"What we have loved, others will love, and we will teach them how."

William Wordsworth

We believe the heart of any great school is a skilled, dedicated and compassionate faculty, staff and administration.  Thus, we have taken great care to select individuals whom we believe embody these qualties and who will serve as role models for the students at the Academy of St. Joseph.

Ms. Angela Coombs      Head of School

ED.S    Nova Southeastern University, Tampa, Florida

M.ED   The Institute for Studies in Education, Ontario, Canada

B.ED    The Ontario Teacher Education College, Ontario, Canada

B.A.     The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada

Primary Specialist Certification,  Brock University, Ontario, Canada

*Holds certification in Administration and Supervision in New York State, Florida and Ontario, Canada

Ms. Grace Holinski          PreKindergarten-3 Teacher

MS.Ed.  Literacy Birth-6 and Childhood Education 1-6, St. John's University, The School of Education, Queens, New York

BS.Ed.   Elementary Education, St. John's University, The School of Education, Queens, New York

*Holds New York State Initial Certification, Elementary Education, 1-6

Ms. Carolina Aguasanta  Junior Kindergarten

MS.Ed.   Literacy Birth-6, St. John's University, The School of Education, Queens, New York, Expected December 2010

BS.Ed.  Childhood Education 1-6, St. John's University, The School of Education, Queens, New York

*Holds New York State Certification in Childhood Education, Grades 1-6

Ms. Maria Fraser           Assistant for Junior Kindergarten

B.A.  English, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

*Currently working on the Early Childhood Education Master Program at New York University, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York, New York

Ms. Valerie Bracco      Kindergarten Teacher

B.S.  Childhood Education and Special Education, New York University, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York, New York 

*Holds New York State Certification in Childhood Education 1-6 and Childhood Special Education 1-6  

*Holds National Certification in the Cathechist of the Good Shepherd Program.

*Ms. Bracco is currently enrolled in the Master Program in Education at Fordham.

Ms. Elizabeth DiBlasi      First Grade Teacher

M.A.  Childhood and Special Education, Grades 1-6, Dual Certification, New York University, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, New York, New York

B.A.  Sociology and Psychology, University of Vermont

*Holds New York State Certification in Childhood Education 1-6 and Students with Disabilities.

Holds New York State Certification in Early Childhood Education and Students with Disabilities, Birth-Grade 2.

Ms. Allison Fleming        Second Grade Teacher

M.S.  Elementary Education, Syracuse University, The School of Education, Syracuse, New York

B.S.   Marketing, Syracuse University, Martin J. Whitman School of Managment, Syracuse, New York

*Holds New York State Certification, Childhood Education 1-6,  

Ms. Kareemeh Abed      Third Grade Teacher

MS. Ed.  School Building Leadership, St. John's University, The School of Education, Queens, New York

BS.Ed.   Childhood Education, St. John's University, The School of Education, Queens, New York

*Holds New York State Initial Certification, Childhood Education, Grades 1-6

Bilingual Extension Certification in Spanish, December, 2010

Beata Drozd                Art Instructor

B.A. Honors Fine Arts, Central St. Martins College of Art and Design, London, United Kingdom

Fine Arts and Photography, Ecole Superioure des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France

Ms. Norma Courrier       Library Science

M.A. Education, New York University, New York, New York

B.A. Education, Fordham University, New York, New York

Third Street Music School will provide instruction in Music and Recorder

Daily Spanish Instruction is provided by Ms. Carolina Auguasanta (PreK-3, PreK-4 and Kindergarten) and Ms. Kareemeh Abed (First, Second and Third Grade)

Physical Education instruction is provided by

Ms. Kathy Rodrigues     Assistant to the Head of School

B.S. Management and General Business, Kean University, New Jersey

Mr. Ivan Diaz            Plant Supervisor

Mr. Diaz's most recent work experience is as the custodian for St. Francis de Sales Academy, New York, New York