Newsday (New York) (Nassau and Suffolk Edition) September 25, 2005, Sunday

Copyright 2005 Newsday, Inc.
Newsday (New York)

September 25, 2005 Sunday
NASSAU AND SUFFOLK EDITION

SECTION: LI LIFE; Pg. G28

HEADLINE: NOTEBOOK;
Students see leaders in action

BYLINE: MARY ELLEN PEREIRA

BODY:
Thirty high school students of Italian heritage from across the United States spent a week in Washington, D.C., this summer, learning about the inner workings of government and public policy. Four were from Long Island.
As part of the National Italian American Foundation's Government and Public Policy Students to Leaders Workshop, the teens met with political leaders, participated in interactive leadership and team-building sessions and were learned about possible career choices.
The local students were Martina Camarda, Bayport-Blue Point High School; Michelle DiDomenico of Plainview, Holy Trinity Diocesan High School in Hicksville; Julia Mann, John L. Miller-Great Neck North High School; and Anthony Mongone of New Hyde Park, Holy Trinity Diocesan High School.
In addition, the students visited the Pentagon, the Italian Embassy and other government institutions.
LAWRENCE
Personnel changes
at Hebrew Academy
The Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway in Lawrence has made some administrative changes for the 2005-06 school year.
Heidi Steil, who has 18 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in preschool education, joins the Hebrew Academy as the early childhood director. A yeshiva graduate, Steil received bachelor's and master's degrees from The City University of New York. She is an active member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Board of Jewish Education.
Joy Hammer was named principal of general studies of the academy's lower school. She comes to the Hebrew Academy after a 20-year career in the New York City public school system as a teacher, communication arts coordinator, assistant principal and principal. She most recently served as principal of PS 18 in Queens Village. Also a yeshiva graduate, Hammer holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Queens College in addition to a professional diploma in supervision and administration. She is a mentor for the Reading and Writing Project at Teachers College, Columbia University.
LINDENHURST
Gorman named
to business post
Robert Gorman is the new assistant superintendent for business in the Lindenhurst School District. He previously was assistant business administrator and assistant director of facilities and operations for the East Meadow School District.
A graduate of Dowling College with a bachelor's degree in administration and finance, he earned a master's degree in management and operations research from Polytechnic University and a professional diploma in school district administration from the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University.
He began his career in the corporate sector, working for such companies as Estée Lauder and Controlotron Corp.
Gorman said, "My hope would be to give a fresh look to the finances in the [Lindenhurst] district, to do my best for our students, and remember the obligations to do my best for the public good."
RIVERHEAD
Principal named
at Phillips Avenue
Thomas Payton was named principal of Phillips Avenue Elementary School in Riverhead, replacing interim principal Charles Venezia. He comes to Riverhead from Nevada, where he was assistant principal of Addeliar Guy Elementary School in Las Vegas. Originally from New York, he began his career as a fourth-grade teacher in Massapequa.
"I am a big proponent of differentiated instruction," Payton said. "I would say that one of my strengths is my knowledge of curriculum and the application of research-based programs. All children can learn, but children learn in different ways on different days."
Payton received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Buffalo State College; a master's degree in elementary education from Hofstra University; and a professional diploma in educational administration from Dowling College.

SACHEM
Murphy appointed
interim superintendent Charles Murphy has been appointed interim superintendent for the Sachem School District. James Ruck is retiring Sept. 30.
Murphy earned a bachelor's degree in business administration, a master's degree in education and a doctorate in educational leadership from Fordham University. He also has a professional diploma from Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
He began his career as a teacher in upstate New York and was an assistant principal at other districts prior to joining the Sachem School District in 1997. At Sachem he has been principal of Hiawatha Elementary School in Lake Ronkonkoma, coordinator for community education, assistant superintendent for personnel, and most recently, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

VALLEY STREAM
New appointments
at high school level
Thomas Troisi, principal of Valley Stream North High School for the past four years, has been named assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for the Valley Stream Central High School District. He replaces Lois Austen, who resigned in March.
Troisi has a doctorate in educational administration from Hofstra University. He previously was assistant principal of Wantagh High School.
Succeeding Troisi as principal is Clifford Odell. Odell is a former assistant principal at Harborfields High School in Greenlawn. A member of the Harborfields School District for eight years, he first served as a guidance counselor and basketball coach.
HIGHER EDUCATION
Management students
get new programs
College of Management students at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University will find new programs to hone their financial expertise.
Business and finance students can earn Bloomberg Certificates through an Internet program led by Bloomberg professionals that explains how to track the equity, fixed income and foreign exchange markets. In addition, students can join the Investment Club, which mimics real-time market fluctuations. Participants, acting as analysts, construct and monitor mock portfolios.
For more information, call 516-299-3017.
ISLANDWIDE
Army recruiting
for technology contest
The U.S. Army's eCybermission, a Web-based science, math and technology competition, is open to all students in grades 6 through 9.
Teams of three or four students are asked to define a problem in their community and conduct research and experiments to test their hypotheses. With help from online mentors, Army personnel who are experts in the fields, the teams must identify how their solution can help the community and implement their plans.
Sixteen teams will be selected as regional winners, with each student receiving a prize of $3,000 plus an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the national judging.
Four teams will be deemed national first-place winners and earn an additional $5,000 each.
Registration for the competition runs through Dec. 12. For more information, visit www.ecybermission.com.
Engineering firm
awards scholarships H2M Group, a construction, engineering and architectural consulting firm based in Melville, awarded $500 scholarships to six recent graduates.
The recipients are Diana Franco, George W. Hewlett High School; Craig Ginsberg, Holy Trinity Diocesan High School in Hicksville; Kevin Glover, Garden City High School; Krista Green, Bayport-Blue Point High School; Albert Li, Huntington High School; and Jonathan Scholl, The Wheatley School in Old Westbury.