Education Faculty

Educational Background

• New Jersey State Standard Certification in School Psychology
• New York State Permanent Certification in School Psychology
• Board Certification School Crisis Response (BCSCR)
• The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, Commack, NY
• Ph.D. Educational Psychology, Fordham University, New York, NY
• P.D. School Psychology, Fordham University, New York, NY
• M.S.Ed. Educational Psychology, Fordham University, New York, NY
• B.A. Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

Professional Background

• School Psychologist, New York City Department of Education, New York, NY
• Practicum Site Advisor, New York City Department of Education, New York, NY
• Mandated Preschool Counselor, Brooklyn, NY
• Teaching Assistant, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

Publications, Presentations, Honors and Professional Activities

• Luis, M.A. (2011). Rewards, intrinsic motivation, and achievement in intact classrooms. (Doctoral Dissertations). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. (Accession Order No. AAT 3461884).
• Luis, M.A. and Zusho, A. (2009). Rewards in reality: Effects of performance-contingent rewards on autonomy, competence, and intrinsic motivation in the classroom. Unpublished manuscript, New York: Fordham University.
• Verhaeghen, P., Cerella, J., Semenec, S.C., Leo, M.A., Bopp, K.L., and Steitz, D.W. (2002). Cognitive efficiency models in old age: Performance on sequential and coordinative verbal and visuospatial tasks. Psychology and Aging, (17), 558-570.
• Professional Development presentations on dealing with children in crisis, IEP writing, understanding special education and special education services and how to create and implement prevention and intervention for New York City Department of Education.
• Member of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
• Served on the New Jersey Standards Review Committee that made recommendations for revision of the Common Core State Standards
• Presented at the Lilly Conference for Evidence-Based Teaching and Learning in Bethesda, MD, June 2017.

Courses Taught at Middlesex County College
EDU121 (Introduction to Education), IDC123 (Introduction to Special Education and Disabilities in American Society), PSY226 (Educational Psychology), PSY232 (Lifespan Development) and SSD101 (Student Success)

Educational Background

• Certification in Supervision of Instruction, Rutgers University and Kean University
• M.S.Ed. Advanced Elementary Education, Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
• B.S. Elementary/Early Childhood Education, Wagner College, Staten Island, NY

Professional Background

• Teacher Consultant and Presenter for the National Writing Project at Rutgers University
• Trainer for The Foundation for Educational Administration/New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association
• Elementary classroom teacher, curriculum resource teacher (master teacher), Supervisor of Elementary Curriculum and Instruction for the Public Schools of Edison Township, NJ

Publications, Presentations, Honors and Professional Activities

• Presented at NWP’s Mid-Winter Writing Conferences, “The Reading Writing Connection” and “The Common Core Standards for Writing; Bring Them to Life in the Elementary Writing Workshop”
• Presenter at “Engage” 2014 Fall Conference for FEA/NJPSA
• Extensive experience in the field of early literacy, with training by many of the respected educational leaders such as Lucy Calkins, Leah Mermelstein, Susan Zimmermann, Irene Fountas, Gay Su Pinnell, and Carl Anderson

Courses Taught at Middlesex County College
EDU121 (Introduction to Education), EDU122 (Introduction to Early Childhood Education) and EDU280 (Educational Field Study)

Educational Background

• New Jersey State Standard Certification – Supervision
• New Jersey State Standard Certification – Learning Disability Teaching Consultant
• New Jersey State Standard Certification -Teacher of Students with Disabilities in Grades K-12
• New Jersey State Standard Certification- Elementary School Teacher in Grades K – 5
• New Jersey State Standard Certification – Language Arts/Literacy Specialization in Grades 5 – 8
• New Jersey State Standard Certification – Teacher of Russian Language in Grades K-12
• New Jersey State CE Certification – Teacher of Computer Science Technology in Grades K-12
• New Jersey State CE Certification – Teacher of English as a Second Language in Grades K-12
• Ed. D. Education / Special Education, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
• Combined Bachelor and Master of Education. Literacy, Language and Literature, Moscow, Russia
• Associate Degree. Production and Event Management / Music, College of Cultural Studies, Nalchic, Russia
• Diploma – Computer Programming, The Chubb Institute, North Brunswick, N.J

Professional Background

• Adjunct Instructor, Middlesex County College, Edison, NJ
• Visiting Assistant Professor of Special Education – Online Teaching, University of North Alabama, Florence, AL
• Instructional Design Specialist, Rutgers University, SC&I, New Brunswick, NJ
• Part Time Lecture, Rutgers University, GSE, New Brunswick, NJ
• Technology Teacher, Teacher of Special Education / Elementary Education & Language Arts – Various NJ Public Schools
• Verizon Thikfinity Trainer / Professional Development Educator – Instructional Technology

Publications, Presentations, Honors and Professional Activities

• Rutgers University Senate – elected Senator, representing Part Time Lectures (PTL) Unit 2016-2017
• University of North Alabama – SPED Program / Curriculum Designer and online course developer
• Differentiating Instructions with Ease, Confidence and Web – New Jersey Association for Educational Technology (NJAET), Spring Conference, March 2014

Courses Taught at Middlesex County College
IDC103 (Teaching with Technology) & SSD101 (Student Success)

Educational Background

• Licensed New Jersey State Counseling Psychologist
• Ph.D. Counseling Psychology, Lehigh University
• M.A. Counseling, The College of New Jersey
• B.A. Psychology, The College of New Jersey

Professional Background

• Director of Center for Enrichment and Learning and Teaching, Middlesex County College
• Reviewer for the Teaching of Psychology journal (publication of the American Psychological Association)
• Board of Education Member East Windsor Regional School District

Publications, Presentations, Honors and Professional Activities

• Author of Student Success in College: Doing What Works! (2nd edition)
• Author of “The Process of Becoming a Critical Thinker in Foundations of Critical Thinking” (chapter published by the National Resource Center for First-Year Experience)
• Presenter for Annual First Year Experience Conference, Lilly Teaching and Learning Conference, NJCCC Best Practice conference

Courses Taught at Middlesex County College
PSY226 (Educational Psychology), PSY232 (Lifespan Development) and SSD101 (Student Success)

Educational Background

• Certification in Supervision of Instruction, Kean University, Union, NJ
• M.S.Ed. Administration and Supervision, Kean University, Union, NJ
• M.S.Ed. Secondary Education Social Studies, Jersey City State College, Jersey City, NJ
• B.S. Secondary Education Social Studies, Jersey City State College/New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ

Professional Background

• U.S. Army Battalion Headquarters, Germany
• English and Social Studies Secondary School Teacher, Edison Township Schools, NJ
• AP European History/World History and AP Government, US History I and II, Edison Township Schools, NJ
• Principal of Benjamin Franklin Elementary School and Herbert Hoover Middle School, Edison Township Schools, NJ
• Principal of Edison High School, Edison Township Schools, NJ

Publications, Presentations, Honors and Professional Activities

• Extensive experience in school settings, ranging from K-12, both as a teacher and as an administrator within the Edison Township Public Schools
• Educational perspective in supervision and teaching with 40+ years of experience

Courses Taught at Middlesex County College
EDU121 (Introduction to Education) and EDU280 (Educational Field Study)

Educational Background

• New Jersey State Standard Certification Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction K-12
• New Jersey State Standard Highly Qualified Certification Teacher of English K-12
• M.A. in Education, Leadership, Management and Policy, Seton Hall University
• B.A. in English/Criminal Justice, Seton Hall University

Professional Background

• Extensive experience in the field of literacy and literacy development
• English teacher K-12, public, private and parochial
• Social Studies and American History teacher
• Lucy Calkins Reading and Writing Workshop
• Experienced/trained teacher of students with ADD, ADHD, Autism, Cognitive Processing disorders, ODD, ED, depression, anxiety, social skills
• Internship in Juvenile Homicide, Essex County Corrections
• 600-hour internship in School Administration
• English teacher Juvenile Justice Commission
• Rutgers University Literacy Cohort Member
• School Improvement Team Member
• District-wide curriculum designer

Publications, Presentations, Honors, and Professional Activities

• Sigma Tau Delta, Kappa Delta Pi
• Teacher coach and trainer for teachers of English/ESL
• Chairperson of ELA committee for Middle and Primary Levels
• DRA teacher trainer
• Certified Wilson Reading Instructor
• Facilitator and trainer of Common Core and Literacy Infusion all contents
• Consultant/NJ Achieve for The Academy of Urban School Transformation
• Presenter NJIDA, Technology in the Classroom

Courses Taught at Middlesex County College
EDU 121 (Introduction to Education), EDU 280 (Educational Field Experience), SSD 101 (Student Success)

Educational Background

• M.S.Ed. Education, Walden University in Minneapolis, MN
• B.A. Teacher of the Handicapped, Kean in Union, NJ
• A.A. Liberal Arts Education, Middlesex County College, Edison, NJ

Professional Background

• Special Education Teacher (K-12) all content areas
• Highly Qualified Status in English grades 6-12

Publications, Presentations, Honors and Professional Activities

• Co-Presenter at the Lilly Conference on Teaching and Learning
• Co-Presenter at the New Jersey Council of County Colleges Best Practices Conference
• Received “Above and Beyond” Faculty Recognition Award from Middlesex County College
• Project Connections
• Supervisor for Democracy House at Middlesex County College

Courses Taught at Middlesex County College
EDU121 (Introduction to Education), EDU280 (Educational Field Study), SSD101 (Student Success) and PSY219 (Theories of Personality)

Educational Background

• New Jersey Certification in Elementary Education (K-8)
• New Jersey Certification in Teacher of Reading
• M.A.Ed. Reading Specialization, Kean University, Union, NJ
• M.S.Ed. Education, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
• B.A. Education and French, Ladycliff College, Highland Falls, NY

Professional Background

• Elementary School Teacher at Saint Teresa School in Staten Island, NY
• Adjunct Instructor at Kean University, Union, NJ

Publications, Presentations, Honors and Professional Activities

• Member of the American Federation of Teachers
• Member of People in Education

Courses Taught at Middlesex County College
EDU121 (Introduction to Education), EDU122 (Introduction to Early Childhood Education), EDU210 (Education of the Exceptional Child), EDU280 (Educational Field Study) and Developmental Reading and Writing courses

Educational Background

• New Jersey Certification in Elementary Education (K-8)
• New Jersey Certification in Teacher of Reading (Reading Specialist)
• M.S.Ed Education, Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ

Professional Background
Science and Math Elementary School Teacher, Somerset, NJ

Publications, Presentations, Honors and Professional Activities
Nominated for Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics and Science

Courses Taught at Middlesex County College
PSY226 (Educational Psychology) and SSD101 (Student Success)