St. Andrews Society of the State of New York
  • Board member, Rockland Community Foundation
  • Trustee, The Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust

John M. Crowther, Book Illustrator/Editor/Publishing Manager

  • Princeton U. Class of ’61.
  • Screenwriter (The Evil That Men Do, Missing In Action), film director (The Martlet’s Tale)
  • Author of novel “Firebase” (St. Martin’s Press)
  • Artist (jcrowtherart.com) and cartoonist (www.the-fools-journey.blogspot.com)
  • Illustrated children’s book “How the Waif Bunny Saved the Boy” by Donny Velvetears
  • Published “Out Of Order, A Cartoon Odyssey” and “Face Off” Lacrosse Cartoons
  • Illustrator of Honor Crowther Fagan’s book “The Man in the Red Bandanna”

Shannon Donovan-Monti, Camp Chimney Corners YMCA

  • Executive Director, Chimney Corners Camp for Girls, 16 years. Sister Camp to Camp Becket.
  • Group and Family Director, Camp Jewell, 7 years. Branch of Hartford YMCA.
  • Vice-Chair, 2013 Northeast YMCA Camp Conference
  • YMCA Camp Director University Faculty
  • Born and raised in Minnesota, worked at Camp Kici Yapi( YMCA Day Camp),Camp DuNord (YMCA Family Camp) and Camp St. Croix(YMCA Resident Camp)as youth and young adult.
  • Lives in Lee, MA with husband, Michael, and daughter, Bridget.

Dena A. Drobish, Parsippany Troy Hills, NJ

  • 2012 Lake Parsippany Teacher of the Year
  • 12th year teaching third grade for Parsippany Troy Hills School district
  • Writer of the NJ Curriculum on 9/11 and Terrorism
  • Curriculum writer for National 9/11 Memorial and Museum
  • Member of Parsippany’s district technology committee
  • Currently pursuing Master’s degree (graduate March 2013)
  • Member of Alpha Delta Kappa (International Honorary Organization for Women Educators)
  • Parsippany Troy Hills Education Association union representative

Honor Crowther Fagan

  • Sister of Welles Remy Crowther
  • A.S. in English and Communications from Boston College, Class of 2001
  • Author of “The Man in the Red Bandanna”, a children’s book
  • Mother of 4 children, ages 8, 6, 4, & 2
  • Trustee, The Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust

Daniel Patrick Higgins, FDNY

  • Firefighter New York City Fire Department 1973-1984
  • Fire Marshal FDNY 1984-1993
  • Supervising Fire Marshal FDNY 1993-1997
  • Commanding Officer Juvenile Firesetters Intervention Program 1995-1997
  • Reporter New Jersey Herald 1999-2002
  • Red Cross Disaster Services Volunteer 2005-Present
  • Sussex County Community College Public Safety Training Academy-College Liaison

Michelle Mastrande, Great Neck North Middle School

  • 12 years in education
  • 10 years as a social studies teacher at Great Neck North Middle School
  • A. in Political Science from Loyola College in MD
  • S. in Social Studies Secondary Education from Hofstra University
  • Contributor to the New York State Teaching Guide for the Holocaust using Facing History and Ourselves
  • 2011 Recipient of 9/11 Tribute Center Teacher Award and gift from The Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust
  • Developed a semester long multidisciplinary unit on September 11th for Middle School Students
  • 7th Grade Team Leader
  • Co-Advisor for the Community Action Club
  • Member of BCG (Building Curriculum Group)
  • Devoted mom of 4 kids age 4 and under

Christine McGroddy, Clarkstown, NJ, School District Psychologist

  • S., M.S., Certified School Psychologist
  • Retired
  • Worked 30+ years as School Psychologist, most years in a separate site public school for learning and emotionally disabled students.
  • Experienced in grades K -12.
  • Developed and supervised many programs within the school to develop self-esteem, leadership skills, and reduce bullying behaviors.
  • Currently involved in humanitarian programs such as Project S.T.E.P (Schools To End Poverty) in Vietnam and have made two trips to Vietnam.

Timothy M. Murphy, Fessenden School, Camp Becket, MA

  • Director of Secondary School Placement and English teacher, The Fessenden School, Newton, MA (2007 to present)
  • Staff Development Director, Camp Becket, Becket, MA (2011 to present)
  • A. in English from Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
  • A. in Liberal Studies from Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
  • Former Trustee, Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA, Becket, MA
  • Assistant Director of Admission, The Williston Northampton School, Easthampton, MA (2000 to 2007)
  • Boys’ lacrosse coach (2000 to present)

James Napoli, New Hyde Park Memorial HS

  • Special Education Teacher- New Hyde Park Memorial High School for last 14 years
  • Master’s Degree in Special Education k-12
  • A. in Liberal Arts Stony Brook University
  • Varsity Football Coach/ Offensive Coordinator -13 years
  • Head Coach Jr. High Wrestling -9 years
  • Head JV Lacrosse Coach- 5 years
  • Head Coach of two Levittown PAL Girls lacrosse teams 2008-present (two daughters were on team)
  • Coach Levittown Boys Lacrosse team 2008-present (triplet boys on team)
  • Coach Levittown PAL Football Team 2008-present (triplet boys on team)
  • Began a Travel Training Program for students with disabilities at NHPMHS (teaches students to use public transportation throughout Long Island and NYC)
  • Instituted the Red Bandanna Program for Varsity Football Team 2011-present (red bandanna given out to most deserving player after each game)
  • Lives in Wantagh, New York with wife Colleen, 2 daughters Michaela and Payton, triplet sons Sean, Mark, and James

Daniel P. Ponsetto, Boston College

  • Director, Volunteer and Service Learning Center at Boston College
  • Served as Campus Minister at B.C. for eight years
  • 16 years of ecumenical youth outreach ministry
  • A. degree from University of Michigan
  • MDiv degree from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
  • Author of two books on youth ministry (St. Mary’s Press)
  • Contributing writer and editor for two Study Bible projects (St. Mary’s Press)
  • Married with four children

Douglas Rabin-Advisor, Tri-ing for Kids!!

  • Founder of Tri-ing for Kids!! www.triingforkids.org
  • A. in Economics/History from Binghamton University; MBA Finance
  • President National Settlement Services Group
  • COO Sound Title
  • Active triathlete, marathoner and golfer
  • Lives in Brightwaters, NY with my wife Jen and three boys Jake, Dougie & Zach

 Cynthia Sandler, North Salem, NY, MS/HS

  • English Major, BA, Skidmore College,
  • A. In the Teaching of English, Teachers College, Columbia University
  • English Teacher, Nyack High School, Nyack, NY
  • Field Hockey and Lacrosse Coach
  • A. in Library Science, Long Island University
  • Library Media Specialist, North Salem MS/HS, North Salem, NY
  • Google Certified Teacher
  • Flat Classroom Certified Teacher
  • Video Broadcasting Club Advisor
  • Mom, violinist, runner, YA book reader, health foodie …

Frank Sonnenberg, New Hyde Park Memorial HS

  • Played Division I baseball on full scholarship at NYIT
  • A. degree in Secondary Ed.-Social Studies
  • A. degree in Special Education- Anticipated 8/13-Hofstra University
  • Instructor at New York Baseball Academy (6 years)
  • Administrator at NYBA 2010-present
  • LI summer League baseball manager- 2009-2011
  • Elementary School teacher Valley Stream Dist. #24 2008-2009
  • TA in Special Education Department New Hyde Park Memorial HS 2010-present
  • Varsity Football Asst. Coach NHPMHS 2008-present
    • Instituted the Red Bandana Award
  • Junior High baseball coach NHPMHS 2009-present
  • Member of NHP Volunteer Fire Department 2003-present
    • Recipient of Milton Baer award from exceptional service (2004)
    • Member of Operation Wounded Warrior 2010-present

Corey Winkoff, For the Love of the Game

  • A. in Communications from the University of Pennsylvania
  • Captain of the Varsity Lacrosse Team (2nd All-Time in Assists)
  • All-Ivy League Selection
  • Member of University of Pennsylvania Lacrosse Leadership Council
  • Creative Director of For the Love of the Game Lacrosse
  • Head of Development for Lax4All Organization
  • Project Manager of the Wear19 project to raise awareness for the Red Bandanna Project

Michael Winkoff, For the Love of the Game

  • S. in Business Management from Ithaca College-1983
  • Captain of Varsity Lacrosse Team
  • Co-Founder and Co-Director of For the Love of the Game Lacrosse
  • Vice President of Pioneer Mortgage
  • Project Manager of the Wear19 project to raise awareness for the Red Bandanna Project
  • Director for Lax4All Organization