Dr. Ariel Adrian is a Reading Teacher at Wantagh Middle School, focusing on improving reading comprehension and writing skills in small groups and ELA classes. Ariel earned her Doctorate in Education from Hofstra University in 2023, with a dissertation on retrospective miscue analysis that also won the prestigious, university-wide award for "Outstanding Dissertation of the Year." With over a decade of teaching experience across various grade levels, Ariel is committed to developing students into creative and thoughtful readers and writers, while staying actively involved in the school community.

I have been a School Psychologist in the Wantagh School District for the past 27 years. For over 20 years, I worked as a building psychologist for Mandalay Elementary School and Wantagh High School. I also helped support Wantagh Elementary for some time. I transitioned from a building psychologist and then became the districtwide CSE chairperson. For the past several years I've had the pleasure to guide preschool families through the special education process as the district's CPSE Chairperson. Additionally, I am so proud to be part of the founding and co-coordinator of the Nassau Boces Wantagh Twilight Academy, Wantagh's Alternative High School Program. It is my joy and privilege to support families and students through their journey. 

Angela Buffalino-Morgan is a Math Specialist at Mandalay Elementary in the Wantagh School District.  While she primarily works with the AIS Math students she also provides support to all students in the school with her Math Lab.  Additionally, Angela also holds a Reading Specialist license and teaches AIS Reading. Prior to her AIS support role, Angela spent over 15 years in the classroom as an elementary educator.  As an avid lover of hands-on learning and technology, Angela loves to incorporate games and is always looking to bring the fun in learning for her students.

Instructor 

Tom Burke is the proud principal of Forest Lake Elementary School in Wantagh.  He brings his experiences in both Seaford and Wantagh to the Tract Center.  He looks forward to working with all teachers and creating best practices in the classroom.  

Kerri is currently working in Wantagh as the district wide behavior consultant.  Prior to working in Wantagh, she was the district-wide consultant in Oceanside for over 10 years.  She transitioned from special education teacher to behavior consultant after she had her daughter.  During maternity leave she completed the required post graduate classwork and internship hours through Florida Institute of Technology, which has been one of the innovators in educating and preparing professionals for the BCBA exam.  

Hi my name is Kara Desson. I am a 8:1:1 special education teacher at Wantagh Middle School! 

Hello! I am a 6th grade Special Education teacher in an ICT classroom. This is my third year teaching in Seaford, after spending five years with the NYCDOE in both self-contained and ICT settings. My experiences in the city helped me grow as an educator by working with students from many different backgrounds and learning needs. I truly enjoy exploring new ways to teach, continuing my own education, and learning alongside my students each day. Being part of a school community is one of the things I value most about teaching—I love building strong relationships with students, families, and colleagues, and working together to help every child succeed.

PE teacher for 30 years.  

Meet Courtney Eisenzapf, a dedicated instructor at the forefront of Educational Technology. This school year will be her 6th year as Wantagh's Secondary Instructional Technology Specialist. Her proficiency in Educational Technology has allowed her to design and implement engaging professional development that caters to diverse learning styles, making education accessible and interactive for teachers and students. 

Kenneth Forman earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Queens College of the City University of New York. He holds a Masters of Arts in Biology/Education from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York and a Doctor of Philosophy from New York University in Educational Administration. Dr. Forman has advanced training in school leadership from Harvard University and Reading and Writing from Teachers College, Columbia University. He has New York State permanent teaching certifications in Biology, Chemistry, and General Science 6-12 and in School Building Leadership and School District Leadership.

Dr. Forman worked in a variety of education related positions for 39 years, starting his career teaching for the New York City Department of Education in middle school. He became an administrator in New York City, serving as Assistant Principal in Queens, Director of State and Federal Programs in Queens, Director of Curriculum and Instruction in Manhattan, Assistant Superintendent in Manhattan and Principal of a K-8 school in Manhattan. Additionally, he served as Principal of an elementary school in Lawrence, Long Island. Dr. Forman has also worked as an educational consultant to the New York City Department of Education Office of Accountability, Pearson Learning as School Building Leader Evaluator and as consultant/trainer for Fordham University. Dr. Forman currently serves as field coordinator for the Educational Leadership Program, assisting with recruiting, organizing and operating educational leadership cohort programs.

Dr. Forman has written two books, recently published two professional articles and produced several PowerPoint videos on the School Building Leader and School District Leader examinations. His current book, Preparing for Educational Leadership, 2nd Edition, is in widespread use across the state for candidates preparing to become educational leaders. 

Kristin Fragola has been teaching English in Wantagh for 18 years. In addition to teaching English, she has presented about writing conferences and mini-rubrics at educational conferences and during staff development day. For the past 6 years she has also taught the Research & Debate elective at Wantagh Middle School.  After taking time away from teaching TRACT courses, she decided to come back again to help teachers manage grading and working with them to create concise rubrics to use within their classrooms. Kristin has two young daughters and understands the importance of taking meaningful courses and managing the work-home balance.

I am a NYS Master Teacher of physics at Wantagh High School. I teach Physics R and AP Physics 1, and have previously taught Science Research, Conceptual Physics, and Physical Science. I advise serval student clubs including Science National Honor Society and the Health Occupation Student Association, among others. I serve as the Physics Subject Area Representative for the Nassau County section of STANYS (Science Teachers Association of New York State) and as the Mentor Teacher Liaison for WUFSD. Outside the classroom, I’m a mom to three small agents of chaos and an amateur botanist and cruciverbalist.  

I have been teaching second grade and kindergarten at St. William the Abbot since 2005. I earned a Masters in Early Childhood from Adelphi University and hold a New York State Permanent for grades Nursery through Sixth. I, also, earned a Basic Catechist certificate from the Diocese Of Rockville Centre.

I, as well as, my three children attended Catholic Schools through High School. I served on the Parish Council, School Board, ran various fundraisers and taught Religious Education classes where my children attended school.

I love to play tennis, garden and read. 

Rachel Iannuzzi is the Assistant Principal of Wantagh Elementary. Prior to working in Wantagh, Rachel was a special education teacher, IEP coordinator, serviced English Language Learners, and was a dance instructor. She currently produces the Wantagh Elementary School Musical Theater Club and is the choreographer for a community theater.

Erica Nagy Iuvara taught middle school math for 15 years in NYC schools. This is her second year at Seaford High School as a Special Education Math teacher. She is a life long learner and is excited at the opportunity to support her peers in their learning and growth through the TRACT center. 

Dr. Jacobs is the Seaford UFSD, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Instructional Support.

Ms. Jones is a Social Studies teacher at Wantagh High School.  She currently teaches AP European History, AP Seminar, AP Research and 9th Grade Social Studies.  She loves travel and books! 

Erin Joyce is currently a fourth grade teacher at Mandalay Elementary School in Wantagh. This is her seventh year in Wantagh, and third year as a TRACT Instructor. She loves teaching TRACT because she loves collaborating with different educators across different districts. She enjoys traveling, trying new foods, watching the Mets and Patriots, going to the beach, and talking about the brain (which most of her classes are about!). She is excited to share some new research and information to all who are interested! 

Thomas Keegan is a teacher at Wantagh Middle School.  

Gillian LeRoy is a fifth-grade teacher at Wantagh Elementary School. Prior to teaching fifth grade, Gillian had experiences with teaching STEAM, where she has a love of hands-on learning through engaging lessons and watching students have their "ah-ha" moments each day. She has her masters degree in teaching and had a focus in mathematics. Gillian is excited to watch her students flourish throughout fifth grade, as well as learn from her colleagues through TRACT courses.

I have been an art teacher in Seaford Middle School for almost 20 years.  I love sitting back and making my own art, but I don't have a lot of time to do it anymore!  In addition to teaching, I coach the girls' soccer and track team, I run the yearbook club, and I am a mother to 2 toddler boys! 

John C. McNamara has served as the Superintendent of Schools for the Wantagh School District since 2017. Prior to taking on the role of Superintendent, he was the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction for the district. Mr. McNamara spent the majority of his career at the middle school level before taking on district office responsibilities. He was the principal of Plainview Old Bethpage Middle School prior to coming to the Wantagh School District and a middle school social studies teacher and department chairperson at Island Trees Middle School. He currently serves on the Superintendents Executive Board for Section VIII Athletics and is a quadrant leader for the Nassau County Council of School Superintendents. Mr. McNamara is passionate about teaching and learning and wants to find ways to have all students in the district reach their maximum potential.

I am currently in my 25th year of teaching at Wantagh High School, with a passion for supporting students with diverse needs and helping them reach their full potential. I hold a degree in Special Education (K–12),  and a degree in Developmental Psychology, both of which guide my understanding of how children learn, grow, and communicate. Throughout my career, I’ve taught in a variety of settings—including inclusion classrooms, small group instruction, resource rooms, and currently, a secondary Life Skills program.

I have a strong interest in behavior and specialize in helping students who display challenging behaviors by focusing on the function behind those behaviors and using positive, practical strategies to support them. I also work closely with families, offering parent training to help extend these supports into the home and community.

In addition to teaching, I founded and lead my own business that helps children build social skills through group play and community outings. The program focuses on real-world practice, helping kids develop confidence, communication, and connection. I also provide parent training to support families in using these strategies at home.

Hello everyone. My name is Jennifer Rosenberg. I have been an educator for over 20 years. I hold three different certification areas: English, ENL, and Library Science. Currently I am an elementary school librarian in the Seaford school district, but I have worked as a high school English teacher and have taught ENL in various capacities. I love literature, and I love to teach students how to find information using   different sources. I am also a mom of a very curious first grader who loves to keep me on my toes! I know how hard juggling work and mom life can be, so I hope to teach classes that can supply you with quick tools to help you in the classroom. 

My name is Katina Sullivan, and I am a 5th-grade teacher at Forest Lake Elementary. I am a dedicated and passionate educator who values the social-emotional well-being of my students. In addition to my teaching role, I also strongly believe in the power of the universe and the principles of the law of attraction. 

Hi everyone, my name is Ashley Tarantola, and I’m an ICT Special Education Teacher at Wantagh High School, where I co-teach 12th grade Participation in Government. I actually started my career as a general education teacher, but when I saw students struggling and didn’t always know how to help them, I decided to pursue special education. Through both my coursework and classroom experience, I’ve learned how to tailor instruction so that all students can learn, participate actively, and engage meaningfully in class—without feeling singled out or different. That’s why I’m passionate about Project-Based Learning. PBL gives every student a chance to collaborate, problem-solve, and connect learning to the real world. In this course, you’ll not only explore strategies for making PBL work in ICT classrooms, but you’ll also have the opportunity to design your own PBL unit that you can bring back and use with your students.

Ms. Weinberg is a passionate educator nurturing young minds for over a decade as a 3rd grade teacher. She loves inspiring curiosity, growth, and joy in every classroom moment. 

My name is Renee Hauser.  I teach First Grade at Seaford Harbor Elementary School.

I have a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. I am Certified Nursery to Sixth Grade.  I have a Master's Degree in Reading. I am a Certified Reading Teacher. I also have an Associate's Degree In Early Childhood Education.  I have been an educator for 27 years.  I love teaching hands-on professional development classes.  It gives educators the opportunity to apply what they learned immediately the next day in their classrooms.   When I am not teaching, I enjoy exploring towns and their unique shops.  I also love the theater.  You will frequently find me enjoying a play at the Argyle Theater or John W. Engeman Theater in Northport.  Looking forward to a great year of professional development and making new collegial relationships!

Jennifer Spoagis is a 6th grade ELA and Social Studies teacher at Seaford Middle School with 13 years of teaching experience. She holds an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood/Childhood Education (Birth–6th) from SUNY Oneonta and a master’s degree in Literacy Education (Birth–6th) from CUNY Hunter College. Passionate about education and lifelong learning, Jennifer continuously takes classes and explores new ideas to bring into the classroom. She is committed to creating a learning environment where curiosity, growth, and connection thrive. Helping students discover their strengths and build confidence is the most rewarding part of her journey as an educator. 

Heather Naughton studied acting at the Long Island High School for the Performing Arts and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before earning a degree in Theatre Education at Indiana University.  She subsequently earned Master’s degrees in English Education and Literacy Acquisition at St. John's University and Dowling.  Heather began her teaching career by student teaching in Dunfermline, Scotland and then moved on to teach in MacAllen, Texas.  After several years in the Levittown school district, she began teaching at Wantagh High School, where she remains today.  Over her more than two decades in the secondary classroom, she has taught theatre, English and helped develop and implement the AP Capstone at Wantagh High School.  She had the remarkable opportunity to do pre-production research for her 2004 production of “The Mikado” in Japan as a guest of the Japanese government through their Fulbright Memorial Award.  A 2011 New York State English Educator of Excellence and a 2024 Harvard Club of Long Island Distinguished Teacher, she was also nominated for a Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre Education in 2016.  She is an AP Capstone Reader and an AP Research Workshop Consultant.  After teaching for the TRACT Center for many years, she is excited to be in a leadership role, helping teachers find meaningful professional development opportunities!