Ms. Ellis is in her 7th year working as a School Social Worker at Arlington High School, having received her Master of Social Work degree from Fordham University. Before coming to Arlington, Ms. Ellis worked as a Social Worker and Casework Supervisor at a Runaway and Homeless Youth Shelter in Westchester County, and co-facilitated groups for the Safe Harbor Program, working with young people who had experienced, or were at high risk for, exploitation. Ms. Ellis has worked with the Student, Building and District Equity Teams at ACSD, is currently co-facilitating Restorative Circles with the aim of creating additional spaces for peer support and accountability, and is a co-advisor for the Junior Class Student Government Committee.

Julie Roberts graduated from the same school district where she began her career in education in 2003, and where her two children now attend. Ms. Roberts was a K-12 Assistant Principal before becoming an elementary principal, and prior to that taught high school Spanish. She considers herself an awakener, but enjoys sleeping late. Her blood type is B positive, much like her outlook on life. She kills her office plants, but is not a doctor, so that’s ok. Ms. Roberts received her BA from Binghamton, her MAT from Mt. St. Mary’s, and her Administrative Certificate from MCLA.

Mary Beth Neils, Arlington Central School District

School Psychologist

Mary Beth has worked in the Arlington schools for 22 years as a high school special education teacher, Integrated co-teacher in English and Algebra, an elementary school psychologist and high school psychologist. Prior to working at Arlington, she was a school to work coordinator, second grade teacher and child care worker at Green Chimneys School. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Elementary Education (N-6), a Masters Degree in Special Education and a Masters Degree in School Psychology.

John Orcutt is the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment in the Arlington Central School District.  Prior to serving in this role, John was the Director of Secondary Operations for Arlington for two years and the Executive Principal of Arlington High School for two years before that. Prior to joining Arlington, John worked as an administrator at White Plains High School for 9 years. He began his teaching career as a Social Studies teacher at New Paltz High School, but his first position in education was working for the National Football Foundation’s “Play it Smart” program at Fowler High School in Syracuse as an Academic Coach. John holds a dual BA in Anthropology and Secondary Social Studies Education with a minor in history and a MSed in Secondary Social Studies Education from SUNY Cortland, and he completed his CAS in School District and Building Leadership at SUNY New Paltz. He enjoys dark roast coffee, and watching the Eagles lose.

Mrs. Rosselli is currently the Principal at Titusville Intermediate School, working with grades 3 through 5. Prior to this position, Mrs. Rosselli served as the Assistant Principal of Arlington High School class of 2025. The first half of Mrs. Rosselli’s career was spent in the classroom as a teacher of a K-5 Special Class. She received her bachelor and masters degree in Educational Psychology and Special Education. Mrs. Rosselli Received her administrative certification from SUNY New Paltz. Additionally Mrs. Rosselli has received an educational leadership certificate from Harvard University. Mrs. Rosselli is currently pursuing a doctorate in transformational leadership at Northeastern University.

Bill Zimmer is a seasoned educator with 33 years of experience, including sixteen as a teacher and seventeen in administration. Currently the Assistant Superintendent for Highland Central School District, he has served as Director of English, Assistant Principal, and Principal at both middle and high school levels. He holds a BA, MS, and CAS in School Leadership from SUNY New Paltz.

Kim Lorenz has a BA in Elementary Education 1-6 from Cortland State, a B-2 Early Childhood certification and a MA in Special Education 1-6 and Literacy Education 1-6 from Mount Saint Mary College. She taught Special Education for sixteen years in Hyde Park Central School District before transitioning to first grade regular education four years ago. She sits on various committees for her district including BLT, TSI and the Literacy Leadership Team. Kim  is her school’s PBIS coach, a mentor and has received her district’s Portrait of an Employee recognition.

Mrs. Dicorcia is in her 17th year teaching science at Arlington Central School District. She earned her undergraduate degree from Marist College in Adolescent Education/ Biology and Masters Degree in Educational Psychology, also from Marist College. Professional accomplishments earned throughout her teaching career include National Board Teaching Certification, as well as being named as a New York State Master Teacher. In addition to teaching, Mrs. DiCorcia also works afterschool with struggling students as part of the extended day AIS program offered at Arlington High School. Throughout the school year, Mrs. DiCorcia’s goal is to foster a love of science and wonder in her students, creating a kind, supportive space for her students to learn, grow, develop, ask questions and take risks. here

Jaclyn Greco, a mathematics educator at Saugerties High School, loves to teach inquiry-based lessons that foster a deep understanding of math. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics Education from SUNY New Paltz and a Master's degree from Hunter College. Jaclyn began her career in the NYC Department of Education, teaching at a small Title I performance-based school in Brooklyn, NY. She is passionate about sharing her work and learning from others, having presented at multiple conferences, including ATMNYC, LIMACON, and the NYS Performance Standards Consortium's "Math is a Problem" conference. When she is not immersed in thinking through a math problem or lesson planning, she enjoys traveling, running, and crafting.

Mr. Quaranto is currently the Principal at Beekman Elementary School, working with grades K through 5. Prior to this position, Mr. Quaranto served as the Principal of Dover Elementary School. He was also an Assistant Principal at Arlington High School, LaGrange Middle School and Vail Farm Elementary School. The first half of Mr. Quaranto’s career was spent in the classroom as a teacher of both Social Studies and Mathematics. He received a bachelor's degree in Information Technology with a concentration in Childhood Education from Mount Saint Mary College, a Master’s Degree in Instructional Technology from Western Connecticut State University, and administrative certification from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Amanda Coppola is currently the principal at Webutuck Elementary School. She earned her undergraduate degree in Childhood Education from The College of Saint Rose, a Masters Degree in Childhood Education with a concentration in Literacy from SUNY New Paltz, and has recently earned a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership at SUNY New Paltz. Her background is mostly in the elementary grades, but has experiences with curriculum, test coordination, data collection and monitoring, and attendance at all levels. She is also a connoisseur of all the food.

Kerry is a high school math teacher at Arlington High School. Since 2009 she has taught Algebra 1, AP Calculus BC, and everything in between! Originally from the Hudson Valley, Kerry received her B.A. in Mathematical Sciences from Binghamton University and her M. Ed. in Secondary Education from Marist College. Kerry strives to foster a “can do” attitude in her students to take away the stigma that looms in math classrooms. Most recently Kerry helped establish a new 3-in-2 program at Arlington High School to give more students access to higher level courses in their senior year. When she’s not nerding out with her students, Kerry can be found baking in her kitchen or rowing on the Hudson.

Sue Baichwal has an MSEd in TESOL and an MSEd in Literacy from SUNY New Paltz. She has been an ENL teacher in the Arlington School District since 2012. Sue has also worked in the Wappingers School District. She is an Adjunct Professor in Literacy for the MSEd Literacy program at SUNY New Paltz. In addition, Sue facilitates workshops for the MId Hudson Teacher Center and the Central Westchester Teacher Center. Sue was recently awarded the Teaching Excellence Award from the Mid-Hudson Study Council.on goes here

Jess Wheeler  is currently the principal at Overlook Primary School  for the Arlington Central School District where she has been for the past 8 years.  Prior to joining Arlington as an administrator, she was a teacher at Netherwood Elementary in the Hyde Park Central School District for 21 years. In addition, she has worked as a Program Director at Camp Hillcroft and in private preschools. The 24-25 school year marks 35 years in education for Jess.  She has an associates degree from Dutchess Community College in Early Childhood Education, degrees in Elementary Education and Environmental Education from SUNY New Paltz and a masters in Educational Leadership from Pace University. Jess lives in Staatsburg with her husband and dog, Dixie. Any free moment you can find her paddling on the Hudson or exploring trails with her children and grandsons, Calvin and Jack!

Dr. Patrick Boyd is currently serving as the Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Personnel Services and Human Resources for the Highland Central School District. Prior to this position, Dr. Boyd served as the Director of Pupil Personnel Services in Highland. In addition, he was an elementary special education teacher for seven years at Highland Elementary School. Dr. Boyd is a Marist alumnus, earning an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Special Education and a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology. He also completed a Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Mercy College, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from American College of Education.

This is Mrs. Jackson’s eighteenth year with the Arlington district.  She has taught all levels of English Language Arts, including AP and honors levels, and co-taught classes.  She is currently teaching on an academic team at LaGrange Middle School, and co-teaches two of her five sections of ELA. She is the co-facilitator of her building’s equity team, and she loves collaborating with her colleagues to find out the best ways to educate and to reach each student. 

Ms. Tolworthy is in her 16th year as a School Counselor at Arlington High School. She received her Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling from The College of New Rochelle. Prior to working at Arlington High School, Ms. Tolworthy worked in the mental health field for 15 years, providing counseling within a housing and job placement agency, serving individuals with mental health diagnoses. Ms. Tolworthy is currently the co-advisor for the Senior Class Student Government, and is the parent of college-aged children.

Dr. Paul M. Fanuele is currently Superintendent of Schools for the Spackenkill Union Free School District. He has over 30 years of experience in education serving as a coach, teacher, assistant principal, house principal, principal, executive principal, and superintendent. Dr. Fanuele has served in both a large school setting (3400 students) and a small school setting (600 students). He served on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) after serving as New York State Coordinator for NASSP. He also is a past president for the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS). Leadership and learning have always been his passion. All of his roles have been rewarding including, most importantly, being a father of two amazing kids.

Eileen Ploetz is in her 7th year as a school social worker at Arlington Central School District. She currently works at the middle school level, but has worked with students at all levels. Eileen has been a co-facilitator for her buildings equity team for five years and in that time has worked on district initiatives in restorative justice, hiring practices, and responses to biased incidents. She particularly enjoys fostering growth and resilience in young people and helping them to see conflicts and concerns from perspectives other than their own.

Mrs. Hundersmarck is in her 20th year teaching mathematics and has been at Arlington High School since 2007.  She earned her undergraduate degree from McGill University majoring in Mathematics and History and her graduate degree in Mathematics Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.  While at Arlington, Mrs. Hundersmarck developed the Varsity fencing program and coached from 2008-2014. She also helped establish a 3-in-2 program that enables students to access higher level mathematics courses in their senior year.  Every day she teaches, Mrs. Hundersmarck strives to inspire students to make positive connections with mathematics through collaborative work and the encouragement of different problem-solving strategies.  In her spare time, she enjoys being with her boys building magna tile spaceships, playing soccer goalie, and teaching them to snowboard.

Sarah Hathaway is currently the Assistant Principal at Highland Middle School and a former special education reading specialist at Highland Elementary School. She graduated with her BA from Hofstra University, MA in Special Education from NC State University, and has completed her Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership at SUNY New Paltz. She has been an educator for the past 15 years and is a certified Orton Gillingham Educator and Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner, specializing in multisensory literacy instruction. Throughout her career, she has held various teaching, instructional coaching, and administrative positions in both elementary and secondary public school settings. In each role she has taken a special interest in MTSS and finding ways to make sure that each student thrives.

Mr. Thomas Confrey is currently in his 16th year of teaching.   He teaches science and serves as the Instructional Leader for Hendrick Hudson High School.  Mr. Confrey is a dedicated chemistry educator passionate about making complex concepts accessible.  He specializes in creating interactive and engaging learning experiences. In addition to teaching, Mr. Confrey is committed to professional development, staying at the forefront of educational strategies and advancements in chemistry. He is excited to share insights and practical approaches for enhancing student understanding and enthusiasm.

Katie Bruggemann is a second-grade teacher currently working for the Hyde Park Central School District. Katie has a diverse teaching background spanning kindergarten through fifth grade, as well as experience teaching Algebra I and Discrete Mathematics at the high school level. With degrees in Psychology, Elementary and Special Education, and Literacy, she brings a strong understanding of developmental progression.

Dr. Gregory S. Brown has over 20 years of experience in public K-12 education and currently serves as Assistant Superintendent at Putnam | Northern Westchester BOCES. He previously held leadership roles as Deputy Superintendent at Hyde Park Central School District and as a curriculum director, administrator, and teacher in various New York districts.
He holds degrees from SUNY Oneonta, Marist College, Iona University, and a Doctorate in Education from Manhattanville University. A recognized leader in education, Dr. Brown was a member of the 2016 Apple Leadership Cohort, received the Manhattanville Award for Excellence in Doctoral Dissertation Writing, and was named a 2016-2017 Education Policy Fellow at Columbia Teachers College. In 2019, he was honored as New York State Leader in Digital Education by the School Administrators Association of New York State, and in 2023, he received the Mid-Hudson School Study Council’s Excellence in Administration Award.
Beyond his administrative roles, Dr. Brown has served as an adjunct faculty member at NYIT, Bank Street College, and Manhattanville University, where he serves on dissertation committees. He has contributed to the NYSED Content Advisory Panel and has written for various publications including Education Week.

Kristin Gallagher is a first-year teacher at Ralph R. Smith Elementary School in Hyde Park. Kristin earned both her undergraduate and master’s degrees at Marist College in Psychology, General Education, and Special Education, specializing in grades 1-5. She currently teaches second grade. Kristin is dedicated to learning, growth, and making a positive impact as an early-career educator.

Mrs. Roberto is currently the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources for the Arlington Central School District. Prior to this position, Mrs. Roberto was a middle school special education teacher, an elementary teacher, a house principal and a supervisor of HR. Mrs. Roberto received a Bachelor of Art degree in politics from Hendrix College, a Master of Science degree in special education from The City College and a Master of Science degree in educational leadership from The College of St. Rose. Mrs. Roberto is enthusiastic about recruiting and retaining talented educators..

Cara Conrad is currently the principal at Traver Primary School for the Arlington Central School District. Over the years she has worked in Beacon, Poughkeepsie and Wappingers. She has over 24 years of experience in education serving as a coach, teacher, assistant principal, and principal. Cara has her BA and MA from Marist College as well as her Advanced Certificate in Leadership from SUNY New Paltz. She currently coaches as an Assistant Coach for the Marist Women’s Volleyball team. Cara lives in Poughkeepsie with her husband, two kids and their dog, Bella!

Leah Chasse is a dedicated School Psychologist with over a decade of experience. She earned her Masters of Arts and Certificate of Advanced Study in School Psychology from SUNY Plattsburgh, Bachelors of Science in Psychology from SUNY Oneonta, and Associates of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sci-Humanities from Dutchess Community College. Leah started her career at the Astor Learning Center as a School Psychologist and Behavioral Specialist. She later served at Taconic Hills CSD before joining Arlington CSD. Leah specializes in emotional disabilities, FBA/BIP development, and behavioral progress monitoring. Outside of work, Leah is a lover of cooking, thrifting, crafting, and most importantly, being the mother of two amazing children.

Kelly Schluter has a BA in Psychology from Oneonta State University, and a MA in School Psychology from The College of Saint Rose. She has been a practicing School Psychologist for 22 years. Kelly has worked in the Hyde Park Central School District for the past 17 years. Kelly has also worked for the Carmel and Bedford Central School District. Kelly has TCIS certification.

Mr. Diebold is in his second year as a Special Education and Biology teacher at Arlington High School. Prior to his educational career, he worked for NOAA as a North Pacific Groundfish Observer in various ports based out of Seattle and Alaska. After a few years of collecting fisheries data on the open ocean (and a newfound respect for scientific field work) he decided to pursue his Masters Degree from PACE University in Adolescent Education - Biology 7-12th grade. He currently coaches Girls JV Lacrosse as well as Boys Freshman Football at AHS.

Stephanie Maher has been at the Arlington School District since 2006. She earned her Masters in Special Education Grades 7-12 from Mount Saint Mary College. She currently coaches the junior varsity field hockey team and is a Link Crew Advisor, a group that helps incoming ninth graders transition to the high school setting.

Mr. Provost has worked in the Arlington School District for nineteen years. In 2007, he started a non-profit organization called The Gift of HOPE (Helping Others Pursue Education). The organization works to raise money for graduating seniors at Arlington High School who have suffered the loss of a parent or guardian.

Mr. Roberto is currently working as a Technology Integration Specialist for the Wappingers Central School District. This position allows him to work closely with K-12 teachers and administrators to integrate technology into the curriculum. He is a National Board Certified social studies teacher having taught at both the middle and high school levels. In addition, Mr. Roberto works as an adjunct instructor at SUNY New Paltz teaching courses on technology integration at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Gretchen Strouth is in her 21st year of teaching and her 17th at Arlington High School as a Special Education Teacher where she runs a program for students on the Autism Spectrum. She began her teaching career working at a Montessori school. She received a BA from University of Vermont in Sociology with a minor in Anthropology and a MS from Mount Saint Mary College with a dual certification in Special Education and Elementary Education. In addition, she is an Exceptional Needs National Board Certified teacher.

Dan is currently an Assistant Principal at FDR High School in the Hyde Park Central School District. He has 22 years of experience in education, serving as a physical education teacher, coach, summer school principal, and assistant principal in Hyde Park, as well as an athletic director and dean of students in the Haldane Central School District. Dan oversees and collaborates with colleagues to lead the AVID, Aim High, Sources of Strength, and PBIS programs. Through these experiences, he has become well-rehearsed in behavioral management, highly effective instructional strategies, and inspiring students to unlock their full potential. Dan earned a BA in Physical Education from SUNY Cortland, an MS in Sports Management from Adelphi University, and a CAS in School District and School Building Administration from SUNY New Paltz. When not at school, Dan enjoys exploring new restaurants with his wife and supporting his children’s sporting and musical events.

Laura Cowan

Laura is an elementary school teacher at Beekman Elementary School in the Arlington Central School District and has been teaching since 2003. She has taught first and third grade, helping students discover a love for learning. Laura earned her Bachelor of Arts in Art from SUNY Cortland and her Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Dowling College. She also serves as a math leader and a building-level leader, supporting both students and fellow teachers. When she’s not in the classroom, Laura enjoys relaxing on the beach and spending time with her family.

Ms. Courtney Grey-Arlington Central School District

Ms. Yvette Irvin-Arlington Central School District

Mr. John Lacey-Arlington Central School District

Ms. Maggie Sass-Hyde Park Central School District