New Beginnings  

Pre-School To Grade 2
Our Staff

Our Staff

 Our Principal

Thomas J. Gleason has been a teacher and administrator in both the public
and private sectors for 30 years.  He holds a BA degree in English and a
MS degree in Special Education, both from Fordham University. He is
working on his PD in School Administration at Iona College.  He is
certified by New York State in Language Arts, Special Education and School Administration and Supervision.   He has taught students from Pre-School through high school.

Our Teachers 

Catherine Prezioso has been teaching for 23 years.  She has spent the last 22 years teaching here at the current New Beginnings.  She spent 2 years teaching kindergarten, and has spent the rest of her career as a pre-school teacher.  She has done course work in special education at Seton Hall University and holds Montessori Certification in Early Childhood Education for 3-6 year olds.  

Ria Persons has been teaching for 8 years; 7 of those years have been spent right here at New Beginnings.  She holds an A.A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education and an A.S. degree in Liberal Arts, both from  Orange County Community College.  All of her experience is with the Pre-School 3-4 year olds. She also holds a Montessori Certification in Early Childhood Education. 

Calixta Camilo has been teaching for 9 years; 5 of those years have been spent here at New Beginnings.  She holds a BA degree in Psychology from Baruch College. She has taught students from Pre-K through grade 2.

Pamela Rucker has been teaching for 27 years.  She holds a BS degree in Psychology from Lehman College and an MS degree in education from Adelphi University.  She has taught students from Pre-School to grade 6. She is currently our Universal Pre-K teacher.

Marjory Lapadura has been teaching for 35 years in both the public and private sectors.  She holds an AA degree in Psychology from Staten Island Community College, a BA degree in Psychology from  Richmond College and a MS degree in Education from New Paltz.  She is also trained in the Montessori teaching methods.  She has a vast range of experience working with children from grades Pre-K through grade 4.

Afsana Tripathi holds both a BA and a MS degree  in Psychology from Hunter  College.  She worked in child welfare for 17 years before switching her career to teaching. She has worked at New Beginnings for the past 2 years.  She is currently one of our Pre-K teachers.

Kathy Baker teaches music and recorder classes.  She has over 30 years experience teaching private lessons and 20 years in schools teaching grades Pre-School through grade 6.  She holds a degree in Early Childhood education.

 Our Teaching Assistants

Martha Van Vliet is currently pursuing her degree in Early Childhood Education at Orange County Community College.  She has worked with children through age 5 for over 10 years.  She currently works with our Universal Pre-K program.

Ana Rusch holds a BS degree in Psychology.  She has a diverse work background and is fluent in English, Spanish and Italian.  She currently works with our Universal Pre-K and Pre-K programs.