Day Camp for Children ages 4 to 15

Challenge Camp 2012 STAFF PROFILES

CAROLE BERMAN

Director and Founder of the Gifted and Talented Development Center. Carole has been actively involved in Gifted Education for over 30 years, having served as a teacher of the gifted and talented students in the High and Wide and BOCES programs. She was a reading teacher in Yonkers for 23 years. She serves as President of the Gifted and Talented Foundation, Board member of New York State Camp Directors Association and member of the American Camping Association. In tribute to Carole and in recognition of thirty years of Challenge Camp she was the 2010 honoree at the annual dinner of NYSCDA. Each summer her grandson travels from London to attend camp!

GEOFFREY BYRNE

Geoffrey is a connoisseur of technology. Being the last of his friends to to own a PC at age 16, his keen interest and natural leadership skills turned into a thriving business. Geoffrey has found that without proper communication. Technology can be scary for the non-techie. He feels that proper instruction is missing in today’s support sector. It is for this reason that teaching has become a way of life for him no matter what age or skills level, in or out of Challenge Camp.! Geoffrey is owner at technology consulting firm G&J Tech Solutions.

JC CHERUBINI

JC is an award winning professional portrait and sports photographer, advance Photoshop specialist and graphic designer. Currently JC works a s a full time portrait photographer with Lifetouch National School Studios, a general partner of Cherubini Map & Imaging Studios, as part time naturalist at Caumsett State Park in Lloyd Harbor, NY, and as a events photographer for Sport Photo in Dallas, TX. JC has worked with children of all ages in education and photography for years.

DEBRA DAVIS GALLIARD

Debra Davis Galliard teaches Science at Rye Middle School and holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Manhattanville College. Ms. Davis Galliard has previously taught students from elementary through high school. Prior to teaching, Debra spent over 30 years working at IBM and brings with her an expertise in technology.

NEENA DHURI

Neena is a software professional with a fascination in digital storytelling and producing. She has vast experience in digital photography, animated arts and movie making. She believes strongly in providing a stimulating and creative learning environment for all our campers, including her two daughters.

JOSEPH FIELDS

Joseph is a full time professional magician performing over five hundred shows a year in the Tri-State area. He is an instructor in ten school districts in Westchester, teaching the art of magic.

JOHN FITZSIMMONS

John is a former police investigator with 20 years experience. He has been teaching elementary and middle school for ten years. He enjoys incorporating all aspects of education in his two LEGO workshops.

ED FORREST

Ed is founder and owner of Astronomy Delight! and Learning Delight! educational companies, which have franchise locations throughout the United States. Ed has inspired thousands of children to learn and experience the wonders of astronomy by providing unique astronomy programs. Ed has lectured at schools, planetariums, bookstores, and featured speaker at National Home School Conventions and Universities to discuss his innovative, creative, and inspiring teaching methods.

MARCY GEISSER-WOLF

Marcy has over twenty years of administrative experience in academic camps. She has great expertise in staff training and management and coordinates the Counselor in Training program.

LAURA GILLINGS

Laura, returning to the camp office this summer holds a BFA degree from the University of Mass as Amherst. She is currently a private school art specialist where she teaches pre-k through 5th grade. Laura also creates her own custom designed jewelry.

BRENDA GUY

Brenda is a registered nurse employed with the New Rochelle School District. She has twenty years of nursing experience at the Sound Shore Medical Center.

MICHELE HAIKEN, Ed.D.

Michele Haiken has been teaching for more than 15 years in NY, NJ and CT. She has taught a range of students from 3rd grade to college. She currently teaches a variety of classes at Rye Middle School including a rock & roll history course, a career exploration class, speech & debate and a drama course all of which she designed and implemented.

TIMOTHY HEATH

Tim has been teaching in public and private school settings for more than 20 years. He specializes in hands-on science and computer graphics applications.

KRISTEN HOLSTEAD

Kristen has taught grades pre-k through 12. She holds a Bachelors and Masters in Education, and recently completed a certificate in American Sign Language. She is thrilled to be returning to Challenge Camp to share both her love of sign language and music. JAMMIN’ JIM – Jim, a professional musician, producer and recording engineer has over 30 years of study and performance on guitar, bass, percussion and drums. He has recorded and toured with various indie and major label acts. Jim is the owner and operator of a recording studio where he has acted as engineer and producer on numerous CD projects as well as teaching music to dozens of individual students.

JENNA LEBOWICH

Jenna is the owner of Cook, Learn, Live and teaches cooking to children and adults throughout the tri-state area. A culinary nutritionist, she believes that when people know how to cook they will make better food choices and live healthier lives. Jenna is a graduate of the Cornell Hotel School, holds an M.S. in Human Resources Development, and spent 15 years in hotel operations.

JOANNE MAURNO

Joanne is an actor, improviser and voice-over artist. She holds a BS in Communications and Business Management from Cornell University and has studied with Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, HB Studio and the Second City Conservatory. Joanne currently teaches theatre at P.S. 140 in Manhattan and the Little Tor Elementary School in Rockland County. While performing in Chicago, she developed her hip-hop skills taking classes with a fellow castmate and dance instructor in Chicago.

BERENICE MILLER

Berenice is a registered nurse with over 10 years experience as a nurse with Challenge Camp. She is currently an Emergency Technician riding with the Scarsdale Ambulance Corps.

FRANK PANDOLFO

Frank is a science teacher and Clinical Field Supervisor overseeing student teachers at Manhattanville College. With over thirty years of classroom experience, his expertise includes biology, genetics, psychology, microbiology and physical science. He is a member of the National Science Teachers Association and will be celebrating his fourteenth year at Challenge.

ANNE PASQUALE

Anne, an actress and playwright, is presently a member of The Actors Studio. She trained at L.A.M.D.A. and the New York School for the Arts. She has appeared on TV and performed on stage in New York and Great Britain. In addition, Anne creates and tours her repertoire of Living History Programs for audiences of all ages.

ALLAN PEARLMAN

Allan has been teaching science for more than 40 years and still enjoys the challenge of imparting knowledge into inquisitive minds. His real joy is teaching all types of science to young students at Challenge Camp.

WENDY POPP

Wendy is a professional artist who teaches visual/sequential storytelling and communication at the college level. She has taught for over 21 years from pre-school to Master classes. Wendy is an awarded illustrator and professor of many published titles. She is eager to teach young artists who are inspired by literacy, drawing, non-conventional thinking and joy in the process of creating.

MIRIAM REBACK

MIRIAM REBACK – Miriam is a former practicing attorney and Administrative Law Judge but teaching is her passion. She currently teaches social studies in the Edgemont schools

ANDREA RUSSO

Andrea is a science teacher with an enthusiasm for scientific inquiry. She has worked on programming for the New York Botanical garden, conducted research with the American Museum of Natural History and trained with NASA’s Space Academy for educators.

ANA SAURA

Anna has a BFA degree in advertising and Commercial art from Pels School of Art/Cooper Union, as well as a teaching degree from Liceo Moderno San Carlos University, Guatemala. After a successful career in advertising/graphic design, Anna founded Children’s Creative Corner in Larchmont. She has developed and taught art programs for children at her art center and various elementary schools throughout Westchester.

REGINA TALBOT

Regina holds a Master Degree in Music Education and has taught music for many years in public and international schools. She currently teaches vocal music in the New Rochelle School District and is a recent Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award recipient.

ANATOLY TONKONOGY

Born and raised in Kiev, Anatoly has been living in the US for nearly 20 years and is a Senior Master in Chess. He has taught chess to children and young adults for over 20 years and currently coaches the 16 year old US girls champion.

KATHERINE VOLKMER KAHN

Katherine is Founder and Director of Piccini, Piccini: L’italiano per Bambini, LLC, an innovative language enrichment program for children ages 1-6. Katherine lived in Italy for four years and has a passion for foreign language and culture, ranging from classical music to fine and culinary arts. She has a great love for children and interest in inspiring the gifted and talented population.

LIDA Y. ZIMMERMAN

Lida was born in Shanghai and has lived in America for many years. She is a graduate of the University of China where she studied painting. She has been a student of the most famous artists in China. As an art teacher in Shanghai, she taught watercolor, pencil drawing, as well as the ancient art of “paper cutting”. She has written books on “How to Paint” and contributed to art textbooks for the elementary and middle school in Shanghai. Lida teaches art in New York. She has exhibited her artwork in Westchester.