NBMS Staff

Pre-School Teachers

Mrs. Catherine Prezioso has been teaching for 29 years and has spent the last 26 years teaching here at New Beginnings. She has spent 2 years teaching Kindergarten and the rest of her career has been dedicated to Pre-School. Mrs. Prezioso has completed course work in Special Education at Seton Hall University and holds The Montessori Certification in Early Childhood Education for 3-6 year olds.

Mrs. Arlene Nigro has worked for 16 years in Special Education in Yorktown Hgts. N.Y. She also worked for 3 years at a Montessori School in Yorktown. Mrs. Nigro has taught arts and crafts for 14 years for Parks and Recreation for grades 1st to 6th. She is very excited about working at New Beginnings and teaching Pre-school.

Pre-K Teachers

Mrs. Calixta Camilo has been teaching for 15 years, 9 of which have been spent here at New Beginnings. She holds
a Masters degree in Special Education, Elementary School and Bilingual Education from Mercy College and has taught students from Pre-K through grade 2. This year Mrs. Camilo will continue to teach Pre-K as she has for the past 9 years.

Mrs. Robyn Eherts is teaching one of the Pre-K classes this year. We are excited to have Mrs. Eherts join us from the Monroe Woodbury School District where she taught second grade. Mrs. Eherts has 10 years teaching experience from ages 3 years old to 2nd Grade. She has her degree in Elementary Education and is finishing her Master Degree in Education with a focus on Reading.

Ms. Merion Jennshas her BS in Elementary Education (preK-6) from SUNY New Paltz and her MS in Literacy (1-6) from Adelphi. Ms. Jenns has over 10 years of experience teaching children from Pre-K to Grade 4, and is currently one of our Pre-K teachers.  This is Ms. Jenns' fourth year teaching UPK for the Middletown School District at New Beginnings.

Mrs. Allison Persaud is a graduate from Mount Saint Mary College. I am certified in childhood education and students with disabilities. I have my masters degree in literacy. I have experience teaching preschool through 6th grade. Mrs. Persaud is currently one of our Pre-K teachers.

Mrs. Schuylur Rappo has received a Bachelors degree from Mount St. Mary College and is certified in elementary education 1-6.  She will have a masters completed this Spring in Literacy birth through 12. Mrs. Rappo has taught for the Middletown school district for over 2 years and have experience teaching grades 1- 5 as well as experience teaching as a reading specialist.

Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd Grade

Ms. Debi Mc Gowan is a graduate of Mount Saint Mary College. She is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Literacy for children, birth through grade 6. She has experience teaching children Pre-K through 7th grade. She is currently our K,1,2 teacher.

Teaching Assistants

Annette Cortes - is one of our Pre-K teaching assistants. Mrs. Cortes comes to us from Middletown School District where she was a classroom and lunch room monitor. Mrs. Cortes has worked with children ages 4 to 7 years old and is happy to be a part of New Beginnings.

Ms. Sarah Erikson graduated from Middletown High School. She is currently attending Orange County Community College for her teaching assistant certificate. Ms Erikson has been working with children in after school programs and summer programs for five years.

Ms. Samantha Gomez has worked as teaching assistant for ten years and is returning to school to obtain a degree in Elementary Education.  She was an employee of New Beginnings six years ago and is excited to assist with preschool.

Ms. Cynthia Lopez is presently persuing her teaching degree and certification. She loves working with students and enjoys watching them grow and improve in their love for learning. Ms Lopez is looking foward to having a great first year with New Beginnings School!

Mrs. Afsana Tripathi holds both a BA and a MS degree in Psychology from Hunter College. Mrs. Tripathi
worked in child welfare for 17 years before switching her career to teaching and is currently one of our Pre-K teacher's assistant.

Mrs. Christine White received her education from Bernard Baruch and has 7 years of experience as an assistant
teacher for preschool and Pre-K children. She has been with our school for 3 years and is currently assisting in one of our Pre-School classes.

Specials Teachers

Mrs. Kathy Baker teaches Music and Recorder classes. She has over 30 years of experience teaching private piano lessons and over 20 years in schools teaching grades Pre-School through grade 6 and holds a degree in Early Childhood Education.

Mrs. Nancy Green has been the owner of the Dance Emporium in Middletown for over 13 years and has been teaching dance here at New Beginnings for 6 years.

Master Steven Hernandez is a retired NYC Police Academy instructor with over 35 years of Martial Arts experience.
He has taught Karate at our school for 5 years.