December 19, 2011
Newburgh, NY -
Left: Mount Sigma Tau former officers (from left) Traci Sick,
vice president, and Jennifer Mojica, president, during
Adopt-a-Family wrapping night, with Dr. Irene Nunnari, Mount Saint
Mary College professor emerita of English and communication
arts.
Right: (Left to right:) Dr. Nathan Bond, president of Kappa
Delta Pi; Jessica Wood, secretary; Jane Farino, membership chair;
Dr. Ludmilla Smirnova, Sigma Tau Chapter advisor; Jennifer Hanning,
web master; Nicole Setter, treasurer, Amy Wilson, historian;
Danielle Zizzo, 2009-2010 historian; and Faye Snodgress, KDP
executive director.
Mount Saint Mary College's Sigma Tau chapter of Kappa Delta Pi,
the international honor society in education, was presented this
fall with an Achieving Chapter Excellence Award for outstanding
programming in support of the society’s mission and strategic
goals.
Kappa Delta Pi (KDP), established in 1911, enhances the
professional growth and teaching practices of its member educators
throughout all levels of their teaching careers.
With guidance from advisors Ludmila Smirnova and Patricia Ruff
of the Mount’s education department, the chapter sponsors numerous
events throughout the year such as food and book drives,
fundraisers and Adopt-a-Family, which includes collecting presents
in the education department for an underprivileged family
recommended by the Newburgh Head Start program.
The chapter’s Literacy Alive program attracts some 100 children
and their families to literacy events. Children illustrate poems,
create books, decorate posters and receive free books and
certificates of literacy to mark their achievements.
A regional leadership conference, with seven colleges and
universities attending, was hosted recently by Sigma Tau and
provided workshops on innovative teaching and leadership conducted
by Mount Saint Mary College and visiting professors. The EXCITE
conference was the chapter’s initiative, approved and supported by
Kappa Delta Pi, to run a regional conference for the northeast KDP
chapters.
Myriad opportunities for professional development for teacher
candidates are provided, such as SMART board workshops, principal
and teacher panels, mock job interviews, resume workshops and guest
speakers.
Mount Saint Mary College’s education program is distinctive in
that “fieldwork -- embedded in coursework -- starts in the
sophomore year,” said Dr. Reva Cowan, chair.
The Mount provides a very supportive environment with students,
professors and peers in the classroom together, building a learning
community.
Statistics show that the Mount’s education program is earning
high marks in preparing well qualified teachers and
administrators.
“The aggregate pass rate on the content specialty tests required
by New York State for licensure is 98 percent for our students,”
noted Cowan. The state requires at least an 80 percent pass
rate.
Debra Calvino, who graduated from the Mount with a mathematics
degree in 1981 and teaches at Valley Central High School in Orange
County, was named New York State 2010 Teacher of the Year.
In 2012, Sigma Tau will celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Mount Saint Mary College is accredited by the Middle States
Association of Colleges and Schools, plus specialized accrediting
commissions such as the National Council for Accreditation of
Teacher Education (NCATE).
Mount students who served in the community this fall
through student teaching include:
Nashon Anderson, Beacon, NY, English; Christine Caban, Garden
City South, NY, history; Christina Campisi, Howard Beach, NY,
English; Danielle Camporese, Hopewell Junction, NY, mathematics;
Laura Condon, Syracuse, NY, history; Brittany Craven, Vernon, N.J.,
English; Kelly Donohue, Walker Valley, NY, history; Guliano
Franzini, Walden, NY, history; Danielle Freeman, Schenectady, NY,
history; Amanda Fenn, Staten Island, NY, history; Cassandra
Gucciardo, Levittown, NY, mathematics; Alex Gutierrez, Elmont, NY,
history; Kaitlyn Iaquinta, New Hyde Park, NY, history; Adam Kean,
Port Jervis, NY, history; Kathleen Nagengast, Monroe, NY, history;
Kaitlyn O’Malley, Wallkill, NY, mathematics; Brandi Ripa, Fort
Montgomery, NY, mathematics; Amanda Schreiber, Milton, NY, history;
Lori Sommer, Highland Mills, NY, history; Phillip Stewart,
Monticello, NY, English; Kimberly Stewart, Franklin Square, NY,
history; James Tompkins, Marlboro, NY, history; Gregory Tyler,
Clinton Corners, NY, mathematics; Kristin Zaleskie, Glen Head, NY,
history; Valley Stream residents Amanda Vagnone, mathematics;
Michelle Anander, information technology; Warwick residents Michael
Conklin, history; Pasquale Alfarone, biology; Larrisa Gluszak,
mathematics; Alexis Russell, history; Washingtonville residents
Stephanie Conte, history; Gregory Dowling, mathematics; Nicholas
Iacobelli, science; Diana Menchini, history; Jennifer Schrader,
mathematics; Goshen residents Erica Doherty, history; Autumn
Saleski, English; Newburgh residents Patrick Dougherty, history;
Ashley Baginski, English; Constance Burgos, English; Samantha
Conklin, history; Ashley Cortes, history; Pine Bush residents
Kimberly Driscoll, early childhood/special education; Victoria
Guido, English; Highland residents Meghan Finley, information
technology; Jennifer Andersen, English; Middletown residents Juan
Genovez, mathematics; Aileen Colarietti, English; Amanda Price,
history; Charlotte Terry, Spanish; Poughkeepsie residents Edward
Gordineer, history; Jaime Cocco, mathematics; Ashley Hastings,
mathematics; Richard Jeffrey Scalzo,, history; Lagrangeville
residents Krista Mora, history; Theresa Borst, information
technology; Fishkill residents Pamela Preiato-Ciotoli, early
childhood/special education; Danielle Russo, history; New Windsor
residents Steven Resler, mathematics; Monique Santoro, history;
Melanie Scheetz, mathematics; Wappinger’s Falls residents Chelsea
Veach, mathematics; Teresa Wisniewski, English; Elizabeth Trachta,
early childhood/special education; Nicole Treco, history;
Giuseppina Spatola, history; Katie Menton, history; Brian, early
childhood education; Bridget Costello, mathematics; and Mario
Centuori, III, history.