A Message from the Director

Welcome to The Youth Institute of Humanities and Sciences where together, as a community of learners, we will traverse the globe on our quest for a greater understanding of the world around us. As your director, I would like to express my belief in that it takes more than a single individual to make a difference in the life of a child.  I have learned the importance of keeping the lines of communication open between students and parents in order to provide the best education possible to all of my students. Your choice to become an integral part of the The Youth Institute experience is a prudent one. I find it a privilege to work with families who believe that teaching’s main goal is to insure the academic advancement and career success of all students.  I am genuinely and fervently committed to these ideals.  I take great pride in being a teacher, and, as director, I feel that my years of experience, coupled with my strengths and talents will bolster the efficacy of this institute as I serve your children—the future of our country.

About the Director

I received my Master of Science degree from Hofstra University.  Since then, I have had numerous opportunities to teach in a variety of educational settings.  As such, I have successfully facilitated the academic advancement of over 1000 students coming from non-English-speaking homes.  Currently, I am the director of The Youth Institute of Humanities and Science.  My prior teaching experience includes the following: a Montessori teacher; a Toshiba award-winning science teacher; an elementary school teacher; a Reading Recovery and Leveled Literacy Intervention Program facilitator; and a one-on-one tutor servicing students ages 5-18.  Working in a New York City school has been a rigorous training ground, and because of this experience, I have become quite adept at working with a diverse group of students coming from a variety of ethnicities and foreign-language speaking backgrounds.  Through constant self-reflection and introspection, I have gained much as a teacher.  These vast opportunities have given me the ability to design a rigorous, knowledge-based curriculum for this institute that suits the needs of an enormously varied student body.  Working within such a setting has elevated my skills to create an environment where children can learn to function in a self-motivated, self-initiated, self-monitored, hands-on way.  

Colleagues, parents, and students alike have recognized me as a motivator who is determined, enthusiastic, and hardworking.  To my students and their families, I am, not only a teacher, but also, a friend who has created a substantial amount of cross-curricular learning opportunities designed to broaden both students’ academic and personal lives.  At this institute,  students grow academically, socially, and emotionally in an atmosphere that is stimulating and adaptive to their diverse needs.  Moreover, during my 22-year career in teaching, I have consistently focused on instilling a love of learning in my students .  

As a result of my extensive practice, I have become quite versatile in my teaching ability.  These wide-ranging experiences have afforded me the opportunity to perfect numerous teaching skills, aided me in designing and providing a strong curriculum, and strengthened my ability to accept new challenges with ease.  Because of these attributes, I feel confident that I am prepared to facilitate any method and to convey any subject matter, to any student, at any grade or ability level.