Josef Martin Christ is a Middle/ High School Orchestra teacher at Carle Place. Mr. Christ initially studied Viola and Piano at the Luis Gianneo Conservatory of Music located in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Following this, he earned his associate degree in business administration from La Guardia Community College, where he was awarded the Thomas Samuels Scholarship. Mr. Christ continued his education at the Aaron Copland School of Music where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. While attending The Aaron Copland School of Music, he actively participated in various music ensembles such as the Aaron Copland School of Music Symphonic Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, String Ensemble, and Baroque Ensemble. Mr. Christ was awarded the Harry and Gerda Joseph Scholarship for his contributions towards positive change within the school. In 2020, Mr. Christ graduated with a degree in Music Education from Queens College. Presently, he is pursuing a Master of Science in Music Education degree at the Aaron Copland School of Music, and also actively performing as a member of the Queens College Choral Society.

Lora Elsirgany is the dedicated elementary strings teacher at Carle Place, where she has been inspiring young musicians since 2000. Under her direction, the Cherry Lane Strings Program and the Rushmore 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade Orchestras have flourished, fostering a love for music among her students.

Lora holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from C.W. Post, Long Island University, and a Master’s in Education from SUNY at Stony Brook. She takes immense pride in launching the Cherry Lane Strings Program over two decades ago, making it one of the only public school programs on Long Island that introduces second graders to string instruments. Additionally, she has expanded the program by incorporating ukulele classes, bringing a fun and engaging element to her students’ musical journey.

Beyond her orchestral teaching, Lora finds great joy and fulfillment in leading the Music Explorers class, designed for special needs elementary students. This program holds a special place in her heart, as it allows her to create a meaningful and inclusive musical experience for all learners.

A violinist at heart, Lora occasionally performs solo repertoire, further deepening her connection to the instrument she loves.

For Lora, teaching in Carle Place is not just a profession but a privilege. As she puts it, “Here, I have the imminently important opportunity to show children that they matter, they are part of a team, they are growing as individuals, and they can make such beautiful music!”

Katelyn Fox is thrilled to be the Music Teacher at Cherry Lane Elementary School!  Since 2007, she has taught music and theater to students in grades kindergarten through second in many settings.  Mrs. Fox has instructed this age level in public schools, summer camps, professional regional theater, community theater, musical theater programs, and dance studios.  She is a proud graduate of Nazareth College of Rochester where she completed a dual major in Music Education and Music Theatre.  She then completed the Disney College Program at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, and received her Master’s Degree in Music Education from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College.  Mrs. Fox has extensive experience teaching, directing, music directing, and performing.  She has played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz in over one hundred performances along the eastern coast of the United States.  She is elated to now be a Carle Place frog, and a fun fact is that Mrs. Fox actually played a frog in an Off-Broadway musical!  Mrs. Fox is ecstatic to share her passion for music and singing with Carle Place’s youngest students, and to create positive and special musical experiences with them.

Joseph Geluso is our band teacher at the Rushmore Avenue School.  He is responsible for teaching all of the wind instruments as well as instruments of the percussion section.  Performance groups include the Rushmore Concert Band and the Rushmore Jazz Ensemble.  Rushmore Avenue School offers a full band program for 4th graders. Students get to choose an instrument that they are interested in learning to play.  These include flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet, french horn, trombone, baritone horn/euphonium and various percussion instruments.  Lessons are taught once a cycle, within the school day.   Students will perform at the Carle Place Memorial Day Parade in May.  Rushmore Avenue School offers a combined concert band program for 5th and 6th graders. Fifth and sixth grade lessons and ensemble rehearsals build upon existing musical skills from 4th grade and further enhance practice techniques, tone production, note and rhythm reading, musicianship, rehearsal etiquette and overall team building goals.  Students practice and perform full score concert band music and perform at both the winter and spring concerts.  The Rushmore Jazz Ensemble is open to students who achieve a high level of musicianship and musical proficiency and want to challenge themselves with upper level music.  This group of highly talented musicians are each responsible for their own unique part.   Instrumentation includes: alto sax, tenor sax, bari sax, trumpet, trombone, piano, guitar, bass guitar and drum set.  They perform challenging music in the styles of Jazz, Fusion and Rock at our spring concert in June.

Simone Giacalone  has been teaching art for over 20 years. This is his 12th year helping students improve their art skills at Carle Place. During the summer, I enjoy taking vacations to Disney World with my family and spending time at the beach.  I'm very proud to be a part of the Carle Place School District. 

You can visit my website at: https://sites.google.com/cpscloud.net/mr-giacalones-art-class/home

Kerri Hauff is Rushmore Avenue’s elementary general and vocal music teacher. Rushmore Avenue School offers general music classes for all grades 3 through 6th. She also teaches each grade level vocal music (chorus) as well as an after school select choir offered for the 5th and 6th grade. Each grade level performs at a winter concert and a spring concert. Ms.Hauff has been teaching music for over 10 years. Prior to teaching at Rushmore, Ms. Hauff was teaching orchestra and general music in an arts concentrated middle school in Queens, NY for 4 years. She has also taught marching band at the competitive level in several school districts on Long Island. She received both her bachelor's degree and master’s degree from Hofstra University with a focus in Music Education. Outside of music, Ms. Hauff has also taught globally! She taught English studies in Seoul, South Korea from 2017-2018. Ms. Hauff also has a deep love for the fine arts as well as she loves to draw and paint. She is looking forward to her career at Rushmore and spending it with the staff, students, and families within the Carle Place community.

Daniel Krause is a High/ Middle school Art teacher at Carle Place High School and is starting his 23rd year as a frog. Mr. Krause has taught all levels at Carle Place, including starting the Kindergarten Art Program. He studied Fine Arts and Education at Greensboro College and Dowling College and completed his masters at Touro College. He was fortunate to have participated in the “Epiphany '' senior art show at Dowling college. He has built sets for the Carle Place theater company for many years. Mr. Krause has had the privilege to work with many students behind the scenes building and painting the sets.  He also played collegiate level lacrosse and has coached various sports for the past 23 years. 

Jenique Nijboer is a Middle School/ High school teacher and has been a frog for over 15 years. Ms. Nijboer has taught all levels of art in all of our schools. Prior to becoming an art teacher, Jenique spent 10 years decorating windows throughout NYC. Companies such as Barneys, Macys, Bergdorf Goodman and French Connection all relied on her creative vision and services.   A graduate of FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) & Adelphi University. Jenique decided to go back to school to become an art teacher so she could share her love of the arts with others. Inspired by her former art teachers at Hicksville High School she went on and made her dream into a reality. Jenique loves sharing her love of art  with the students at Carle Place and enjoys working with them hand in hand on a daily basis to be creative thinkers & makers.  Besides art Jenique loves to spend time with her family, travel and has a strange obsession for all things purple!

 Emika Smith is the Band teacher at the Middle School and High School. She joined the Carle Place district as the music teacher at Cherry Lane in 2023.  Prior to teaching in Carle Place, Mrs. Smith taught music to grades K-8 at the Riverhead Charter School in Suffolk County.  Mrs. Smith holds a MS Music Education from the Aaron Copland School of Music at CUNY Queens and a Bachelors of Music in Music Education from LIU Post. Mrs. Smith plays both clarinet and piano, and has performed in venues such as the Tilles Center,  the Staller Center, and Carnegie Hall. She has also traveled to China and Puerto Rico on two performance tours with the LIU Post Wind Symphony. Mrs. Smith is an active member of the NYS Council of Administrators of Music Education (NYSCAME), Kodaly Organization of New York (KONY NY), and the LI American Orff Schulwerk Association (LIAOSA). She is also a chairperson and active member of Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association (SCMEA). Most recently, Mrs. Smith presented a workshop to NYSCAME members on how to implement centers and group learning in the elementary music classroom. Mrs. Smith enjoys performing in numerous community bands.