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