Staff
MUSIC
CLICK HERE to reach the Middletown music department website.
Tonie DePasquale (K-12 Music Dept. Chair, Vocal/General Music @ Maple Hill Elementary): Ms. DePasquale has been teaching music in the Middletown City School District since 1993. She currently teaches vocal/general music at Maple Hill Elementary School and is co-director of the Maple Hill Chorus. Prior to that, she taught music in the Wallkill Central School District. Ms. DePasquale has a bachelor's degree from SUNY New Paltz in music therapy and a master's degree in music education from Western Connecticut State University. Ms. DePasquale is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher and a Master's Level Orff Music Educator. She has been named an Exemplary Educator by Smart Technologies. Ms. DePasquale enjoys traveling and presenting at professional conferences throughout the country sharing her expertise in Orff Music Education and Smart Board Technology. Her professional performance experience includes a stint with the Royal Viking Cruise Line and studio work recording jingles and doing voice-overs. She has performed for many years with local bands as a vocalist, clarinetist and saxophonist.
Gregory Bennett (Vocal Music at Middletown High School): Gregory Bennett is a graduate of Middletown and is presently in his seventeenth year of teaching. He earned an Associate of Arts degree from Orange County Community College, graduated cum laude with a degree in applied music/vocal music performance from SUNY New Paltz, and has a master's degree in Humanistic/Multicultural Education, also from SUNY New Paltz. In addition, Mr. Bennett has completed graduate coursework in music education at the University of Connecticut, and has recently completed a degree in Educational Leadership/Administration at Long Island University. He strives to give back the same quality teaching that was afforded to him when he was a student in Middletown. Mr. Bennett has been nominated several times to “Who's Who Among America's Teachers,” Disney's "Teacher of the Year" awards, received the “Award of Distinction” two times from Fiesta-Val Music Invitational & Competition for achieving “Grand Champion” designations in 1999 and 2006, and was the recipient of the 2000 Helen Hayes Theatre Award for Educational Impact for the MHS Spring Musical production, "West Side Story."
Helen Belles (Band teacher at Maple Hill Elementary School): Ms. Belles is the fourth and fifth grade band teacher at Maple Hill Elementary School. Originally from Dunmore, Pennsylvania, she has made her home and career here in Middletown since 1998. Ms. Belles holds her bachelor’s degree in music education from Marywood University and a master’s degree in music education degree from Western Connecticut State University. Ms. Belles participates in a variety of community musical activities including local musical theatre, community choirs, and community concert bands (here and in Pennsylvania). Besides teaching full time at Maple Hill, she has other professional musical pursuits; she is the Hand Bell Choir director at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Middletown, sings occasionally with a local blues band, and plans and performs music for wedding ceremonies. During her free time, Ms. Belles enjoys attending shows in NYC, checking out local music venues, attempting home improvement projects, and improving her golf game!
Kevin Benedetto (Strings teacher at William A. Carter): Mr. Benedetto started playing cello in third grade at Jackson Ave. Elementary School in Mineola, NY. He earned his bachelor’s degrees in music education and music performance from the Crane Schools of Music in Potsdam, NY last December. In January, Mr. Benedetto began teaching third through fifth grade strings and is very excited to begin his first full year of teaching. In his spare time, he loves playing chamber music and being on the beach—weather permitting.
Sanford Bookey (Instrumental teacher at William A. Carter): Mr. Bookey earned a BA in Philosophy from Binghamton University, and an MS in Music Education from Queens College. Mr. Bookey has perfomed as a drummer/percussionist in a variety of musical settings in NY, Los Angeles, and Australia. Mr. Bookey began teaching in 1998 at Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood, NY in Queens. He spent 4 ½ years there and then 1 year in Lindenhurst, NY teaching Band, Jazz Band and Percussion Ensemble. In 2003 Mr. Bookey and his family moved to Pennsylvania , just across the river from Orange County, NY. He has been teaching elementary Band at Mechanicstown School since 2003. Outside work, Mr. Bookey loves spending time with his family, playing frisbee, watching Mets baseball, and learning to play the bass guitar.
Ryan Carlozzi (Instrumental Music at Monhagen): Mrs. Carlozzi is in her fifth year at Monhagen Middle School and serves as the school's band director. Prior to teaching in Middletown, she taught band in Yorktown, VA, and Nottoway VA. A native of Richmond, VA, Mrs. Carlozzi has a bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech and a MM from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Erica Coppola (Vocal Music at Carter/Chorley): Ms. Coppola has been teaching in the Middletown City School District for five years. She is a K-5 General Music teacher at Chorley & Carter Elementary. Ms Coppola also is the Carter 4th grade chorus director and co-director of the Carter 4th & 5th grade musical. In the summers of 2010 & 2011, she was one of General Music Workshop teachers of the Middie Music Camp. This program has helped to enhance and showcase the talents of our students in Middletown. Ms. Coppola holds a Bachelor's degree from the Crane School of Music in Music Education with a concentration in voice and a Master of Music degree from the University of Connecticut. In addition, she holds a certification in Orff Level 1 under the instruction of Brian Hiller and Don Dupont. Throughout her musical career, which started at age 9, she has performed at many community service events, nursing homes, fairs, and churches. Most notably in 2001, Ms. Coppola spent a weekend at Hartwick College working with the late choral arranger Moses Hogan. For four summers Ms. Coppola spent a week at SUNY Fredonia for their Summer Choral Music Program under the direction of Dr. Donald Lang. Throughout her college career Ms. Coppola performed with the Crane Concert Choir at the Music Educators National Conference Convention in Baltimore, Maryland, and at St. Thomas’ Church during the American Choral Directors Association Convention in New York City. In her free time she loves watching football, baseball and NASCAR, traveling, knitting, going to the gym, shopping, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.
Rebecca Cole (Choral Music at Twin Towers): Ms. Cole has been the Director of Choral Music at Twin Towers Middle School since 2007. She earned her Master’s degree (voice) and Bachelor’s degree (piano, magna cum laude) in music education at Ithaca College, where she also had a choral conducting concentration. Rebecca held an internship with the Ithaca Children’s Choir (ICC), and has served on the faculty of the Choral Music Experience at Ithaca College, working with ICC and the Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC). In 2007, Rebecca won second place at the American Choral Director’s Association (ACDA) National Undergraduate Student Conducting Competition in Miami, Florida. She has also published in the Choral Journal, ACDA’s national publication. She enjoys guest conducting and accompanying in the Hudson Valley, and was recently invited to conduct ensembles in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and at Ithaca College. Rebecca is a proud member of ACDA, The National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and Pi Kappa Lambda, the national music honor society.
Shannon Craig (Music at William A. Carter): Ms. Craig is one of the general music teachers at Mechanicstown School, and is also in charge of fifth grade chorus and the production of the school play. This is her eighth year at Carter and her twelfth year in the Middletown School District. Ms. Craig received her bachelor's degree in music from Ithaca College and her master's degree in music from the University of Connecticut. Other than making music, her hobbies include reading, traveling and watching Yankee baseball. Ms. Craig lives in Pennsylvania and is very proud to be part of the Middletown school community.
Megan Gugliotta (Maple Hill Strings): Mrs. Megan Gugliotta started playing the violin in the fourth grade at Union-Pleasant Elementary School in her home town of Hamburg, NY (near Buffalo). She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina where she earned a Bachelors degree in Music Education and a Masters degree in violin performance. While at USC, she taught for six years in the USC string project, a unique teacher training program offering violin, viola, cello, and bass lessons to students in neighboring school districts in Columbia, SC. After finishing her coursework, Mrs. Gugliotta spent the next nine years in the William Floyd School District on Long Island, during which she taught grades three through eight. Many of her students attended all-county festivals, NYSSMA solo and NYSSMA Major Organization festivals. Currently Mrs. Gugliotta performs with the Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra, and with C.B Smith and the Lucky Devils, a bluegrass band. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, gardening, and practicing yoga. Mrs. Gugliotta currently teaches at Maple Hill Elementary and is honored to have had the opportunity to start the Middletown string program five years ago.
Karen Ewing (Vocal Music at Maple Hill Elementary): Ms. Ewing is a general music and chorus teacher at Maple Hill Elementary. She graduated from Valley Central High School and was awarded the prestigious OCMEA Josephine Giacco Memorial Scholarship in addition to two local music awards. She completed her undergraduate education at SUNY Fredonia, where she graduated summa cum laude with a degree in music education. While at SUNY Fredonia, she was a member of the college choir, under the direction of Gerald Gray. During that time, she had the privilege to perform with the Western New York Chamber Orchestra and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. She also had the opportunity to perform with PDQ Bach. She performed in Bernstein’s Candide, based on the Voltaire novella, and Bizet’s opera, Carmen. In 2007, Ms. Ewing traveled to Treasure Beach, Jamaica, where she taught music and recorder to Jamaican students at the Sandy Bank Primary School. Ms. Ewing has also worked with students with special needs through Orange/Ulster BOCES. She studied voice under Janet Gehres and Dr. Angela Haas. She is currently working on completing her masters at SUNY Fredonia.
Antoinette Iemma (Vocal Music at Monhagen): A native of Suffern, New York, Ms. Iemma is excited to make her teaching debut as a sixth grade chorus and seventh grade general music teacher at Monhagen Middle School. She holds a BM in music education and vocal performance from SUNY Fredonia, and recently graduated from the Manhattan School of Music where she received a master's degree in vocal performance. Miss Iemma has also been a private voice and piano teacher for four years.
Dr. Brian Kauth (Music at Twin Towers): Dr. Brian Kauth has taught in the district since 2009. He holds degrees from The State University of New York at Fredonia (B.M.E., M.M.) and The University of Southern Mississippi (D.M.A.). He has performed extensively as a saxophonist in various musical settings, including classical and jazz ensembles, and was a featured soloist with The University of Southern Mississippi Wind Ensemble, the Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, and the Hattiesburg Concert Band. He is a member of the chamber music ensemble .four, the Greater New York Wind Symphony, and regularly performs with the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra. His principal teachers were Lawrence Gwozdz, Wildy Zumwalt, and Laurence Wyman, with additional coaching from Carina Raschèr, Jean-Marie Londeix, and the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet.
Michael Kochem (Instrumental Music at Monhagen): Mike Kochem is entering his seventh year as a music teacher here in Middletown. This year he is teaching 6th and 7th grade Music Through Performance classes as well as a World Drumming class and a brand new class that focuses on the music industry. Mr. Kochem holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Music Education from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam.
Kathryn Lucas (Vocal Music at Middletown High School): Ms. Lucas, a 2001 graduate of Middletown High School, has returned as a vocal music teacher after previously teaching vocal/general music at the middle school level in the Pine Bush Central School District. In 2005, she received a bachelor's degree in music education from Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania, and recently received a master's degree in special education from SUNY New Paltz. While working on her undergraduate degree, Ms. Lucas took part in courses at Messiah College focusing on musical theater production and vocal pedagogy. Ms. Lucas has also had the honor of performing with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra under director/composer Stuart Molina, as well as participating in two international choir tours. Ms. Lucas is excited to be working in the Fine Arts Department with teachers that have such a profound influence on her.
Kristen Mazzotta is in her 8th year of teaching vocal/ general music to grades kindergarten and first at Truman Moon Primary Center. Kristen received her Bachelors degree in music education from Nazareth College of Rochester in 2003 with an emphasis in voice and piano. She also holds a Masters degree in Special Education from Mount Saint Mary College. Prior to teaching in Middletown, Kristen taught private piano and voice lessons for 10 years and was a Gold Cup judge for piano. Kristen is currently an active member of Kappa Delta Pi and MENC.
Amanda Mita (Orchestra at Twin Towers): Mrs. Mita started teaching at Twin Towers in January 2006. Mrs. Mita directs the Orchestras at Twin Towers (6th Grade and 7th & 8Th Grade). Mrs. Mita also directs the Twin Towers Drama and Musical Productions with Mrs. Edelman and Ms. Cole. She is a 2003
graduate of the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, with a degree in Music and Minors in Acting and Directing. In 2004, she earned her Master’s degree in Childhood Education from SUNY Potsdam. As a violist, Mrs. Mita performs with local orchestras and chamber groups.
Roberta Monkash (General Music/Dance at Twin Towers): Ms. Monkash is a professional dancer, choreographer, musician, theatre director, and writer. She resides with her family in Monroe, New York. Ms. Monkash has performed as a solo dancer throughout the East Coast and in Israel. She has appeared as a soloist at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan and for many years danced with her companies, Soaring Dance Theatre and Al Knafaim. Her countless choreographies have graced the stages of dance festivals, commercials, and the productions of countless community theatre groups throughout New York. Ms. Monkash attended the High School of Performing Arts as a piano major. She holds a BA in musicology from New York University, a graduate certificate in psychomotor therapy from New York Medical College, and a MA in kinesiology from Goddard College, and has New York State teaching certifications in both Dance Education and Music Education. She has directed and choreographed shows for the Helen Hayes Youth Theatre in Nyack. Ms. Monkash founded Theatre Workshop Group at Twin Towers which presented the annual spring musical production for eleven years. These productions include; "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," "Oklahoma," "The Wizard of Oz," "Once Upon A Mattress," "Peter Pan," and "Alice in Wonderland." Many of the students who performed in these productions have gone on to pursue professional music, theatre, and dance careers. Ms. Monkash also maintains a private studio where she teaches dance and theatre, and gives piano lessons.
Allegra Smith: Ms. Smith is very excited to be joining the Twin Towers Music Department as the co-band director of the 6th grade band and the concert band. She graduated summa cum laude from Ithaca College in 2008 with a Bachelor in Music with a double major in Performance and Music Education. In 2010, she earned her Master in Music degree with a Performance major from the University of Colorado-Boulder. During her time at Ithaca, she traveled with the Wind Ensemble on their tour of Ireland and performed wind band classics throughout the country. She enjoys playing music written for solo clarinet as well as chamber music that includes clarinet. She is very eager to work with the talented instrumental students at Twin Towers!
Jennifer Wentworth (Vocal Music at Monhagen): Jennifer is originally from Oswego, NY and currently lives in Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of SUNY Fredonia where she studied voice under Julie Newell and received her degree in Music Education. While at SUNY Fredonia, she was able to study musicology at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland for a semester. After graduating, Jennifer held two long-term teaching positions before arriving in Middletown, at both Maroun Elementary (grades 3-5) in Phoenix, NY, and Camillus Middle School (grades 6-8) in West Genesee, NY. Jennifer also recently completed her Master's degree in Instructional Technology from the New York Institute of Technology where she trained on how to integrate technology into every subject area, as well as music. She uses these skills everyday when she combines her love for music with her passion for technology into each and every one of her lessons. She is strongly trained in Kodaly sight-reading skills, and instills in each of her students to be an independent musician and learner.
Diana Marz (Strings at Monhagen): Ms. Marz grew up in Dutchess County and was a student in the Arlington Central School District. As both a student and a counselor, she participated in Stringendo. She received her bachelor's degree, summa cum laude, in music education from the State University of New York at Fredonia. During her time at SUNY Fredonia, she studied violin with Janet Sung and received the Sid Olshein Award for musical and academic excellence. She spent her summers studying violin at Hot Springs Music Festival in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Schlern International Music Festival in Schlern, Italy. Ms. Marz performs with local ensembles including SUNY Orange Community Orchestra, Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra, and The Téssera String Quartet. Ms. Marz is currently pursuing her master’s degree in music education at the University of Hartford at the Hartt School of Music.
Lucas Rau (Vocal Music, General Music at Middletown High School): Lucas Rau (vocal music at Middletown High School): Mr. Rau joined the Middletown Music Department in the spring of 2008. He teaches Guitar and Men’s Chorus, and shares the responsibilities of Concert Choir and Theater Arts with Mr. Gregory Bennett. Mr. Rau received an M.M. in Music Education from Boston University, and a B.M. in Music Education and a Certificate in Vocal Performance from the Crane School of Music. Mr. Rau has performed around the country with choral ensembles such as the Zephyr Vocal Ensemble (Vernon, NJ), where he served as assistant director; Essential Voices USA (New York, NY), which frequently performs at such spaces as Carnegie Hall and Symphony Space; and the Santa Fe Desert Chorale (Santa Fe, NM). For three years Mr. Rau served as musical director for the Middletown Concert Chorale (Middletown, NY) and he frequently performs around the community as a solo musician.
ART
Dana Herm (Visual Arts Instructor at Twin Towers): Mrs. Dana Herm has been an art teacher in the Middletown CSD since 1998 at Twin Towers MS. In July of 2006 she was appointed K-12 Art Department Chair and in 2009 transferred to teaching Art at Middletown High School. Currently she teaches Studio/Honors and Jewelry courses. Prior to teaching in the Middletown CSD, Mrs. Herm taught art in grades PreK-8 at both Mt. Carmel and St. Joseph's Parochial Schools in Middletown. Before deciding to become an Art major, Mrs. Herm studied dance at SUNY Brockport. In 1993, she received a bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Arts for Children with an Art Emphasis and a minor in Arts Management from SUNY Brockport. In 2002, she received her Master's degree in Art Education from SUNY New Paltz. In her spare time Mrs. Herm enjoys spending time with her family, running and traveling.
Lennie Kay Colon (Visual Arts Instructor at Monhagen): Ms. Colon has been teaching art at Monhagen Middle School since it opened in 1997. Prior to teaching at Monhagen, she worked as a Special Education instructor at Greenburgh Graham U.F.S.D. in Hastings, NY, and Leake and Watts in Yonkers, NY. Ms. Colon graduated from St. Michael's College in Colchester, VT, with a bachelor's degree in business administration. She worked in an advertising agency for two years before enrolling in the College of New Rochelle where she received a master's degree in art education.
Janet W. Andrews-Coyle (Art at Monhagen): Mrs. Andrews-Coyle has been teaching for eight years, seven of those at the Enlarged City School District of Middletown. She teaches sixth and seventh grade art. During art class students are provided with the opportunity to experiment with different art media, while enhancing their knowledge through interdisciplinary art lessons. Mrs. Andrews-Coyle also supervises the Monhagen Art Club after school once a week. Students explore various art concepts, and media while further developing their own creative, artistic side. She also designed and painted the scenery for the Monhagen Drama Club productions including: "Sleepy Hollow," fall 2001, "Bye Bye Birdie," spring 2002, "Miracle on 34th Street," winter 2002, "Music Man," spring 2003, "Santa Claus the Musical," winter 2003, "Annie," spring 2004, "Sleepy Hollow," fall 2004, "The Wizard of Oz," spring 2005. She is a 2001 graduate from New York Institute of Technology, with a master's degree in educational technology, and a 1995 graduate from SUNY New Paltz with a bachelor's degree in art education and visual arts. She is certified for art education K-12. In 1991, she graduated from Cazenovia College with an associate's degree in applied science in studio art. In Mrs. Andrews-Coyle's free time she enjoys horses, as well as riding and competing, spending time with her cats, dogs, swimming, walking, gardening, shopping, museums, traveling, and drawing & painting.
Tunde Bektas: Mrs. Bektas has been teaching media art classes at Middletown High School since 2008. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in art education with a concentration in graphic design from The College of New Rochelle. She has graduated Magna Cum Laude with a teaching certificate in visual arts K-12. She has also completed her Master’s Degree with distinction in Educational Technology from the New York Institute of Technology. A national origin of Hungary, she has traveled extensively around the world to learn about different cultures and languages. In her free time she enjoys traveling, photography, visiting art galleries in New York City, walking her dog and reading.
Gregory Farina (Visual Arts Instructor at Truman Moon): Mr. Farina received a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Ohio Dominican University, where he was certified to teach Visual Arts K-12. In addition, he holds a master's degree in instructional technology, from the New York Institute of Technology. Mr. Farina has been teaching art for 12 years, and has spent eight of those years in the Middletown City School District.
Heather Raven Illingworth has been teaching at Middletown High School since 2006 and is certified to teach Visual Art K-12. Her background includes a BA with honors in English from Boston College in 1999, an AAS in fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2002, and an MAT in art education from Oswego State University in 2005. She is a member of the Colored Pencil Society of America and the Orange County Arts Council’s Education Committee. Ms. Illingworth’s skills include traditional arts such as Drawing, Painting and Illustration, technical skills such as patternmaking, draping, fibers and leather work, and digital skills from Adobe Creative Suite. You can view her portfolio at www.heatheraven.com.
Mary Kelly is in her first year of teaching at Twin Towers Middle School. She received her bachelor's degree in art education, with a concentration in photography, as well as a minor in art history, from the College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York. Mary teaches 6th and 7th grade art at Twin Towers and is delighted to be working with students for the Olympics of the Visual Arts (OVA). She is currently receiving her master's degree in Special Education from SUNY New Paltz and is a photographer in her free time.
Jean McCord (Visual Arts Instructor at Maple Hill): Ms. McCord has worked with the students at Maple Hill to create the only internationally known elementary student created Children's Sculpture Garden financed by the children's own art work at Maple Hill. Their work has been presented to over 75 countries and is a model for new children's sculpture gardens in parts of the US. Spring 2009 a computer teleconference of their work was transmitted to an international conference of doctors and art therapists in Croatia. The children's sculpture is also featured in art newspapers. Aside from that she has collaborated with authors in China and Japan for the first trilingual poetry book " A Whispering Wind from Kasamai Village" published in Japan. She also established the first e-mail link between Japanese and Maple Hill students. Ms. McCord was voted by IBC as International Educator of the Year in 2003, and is a charter member of the World Peace and Diplomacy forum from Cambridge, England. She has been featured in the Barron's "Who's Who of American Educators" and her work has been exhibited in Lisbon, Portugal, Cambridge, England, Manilla/Philipines, Japan, Vancouver, and Dublin.
Adrienne Markel: Ms. Markel teaches art at Middletown High School. Prior to that, she taught at elementary schools throughout our district. Ms. Markel has always been involved in drawing and painting and continues to study painting seriously at an atelier. She graduated from the High School of Music and Art in NYC and received a bachelor's degree in studio art from Stony Brook University and a master's degree in painting from Brooklyn College. Ms. Markel is also an adjunct instructor at the New York Institute of Technology, where she teaches multi-media in the classroom. She has taught many art courses at MHS, from drawing and painting to computer graphics. Ms. Markel enjoys hiking in her spare time.
Kristen Nowicki is excited to start her third year in the Middletown School District. She currently teaches between Mechanicstown and Chorley Elementary Schools. She graduated from SUNY New Paltz with her bachelor’s in art education with a major in drawing/painting and a minor in psychology. She's currently working on finishing her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction through the University of Phoenix.
Karen Rhein (Visual Arts Instructor at Mechanicstown): Mrs. Rhein teaches art to third, fourth, and fifth grade students at Mechanicstown. She comes to the district with professional experiences in the Arts in advertising, design, and mural painting and enjoys running and museum visits during her free time. Mrs. Rhein holds a bachelor's degree in art education and a soon-to-be completed master's degree in curriculum and instruction. Her lessons in the visual arts include interdisciplinary connections with music, language arts, social studies, science, math, library, and technology.
Danielle Strommer (Visual Arts Instructor): Ms. Strommer received a bachelor's degree in art education, with a concentration in painting from the State University of New York at New Paltz. She is certified to teach visual arts, K-12. She is currently pursuing her master's degree in art education, also at SUNY New Paltz. She is a painter in her free time. Some of Ms. Strommer's students' work may be seen on Artsonia.
Angelina Coriano (Visual Arts Instructor at Middletown High School): Ms. Coriano has been working in the district since 2003. She is excited to be joining the team of art educators at Middletown High School. Ms. Coriano graduated with honors from SUNY New Paltz with a BA in Art Education with a concentration in drawing/painting and a minor in art history. She is certified to teach Visual Art K-12. In addition, she holds an AAS in Visual Communications from SUNY Orange. Ms. Coriano is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Instructional Technology: Educational Tech Specialist through the New York Institute of Technology. She is a member of the New York State Art Teachers Association. Ms. Coriano’s personal work explores the relationship between the manufactured environment and the natural world. She explores this through encaustics, mixed-media and found-objects.
Victoria McMurray: Ms. McMurray has been teaching art classes at Middletown High School since 2009. She attended Manhattanville College majoring in fine arts with a minor in music before transferring to Pratt Institute where she studied Illustration. Ms. McMurray was a free lance illustrator before deciding to teach. She has worked for such prestigious agencies as Beaumont and Bennet in Manhattan and City Island advertising. Her work has appeared in advertisements, magazines, and newspapers. Ms. McMurray received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art Education from The College of New Rochelle in 2008. She graduated Cum Laude with a teaching certificate in visual arts K-12. Ms. McMurray is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Educational Technology from the New York Institute of Technology. Her skills range from traditional arts such as drawing, painting and illustration to creating installations and graphic work. Ms. McMurray has been a professional face painter, portraiturist and muralist for various clients. She has worked in catering for many years and enjoys cooking and baking when not producing art. Traveling to exotic places remains her passion.
Adam Newman: Adam Newman is a graduate from the School of Visual Arts with a BFA in Computer Art , Masters degree in Art Education and has state Commercial Arts Certification for his work in the 3D industry. After graduation he worked as a 3D animator winning multiple awards for his work in New York City. Some of his work includes television commercials, graphic design ads, and advertisements. His professional website can be viewed at www.newmander3d.com. After sitting in front of computers all day Adam decided he wanted more human interactions and pursued his masters degree in education. He is interested and dedicated to working with the fresh minds of young people to share his passion of the arts.