NASTECH 5th Annual NASTAR Celebration
Recognizing Nassau Association of School Technologists Award Recipients for their innovation and exemplary technology leadership in district and beyond.
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MEET THE NASTARS!
Vincent Albrecht Diocese of Rockville Center
Gabriella Burgos Evergreen Charter School
Ms. Gabriella Burgos is a Kindergarten and First Grade Special Education teacher at Evergreen Charter School. Through her own initiative, Ms. Burgos has become a certified Seesaw Pioneer and Ambassador. Ms. Burgos facilitates Seesaw professional development across the school, frequently shares her high level of knowledge, and provides support for her colleagues as a Seesaw expert. Ms. Burgos has gone above and beyond to increase the proficiency of instructional staff in using this platform and to ignite student engagement. She has inspired students to do their best to capture their learning with a variety of creative tools including voice recordings. With Ms. Burgos’ guidance, teachers are more equipped to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all learners. Ms. Burgos’ level of commitment and dedication to the staff and students is to be commended. She is a valued member of the school community and without a doubt a NASTAR! -Samuel Laloi
Mr. Albrecht is the Principal of St. Edward the Confessor School in Syosset. Mr. Albrecht consistently aims to provide innovative experiences for his students. St. Edward the Confessor was one of the first schools in the Diocese to implement a one- to-one device program. Under Mr. Albrecht's leadership, the school has also established an Imagination Playground and transitioned from separate technology classes to full integration of technology within the core curriculum of the school. He is also part of the Diocesan committee overseeing the implementation of the NYS Computer Science / Digital Fluency Standards. Mr. Albrecht is always willing to try new ideas for his students and school community, a consummate NASTAR. -Emily Guarnieri
Roger Boucher Locust Valley CSD
Roger Boucher is a teacher at Locust Valley High School and an amazing asset to our district community. He hosts a yearly island- wide film festival at Locust Valley and is also the mastermind behind the live-streaming and recording of school events. He teaches IB Film SL/HL, Broadcasting, and Filmmaking.He also has students, who are part of our career exploration program, work side-by-side with him to assist with live-streaming performing arts events. Roger is always willing to take risks to integrate technology into his curriculum and to enhance school events. Roger is not only a wonderful educator, but a great person who is always willing to go above and beyond. Congratulations Roger!! -AnnMarie Buonaspina
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Matthew Colicino Plainview-Old Bethpage CSD
Patrick Clarke East Williston UFSD
Patrick Clarke, a teacher and SWS coordinator at The Wheatley School, has been recognized for his outstanding achievements in innovation, leadership, and student-centered practices. His innovative approach to teaching and supporting the growth of his students is evident in all that he does. Mr. Clarke has collaborated with teacher leaders and administrators in English, Social Studies, and Technology & Innovation departments to create cross-curricular activities that engage and challenge students. This year, Mr. Clarke's work with the SWS Greenhouse and Garden Innovation Center has opened up exciting opportunities for diverse learners across the district, from kindergarten to 12th grade. With Mr. Clarke's guidance, students are able to explore areas of interest aligned with state standards, including hydroponics, sustainability, agriculture, and engineering. His dedication to his students and his innovative leadership make him a role model for teachers and students alike and a NASTAR! -Stacey Weinberg
Mr. Matthew Colicino integrates technology into all areas of learning in his classroom and makes learning with technology fun and engaging to his grade 3 class. His students are always excited by the learning opportunities he provides using digital media! Outside of his classroom, Mr. Colocino has spearheaded the effort of creating a user-friendly, digital format for compiling Positive Behavior Intervention & Support points within the school's building wide "SOAR" behavior program. This program is implemented school-wide and has increased the efficiency of the program for all teachers and administrators. Mr. Colicino is a natural leader throughout Stratford Road Elementary School, and is someone who is always willing to share something he's learned to help others. He is a constant resource to his colleagues by providing support through hands-on work, online resources, and was an integral part of supporting district-wide staff through the COVID pandemic and remote/hybrid learning. Aside from his day- to-day work, Mr. Colicino has recently completed his administrative degree while teaching at POB. We are lucky to have such an amazing educator and technology superstar in our District, thank you Mr. Colicino for all that you do! -Alex Goldberg & Dr. Ben Wiley
Jean D'Aurio Franklin Square UFSD
Ms. Jean D’Aurio is an exemplary teacher, technology mentor, and asset to the Franklin Square community. Her dedication to supporting students with disabilities is matched only by her commitment to empowering her fellow educators. In addition to teaching and planning lessons for two grade levels, Ms. D’Aurio serves as a go-to person for anything related to technology at John Street School. She spends her precious “free” time troubleshooting tech issues for teachers, helping students with their devices, and organizing and providing professional development. In the classroom, she is always willing to try new things and consistently introduces new applications and programs to her students. Ms. D’Aurio's tireless dedication, collaborative spirit, and expertise in technology have had a profound impact on the success of students and staff alike. She is an invaluable member of the team and a true NASTAR! -Casey Hauptman
MEET THE NASTARS!
Michael Davola Garden City UFSD
Andrew DelRosario Bellmore-Merrick CHSD
Mr. Davola has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills in various positions within the education field, as a technology teacher and staff developer in the Garden City School District. His expertise in instructional design, technology, and curriculum development have enabled him to positively impact the learning outcomes of students and teachers alike. His excellent interpersonal skills and ability to encourage risk taking through his supportive manner has helped him greatly as an instructional leader and staff developer in our district. Throughout the pandemic, Mr. Davola's tireless efforts, and collaboration with the rest of the tech team, helped to design a website and app that provided hundreds of video tutorials for the entire district, supporting teachers with difficult issues and improving student outcomes. He has led in-service courses and countless professional development workshops and trainings. A true leader, he is well-liked by staff, faculty and administrators districtwide for his ability to make them feel at ease and successful in their learning. Mr. Davola is a problem-solver, always seeking new ways to improve teaching and learning, and his passion for leveraging technology and soft skills to prepare students to be adaptable and critical thinkers is unmatched. -Lauren Maguire
Congratulations to Mr. Andy DelRosario on being named the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District’s NASTECH NASTAR for 2023. Mr. DelRosario is a founding member of the district Technology Integration Mentor program having served as an Assistant Principal both at Grand Avenue Middle School and now at Mepham High School. In this role, he oversees both the Technology Integration Mentor and Technology Support teams, and has been instrumental in the overall success of many district initiatives, including but not limited to: 1:1 rollout, transitioning to Infinite Campus and Google Workspace for Education, Cybersecurity and Ed-Law 2-d compliance, Achieve3000, BYOD, and the award winning Mepham HS Broadcasting program. Mr. DelRosario always embraces the many challenges that come along with the ever changing digital age, viewing it as a means to professional growth. He is a forward thinking problem solver with an innovative mindset and the definition of a true team player. But perhaps what makes Mr. DelRosario most deserving of this award is that every decision he makes regarding not only instructional and administrative technology, but education as a whole, is done so with the best interest of students always at the forefront of his mindset. His humble and genuine nature makes him a leader our entire community respects and admires. -Joe Innaco
MEET THE NASTARS!
Megan Falck Syosset CSD
Elizabeth Fazio Islip UFSD
Walt Whitman’s Elementary Library Media Specialist, Megan Falck, has a passion for creating exciting learning opportunities for her elementary students through literacy, coding, and STEAM. Her Library Media Center is a lively blend of both traditional library resources and a Maker Space that is deeply enjoyed and appreciated by her students. She has created a culture in her library that balances creativity, passion and inquiry while incorporating the necessary digital literacy skills that are required to support our students today. Ms. Falck is dedicated to her colleagues at Walt Whitman and the Library Media Specialist Team by keeping everyone connected… both literally and figuratively! She has a contagious smile, a generous spirit and brings enthusiasm into all of her work. We are so proud to acknowledge Megan Falck as
Ms. Fazio has been a 4th and 5th grade teacher in Islip for 21 years, and has been specifically the 5th grade science teacher over the last 7 years. Over the course of the past few years, Ms. Fazio has embraced the rapid transition into educational tech here in Islip. She has done full video science experiments to integrate a flipped classroom model and has transformed her classroom into a truly innovative workspace. By creating her own YouTube channel for science class, her students could have access to these lessons and experiments at any time. Through the use of software like Book Creator, Nearpod, Kid OYO and Google Workspace, Ms. Fazio has done an incredible job of not only preparing her students for middle school, but also for the digital age that they are living in. Recently, she was recognized as a master teacher and was part of a trip to Finland with other Long Island recipients to learn and explore the educational culture in Finland. She defines what it means to be a lifelong learner and instills that passion into her students and colleagues every day. -Timothy Brush
a 2023 NASTAR. -Christine Payne
Christina Ficarelli Seaford UFSD
Ms. Ficarelli has signed up for 1:1 support every time I have come to her building for a Model Schools Day. She is enthusiastic about educational technology integration and her students are excited about using the programs she implements. During class intervention block time, Ms. Ficarelli uses productive tech tools such as Dance Mat Typing and Sway that maximize student engagement. She uses OneNote with her students regularly, which is rare at the elementary level. Ms. Ficarelli is creating a classroom of innovators and forward thinkers, and she is always looking for her own learning opportunities! She is absolutely a NASTAR! - Audrey Rome
MEET THE NASTARS!
Jennifer Greenspoon Great Neck UFSD
Stacy Gulisano West Hempstead UFSD
Ms. Stacy Gulisano is a 7th and 8th-grade FACS teacher at West Hempstead Secondary School. Ms. Gulisano has been a member of the #RamFam for the past 12 years in the Fine, Performing, and Culinary Arts Department and integrates technology into all aspects of her FACS curriculum. She is also the Junior Virtual Enterprise Teacher, in which instructional technology is an essential aspect of the curriculum in marketing, graphic design, and communications. Ms. Gulisano uses technology to blend the hands-on skills in her classroom within the units of sewing, cooking, finance, entrepreneurship, and food science. She uses programs like Book Creator and Canva to promote digital literacy and project-based learning across all her courses. For example, she created PBLs for students to use Book Creator or Canva to design a meal- kit service. Ms. Gulisano also has the students document their learning with Digital Portfolios using Canva or Google Sites in which students curate their work products and showcase a wide range of knowledge. Ms. Gulisano consistently seeks new ideas to integrate technology into her classroom and is a model teacher who showcases how technology can work alongside hands-on skills. She is a passionate educator who continues to innovate and support different learners to provide rich, meaningful, and authentic learning for her students. Ms. Gulisano designs instructional opportunities for students to connect their skills with real- world professions and experiences. She is a kind, generous, warm, dedicated, and approachable teacher who opens doors for students to pursue their passions in a fun, engaging way.-Dr. Katie DiGregorio
Jennifer Greenspoon is an elementary classroom teacher that engages and empowers learners through her innovative use of technology in the classroom. Ms. Greenspoon has been a pioneer, making significant contributions to the advancement of educational technology at the Baker School, leveraging technology to increase student engagement, enhance active inquiry, and improve student learning. She has also dedicated herself to expanding her own knowledge and expertise, and proactively shares her expertise with other educators. To that end, Ms. Greenspoon serves on our district Inservice Institute committee, where she shares her expertise and guidance in the selection of professional development offerings for our staff members. Ms. Greenspoon has been an integral piece of our technology program from its inception. Through her technological expertise, willingness to try new things, and openness to share with others, Jennifer truly embodies what it means to be a NASTAR. -Dr. Justin Lander
MEET THE NASTARS!
Elizabeth McGee Oyster Bay-East Norwich CSD
Amanda Hocevar North Merrick UFSD
Amanda Hocevar's passion for engaging children through the use of technology to reach their fullest potential makes her a very strong candidate for the NASTAR Award. Ms. Hocevar is not only a Speech-Language Pathologist in our District, but holds certifications in both District and Building Leadership, which she takes seriously in her additional roles as Student Council Advisor, Extended School Year Director, Parent University Co-Chair, and Vice President of Programming for SEPTA. Where's Ms. Hocevar? Look for a green screen or Padcaster surrounded by smiling students! In all of her roles with students, staff members, and parents, Ms. Hovecar is retooling what education looks like to inspire and promote innovation. Our Student Council activities are booming with donations because of the fun and eye-opening multimedia advertisements. Staff members and parents know that when Ms. Hocevar is in charge of an event, it will be engaging, well- received, and everyone will walk away having been a part of a technology-inspired activity that encourages problem-solving and critical thinking. Ms. Hocevar proudly co-presented many of her technology integrations at the most recent ASSET Conference including videography, Mentimeter, Book Creator, Flip, and lots more to empower student learning and establish a positive sense of community. She is an inspiration, and we are very lucky to have her in North Merrick. -Christine Talbot
Elizabeth Mcgee is the Library Media Specialist TA at the Vernon School in the Oyster Bay -East Norwich School District. Elizabeth Mcgee is passionate about educational technology. Her accomplishments are truly remarkable and reflect her unwavering commitment to providing a rich and engaging learning experience for her students. Ms. McGee is well known in Oyster Bay for the school newspaper club and publishing two interactive editions with the students on Book Creator. She also runs two book clubs and oversees the school's Makerspace program. She has shown exceptional creativity and leadership. Her dedication to advancing the use of technology in education is evident through her membership in the district tech team and her successful grant application for a 3D printer. In addition, she has made significant contributions to promoting literacy through her management of a literary pumpkin contest. Finally, her commitment to teaching digital citizenship to all grade levels underscores her passion for helping students develop the critical skills they need to succeed in our rapidly evolving digital world. Overall, this library media specialist is an outstanding educator who has made a profound impact on the lives of her students and the entire school community. -Jaclyn Gibbons
MEET THE NASTARS!
Christine Ryan Valley Stream #30 UFSD
Jill Robinson Lynbrook UFSD
Jill Robinson is an integral part of the Lynbrook learning community. As the technology staff developer, she shepherded the implementation of every significant instructional technology. Ms. Robinson was invaluable when transitioning to remote instruction during the COVID crisis. Teachers were rapidly equipped with new technologies and provided with instructional practices to meet the needs of remote learners. Jill Robinson’s support was essential to the success of the teachers’ instruction and students’ learning. Lynbrook is deeply grateful to Ms. Robinson. -Neil MacDermott
Ms. Ryan is an outstanding technology aide who demonstrates a capacity to learn, grow, share and instruct. She has tackled every new initiative presented with enthusiasm, a sense of purpose for creating meaningful experiences for our students and a lens for the development of practical skills. Ms. Ryan is a collaborative staff member who consistently pushes the boundaries of her own position so that she is in the best position to support our students, families and staff. She listens carefully to the needs of our building/district, is creative in her approach to problem-solving and has a strong understanding of software, hardware and the instructional relevance of the digital fluency standards. Ms. Ryan is flexible and always willing to learn and we are proud to call her a NASTAR! -Christopher Onorato
Jennifer Rosario Copiague UFSD
Mrs. Rosario is a 5th grade teacher and technology mentor who prides herself on helping her colleagues to find ways to integrate technology into their lessons. She also is very integral to the technology mentor team and assists her fellow mentors in finding great resources to share out at their buildings, respectively. Since my arrival to the district, she has also been a great thought partner for technology initiatives, including STEAM Month in May of this school year. Congratulations to Ms. Rosario, Copiague's first NASTAR! -Jason Strumwasser
Marcia Santora Nassau BOCES
Ms. Santora embodies a philosophy of technology innovation for today's school districts and is our NASTAR! As the Information Technology Specialist for Nassau BOCES' Department of Special Education, she has spearheaded the modernization of our department with 11 schools, 2,200 students and 45 administrators. This work has included the transition to a new SIS system, billing system and IEP management system to support the department's partnership with over 56 school districts on Long Island. Her work in their area has been invaluable for the implementation, staff training and communication of this 3-year technology plan for the department. -Dr. Kenneth Kroog
MEET THE NASTARS!
Ashley Scotto Bethpage UFSD
Rich Sevilla Herricks UFSD
Ashley Scotto seamlessly integrates the use of instructional technology tools in the Central Boulevard Elementary School Library Media Center. Her lessons are creative, dynamic, and purposeful. The students genuinely look forward to library time with Ms. Scotto! It is commonplace these days that the library media specialist becomes the point person for technology support and troubleshooting; Ms. Scotto excels at providing support for her colleagues. She has helped to champion the school's Energy Bus initiative and is the advisor for the school's We Belong Club, which highlights diversity, inclusion, and various cultures. Ms. Scotto is also the coach for the school's Hackathon Team and helped to spearhead the district's plan to implement the new Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards. She is an active member of the Central Boulevard and Bethpage Schools community and a NASTAR! Follow Ms. Scotto on Twitter (@scotto_educator) to see the innovation taking place in her library media center. -Andrew Choi A few words from staff at Herricks: “Dr. Sevilla is certainly one of the smartest people I've worked with, and he deserves every bit of his hard-earned success and accolades.” “Dr. Sevilla has a very relaxed and approachable demeanor, which makes Rich a true pleasure to work with.”
I want to thank and congratulate an extraordinary individual who has dedicated over 23 years of his life to the advancement of technology at Herricks - Dr. Rich Sevilla. Dr. Sevilla is an inspiration to us all, and I am privileged to share a few words about his remarkable achievements and contributions to Herricks. For more than two decades, Dr. Sevilla has been an integral part of the Herricks team, working tirelessly to ensure that our technology infrastructure is up to date, secure, and accessible to all students and staff members. From introducing new software and systems to providing technical support and guidance, Dr. Sevilla's commitment to excellence is evident in all that he does. But it is not only Dr. Sevilla's technical prowess that sets him apart - it is his genuine care and compassion for the people he serves. Whether it was myself struggling with an issue (many issues) or a staff member needing assistance with an online lesson, Dr. Sevilla has always been there with a helping hand and a patient ear. His calm demeanor and willingness to go the extra mile have earned him the respect and admiration of everyone he has worked with. On behalf of the entire Herricks' community, I want to express our gratitude to Dr. Sevilla for his years of dedicated service, his unwavering commitment to excellence, and his heartfelt compassion for the people he serves. Rich, you are an inspiration to us all, and we are proud to have you as a part of our team. Thank you for all that you do, and congratulations on this well-deserved promotion (and a loss for Herricks) as you move on to Manhasset School District in the role of Director of Instructional Technology (or as we say at Herricks, Director of everything that plugs in or logs on). Congratulations!!! -Chris Connors
MEET THE NASTARS!
Shirley Shing New Hyde Park- Garden City Park UFSD
Jennifer Levi Mineola UFSD
Shirley Shing has been a fixture at the New Hyde Park Road School for 19 years. As a computer aide, she has been an integral staff member, supporting all aspects of technology integration. As technology became widespread and advanced, Ms. Shing always managed to stay ahead of the curve to assist the teachers and teach them how to use technology. She is the backbone of the Road School and encourages students, teachers, and all staff, even those who may otherwise be afraid or uncomfortable with technology, to step out of their comfort zone and try new things. She is extremely dedicated and will be missed when she retires at the end of June. Road School will not be the same without her. -Jennifer Scamell
Jennifer Levi uses technology to inspire learners in the PreK - 2 library media center. From coding and robotics to research and creation, her students’ experience communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity each and every time they enter her library. Mrs. Levi’s impact is felt throughout the school community as her expertise is sought out by her colleagues across the district. She is a team player with a “we over me” attitude; always looking to further the Mineola District Mission. We are always #MineolaProud of her accomplishments and efforts and are happy to call her a NASTAR!- Dr. Whittney Smith
Amanda Silverman Glen Cove CSD
Amanda Silverman is a dedicated and skilled teacher who played a crucial role in creating the evolving STREAM curriculum for Glen Cove's middle school. Her commitment to learning and teaching has been evident in her efforts to stay up-to-date with the latest instructional technology trends and teaching methods. Ms. Silverman's use of our district's instructional technology has made learning more engaging and interactive for all her students. Her enthusiasm and dedication has been instrumental in helping to create a positive and successful learning environment for the program's first year of implementation! Thank you to Ms. Silverman, Glen Cove CSD's NASTAR.- Corey Kindelmann
Board of Cooperative Educational Services of Nassau County Susan Bergtraum, President Deborah Coates, Vice President Ronald Ellerbe Lawrence Greenstein Martin R. Kaye Fran N. Langsner Robert “B.A.” Schoen Eric B. Schultz Michael Weinick
Dr. Robert R. Dillon, District Superintendent James R. Widmer, Deputy Superintendent Colleen Lipponer, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Thomas McGrath, Assistant to the Superintendent (Human Resources/Regional Schools and Instructional Programs)
Susan McNulty, Assistant to the Superintendent (Special Education/Curriculum & Instruction) www.nassaboces.org
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