Catalina Castillo, Principal, has been leading the Charter School of Educational Excellence since July 2006. She began her teaching career in the New York City Public Schools in 1985 as an elementary and middle school teacher. In 1999, she became the Program Specialist for Nassau BOCES Bilingual/ESL Technical Assistance Center (BETAC) in collaboration with the State Education Department/Office of Bilingual Education providing technical assistance to educators and parents on policies and regulations, availability of funding, educational resources, and the implementation of higher learning standards for the fifty six school districts in Nassau County, Long Island.
Ms. Castillo was appointed as the Assistant Principal of Roosevelt High School during the reorganization of the Roosevelt School District, in Roosevelt, NY in 2002 by NYSED. She later went on to become the principal of Roosevelt Middle School. Amongst her many accomplishments as a public educator, Ms. Castillo founded and directed C & M Learning Center, a small, successful private institute she opened in Richmond Hill, Queens, NY with her mother, a retired school teacher. C & M Learning Center gave Ms. Castillo the opportunity to combine her administrative and entrepreneurial skills to design effective children, adult, and technology programs.
Ms. Castillo’s appointment to CSEE has brought notable change to CSEE overall. Under her leadership CSEE has expanded its programs from elementary to middle school. Presently, CSEE is ranked a top performing school in New York State and Yonkers and is attracting students from all areas of Westchester County and New York City. In 2010, CSEE won the International Reading Association’s Exemplary ReadingProgram Award for New York State and was recognized by the S3TAIR Project as a New York State Validated School for Best Practices in Literacy. Other accomplishments include closing the achievement gap by raising test scores on New York State Assessments and realizing a five year charter renewal approved by the New York State Board of Regents in January 2009.
Ms. Castillo has served as an adjunct professor for graduate education programs at Mercy College and student teacher supervisor for Adelphi University. She also serves as a supervising mentor for student teachers and aspiring administrators for students at Mercy College and Saint Thomas Aquinas College.
She is a holder of a Master of Science Degree in School Supervision and Administration from Mercy College. She received both a Master of Science in Teaching English to Students of Other Language (TESOL) and a Bachelor of Science in Education from St. John’s University. Ms. Castillo is presently pursuing her doctoral degree in Executive Leadership at the College of New Rochelle in partnership with St. John Fisher College.
Cindy V. Lopez, Assistant Principal, was born in Yonkers, New York, the second child of immigrants from Latin America. She lived in Brazil for 17 years, and while there attended her first year of college at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Mrs. Lopez joined CSEE in August 2007 as a 4th grade teacher. Her primary focus has always been to help all students achieve their educational goals and to help teachers become better equipped to meet the many demands related to student achievement.
For the past few years Mrs. Lopez has worked hard at implementing the school’s curriculum, organizing school events and fundraisers, working on the ins and outs of helping to run a school, ensuring the students, staff and families have what they need to be part of a safe and committed working community.
Prior to becoming a teacher, Mrs. Lopez worked as a healthcare administrator for 15 years. During that time, she used many effective strategies to run a successful program that led to the overall growth of the organization. Mrs. Lopez received her Master of Science Degree in School Building Leadership from Mercy College. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Childhood Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Science.
OPERATIONS TEAM
Director of Operations and Finance
Robert Foley
Executive Administrative Assistant
Katie Kessler
Business Assistant
Abigail Rivera
Receptionist
Mayra Bautista
INSTRUCTIONAL TEAM
| K-101 |
Maria Falco |
| K-102 |
Meiling Villalobos |
| K-117 |
Dana Marden |
| 1-113 |
Lauren Munson |
| 1-114 |
Jessica Pisto |
| 1-115 |
Danielle DeMasi |
| 1/2-107 |
Shannon Whalen |
| 2-103 |
Kizzy Peltier |
| 2-105 |
Sandra Welker |
| 3-106 |
Megan Delo |
| 3-201 |
Sara Kuntz |
| 3-111 |
Kimberly Wilson |
| 4-201 |
Janet Joy |
| 4-202 |
David Brooks |
| 4-203 |
Kate Rossi-Sooy |
| 5-A |
Meagan Boyle |
| 5-B |
Emily Yedowitz |
| 5-C |
Jessica Martinez |
| 6-A |
Margaret O'Donnell |
| 6-B |
Adriana Lacarbonara |
| ELA |
William Welker (HR:7A) |
| Core |
Kristen McGrail (HR:7B) |
| Math |
Dwain Palmer (HR:8A) |
| Science |
Anthony Patierno |
SPECIALIST'S & ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT TEAM
Art
Debra Gayton
Music
Faryn Goidel
Spanish
Maria J. Canavan
Physical Education, Health, Wellness & Safety
Michael DeSimone
ACADEMIC INTERVENTION TEAM
Special Education Coordinator
Lillian Rasulo
Title I Coordinator
Jennifer Spina
TEACHER ASSISTANT'S TEAM
| Gr. K |
Jacqueline Derella |
| Gr. K |
Kathleen Morley |
| Gr. K |
Jessica Haag |
| Gr. 1 |
Christina Westphal |
| Gr. 1 |
Lisa Jasilli |
| Gr. 1 |
Tasha Jacobs |
| Gr. 2 |
Jennifer Pisano |
| Gr. 2 |
Valerie Parker |
| Gr. 2 |
Tasheena Salmon |
| Gr. 3 |
Jasmin Gonzalez |
| Gr. 4 |
Nicholas Pickel |
| Gr. 5 |
Philip Vassari |
| Gr. 6 |
Paul Lopez |
| Gr. 7 |
Robert Richardson |
| Gr. 8 |
Pattria Parris |
| Title I |
Krystel Lepore |
| Title I |
Stephanie Delaurentiis |
| Title I |
Kelly Matney |
| Spec. Ed. |
Lindsey Jackson |
SCHOOL SUPPORT TEAM
Adelaida Ortiz, Food Service School Aide
Lora DeVorce, School Aide
Ingrid Japa, School Aide
Kristina Lopez, School Aide
Leydi Rodriguez, School Aide
James Vinci, School Aide
IT SUPPORT TEAM
Nicholas Sanchez
CONSULTANT'S TEAM
Mary Cordero, VEP Director of Academics
Dr. Alice Siegel, ELA
Richard Trauner, Spec. Education
Gary Bergman, PowerSchool
Dr. Kate Hathaway, Early Childhood Literacy
MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING TEAM
Dr. Emma Duran, Psychologist
Kacie Earle, Social Worker
HEALTH AND WELLNESS TEAM
Lois Silverman
MAINTENANCE & CUSTODIAL TEAM
David Pagan, Head Custodian
Ruben Bezares
Jamie Caraballo
Edgardo Gonzalez
Alberto Perez
Wilem Pierre
SECURITY/SAFETY TEAM (NJB)
Alvin Kirkland
Ayeva Sakibou
Sharon Choudhavy (P.M.)
