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Staff

Our extraordinary teachers are recruited from leading high schools, middle schools , elementary schools in the metropolitan area and university-level facilities. Combined with an administrative and psychological team schooled in the needs of gifted children, they give the Long Island University program unique strengths in producing positive benefits for young people admitted to the program.

Teresa Amalfitano

B.A., Molloy College; M.S., Queens College. Mrs. Amalfitano has taught computer courses for the New York City Public Schools and has also done staff development. She teaches computer courses for the Center for Gifted Youth program.

Allan Brimer

B.A., C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University; M.B.A., Adelphi University; Leadership Math Program, Hofstra University. Mr. Brimer is a math specialist for the Freeport Public Schools. He teaches math courses for the Center for Gifted Youth program.

Robert Deming

B.A., Amherst College; M.A., Ed. D., Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Deming teaches computers at the Judge Charles J. Vallone School (P.S. 85) in Long Island City, Queens. In addition, he teaches graduate workshops at Teachers College on how to use computer software to support qualitative research. Dr. Deming writes curriculum and teaches computer courses for the Center for Gifted Youth program.

Paul Goldberg

B.A., M.S., Adv. Cert., City University of New York at Brooklyn College; Ph.D., New York University. Dr. Goldberg was formerly a Technology Staff Developer in the New York City Public Schools and director of the Computer Center at Intermediate School 303. Dr. Goldberg teaches computer classes and is the Site Manager for the computer assisted instruction program at the Yeshiva of Central Queens. He has taught graduate, as well as in-service courses relating to the integration of technology into the classroom setting. Dr. Goldberg teaches computer courses for the Center for Gifted Youth summer program.

Robert Kalish

B.S. and Bachelor of Architecture, The City College of New York; Master of Architecture, Pratt Institute. Mr. Kalish formerly taught all branches of science, including physics, earth science and biology in the New York City public school system. He also worked as a staff developer and science workbook editor. Mr. Kalish now teaches science at the Kew-Forest School in Forest Hills. He is an artist, has designed houses on Long Island, and was coordinator of the master plan for Downtown Flushing. Mr. Kalish teaches physics courses for the Center for Gifted Youth program.

Steven Leffler

B.A., Stony Brook University; M.S., Hofstra University; D.P.M., New York College of Podiatric Medicine. Dr. Leffler teaches Chemistry, AP Chemistry, and Forensic Science at Carle Place High School. In addition, he conducts programs in science research and science olympiad. Dr. Leffler teaches Chemistry at the Center for Gifted Youth.

Carole Miller

B.A., Adelphi University; M.A., Ph.D., Hofstra University; Adelphi Post Doctoral Certification. Dr. Miller is in private practice in Great Neck. She is a psychologist for the Center for Gifted Youth program.

Charles Morelli

B.S., M.B.A., C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, Mr. Morelli teaches American history and historiography at Woodmere Middle School. He is the National Geography Bee Director, Yorker Club Advisor, and History Fair Judge for Woodmere Middle School. Mr. Morelli teaches law courses for the Center for Gifted Youth program.

Joseph Piro

B.A., St. Francis College; M.S., Fordham University; M.A., Queens College; Ph.D., Columbia University. Dr. Piro is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus. He has worked with schools in designing instructional programs and curriculum studies for gifted students. Dr. Piro works as a curriculum consultant and teaches humanities and social sciences courses for the Center for Gifted Youth.

Timothy Strout

B.S., Southampton College of Long Island University, M.S., C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. Mr. Strout teaches Chemistry and AP Environmental Science at Jericho High School. He has also conducted research at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Woodshole Oceanographic Institute, and the State of Maine Department of Marine Resources. He was a Woodrow Wilson fellow at the American Museum of Natural History in Biodiversity. He is currently conducting research in estuarine benthic ecology. Mr. Strout teaches biology courses for the Center for Gifted Youth program.

John Young

B.S., Saint Francis College. Mr. Young is currently finishing his M.S. at Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus in Earth Science. He teaches physics at both the regents and advanced placement levels at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School. Mr. Young is a former industrial engineer with a major transportation carrier and has been teaching SAT preparations in mathematics for several years at both Garden City and Mineola High Schools. He teaches science courses for the Center for Gifted Youth program.