YORKVILLE EAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
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Faculty

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Ms. Riggio

Principal

Education has been a life-long passion.  From the fist time I visited my mother's classroom at age 5 to then visiting my older sister's classroom while still in high school, I knew that being an educator was in my future.  The growth, zealous collaboration, and passion for learning that occur in classrooms is hardly replicable in other professions.  Thus, after earning my bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I joined Teach For America and began my teaching career at a middle school in the Bronx.  While there, I became a Lead Teacher, Instructional Coach, and Data Team Leader.  After graduating from Columbia University's Teachers College, I joined CFN 203 as an Achievement Coach, and supported schools and school leaders throughout New York City.  As principal of Yorkville East Middle School, my love for education has continued to grow as we strive to ensure each and every child experiences the growth, collaborative environment, and passion that inspired me to initially enter the field of education.  

Email: CRiggio@ms177.org

             criggio@schools.nyc.gov


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Ms. O’Brien
Assistant Principal
Education: Quinnipiac University: Bachelors in Mathematics and Masters in Secondary Education; Hunter College: Masters in Educational Leadership
Hobbies/Interests: Walking my dog (Maci) in Central Park. Organizing and decorating. Riding my bike. Shopping at Ikea. Real estate. Making spreadsheets. Reading at the beach.
Favorite Book(s): Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Fun Fact About Me: Not a fun fact... but I have Celiac Disease, so no Gluten over here!
                                            I look forward to being our Assistant Principal this year. I'm excited to get to know all of our students and                                                    families. I look forward to supporting teachers and staff too! I will miss teaching math very much but I look                                                  forward to visiting classes in all subject areas. We are going to have a fun and productive year!

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Email: mobrien@ms177.org
             mobrien13@schools.nyc.gov


Ms. Arditi
7th Grade Science and Math

Education: Stony Brook University - Biology B.S. and Psychology B.S. Touro College Graduate School of Education - Childhood & Special Education M.S
Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, painting, cooking, and reading
Favorite Book(s): The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barberry, the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, A Thousand Years of Good Prayers by Yiyun Li, Taste by Stanley Tucci, and The World Without Us by Alan Weisman
Fun Fact About Me: I love Jeopardy! and my goal is to be on it one day. One of my favorite ways to get to know people is asking them what categories they would choose for Jeopardy! if they could pick for themselves
It is always great to see how much students learn from the beginning to the end of the year. Mostly, I am excited to learn and grow along with them

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Email: aarditi@ms177.org             
Ms. Brucia
6th Grade ELA and Social Studies

Since I stepped into my first classroom, I have fallen in love with the energy of education. I’ve thrown myself into fully supporting my students as they mastered rigorous content, developed their love of learning, and recognized their full potential as learners and people. After graduating with an education bachelor’s from the University of Miami, I earned my Masters in Education from Hofstra University; I also completed my administrators credential program to continue my own growth as a thoughtful educator. When I’m not teaching or planning, I read, spend time with friends and family, run and practice yoga - passions I love to share with my students whenever possible! I am excited to be part of the team here at Yorkville East and collaborating with our students and their families to ensure all of our learners unique needs and strengths are supported.

Favorite books: Wonder by R.J. Palaciol; Salt, Sugar, Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us by Michael Moore, Mile Markers; The 26.2 Most Important Reasons Why Women Run by Kristin Armstrong

Email: 
jbrucia@ms177.org
             JBrucia@schools.nyc.gov
Ms. Cafasso
Speech
Education: Queens College- Bachelors and Masters Degrees
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, traveling and yoga
Favorite Book(s): Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Fun Fact About Me: I have a passion for helping animals and I have my own puppy who is a mix of a Pomeranian and a Husky (a Pomsky!)
A new school year is always a fresh start where teachers and staff come together to achieve their goals! I’m excited to incorporate new learning strategies into activities with my students.


Ms. Carter
6th Grade Counselor

Education: Mercy College- Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Master of Science in School Counseling 
Hobbies/Interests: Bowling, shopping, self-care
Favorite Book(s): Fahrenheit 451
Fun Fact About Me: I was voted class clown in high school
As a new member of the Yorkville team, I look forward to getting to know all of the students and staff.

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Email: acarter@ms177.org
             ACarter30@schools.nyc.gov


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Ms. Ciezkowski
Spanish

¡Hola a todxs! Growing up in a Slavic household, language was the factor that always united my family. I was always reminded of the importance of being able to communicate in more than one language and I am eager to show the students of Yorkville East the possibilities that language can provide. I grew up in northern Illinois and attended the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign where I earned my degree in the Teaching of Spanish. During my time as a student at the University of Illinois, I had the opportunity to take my teaching abroad to Granada, Spain, where I served as a teacher's aide in an ESL classroom. Aside from teaching and language, my passions include spending time with my family, my cat and exploring all that NYC has to offer. 
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 Favorite book: El beso de la mujer araña by Manuel Puig
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Email:
eciezkowski@ms177.org
             ECiezkowski@schools.nyc.gov


Mr. Fequiere
7th Grade Math

Education: B.S. in Mathematics - York College (CUNY) M.S. in Mathematics Education - Touro College
Hobbies/Interests: Chess, travel, gaming, puzzles, anime/manga
Favorite Book(s): The “Ender’s Game” series
Fun Fact About Me: I went to the same high school as George Bush (Sr. and Jr.)
I’m excited to join a new community and share my unique talents and I hope to learn something from everyone, teachers and students. I can’t wait to meet you all!

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Email: wfequiere@ms177.org
            
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Ms. Gallegos
​7th Grade ELA and Social Studies
Education:  Fordham University BA of Arts in History, City College of New York, Teaching Fellow, MS Special Education 
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, decorating, cooking, socializing, history 
Favorite Book(s): The House in the Cerulean Sea (TJ Klune), Educated (Tara Westover), Lessons in Chemistry (Bonnie Garmus), Born a Crime (Trevor Noah), Small Great Things (Jodi Picoult), The Red Tent (Anita Diamant), The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton), Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret (Judy Blume), The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)
Fun Fact About Me: I have lived in Yorkville for most of my life! 
I am looking forward to reading and writing with our seventh graders! I also cannot wait to launch our new Civic Readiness program! 

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Email: agallegos@ms177.org
             AGallegos@schools.nyc.gov
Ms. Godsall
6th Grade ELA & Social Studies

Education: Touro College: Masters of Education, College of Saint Benedict: BA, Music and Communication
Hobbies/Interests:  I am a singer, with a specialty in Musical Theater. I perform all over the city and New Jersey. I spend my summers traveling. This summer I was in Vietnam, Australia, and New Zealand! I am an avid crafter and make many of my own clothes!
Favorite Book(s): The Harry Potter Series, The Start of You and Me by Emery Lord, and The Alice Network by Kate Quinn 
Fun Fact About Me: I am now a published author! My children's book Noodles A. Girl: Star on the Rise, is out now. 
I am looking forward to getting to know the Yorkville Community. I can't wait for us all to learn together

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Email: mgodsall@ms177.org
            mgodsall@schools.nyc.gov
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Ms. Goutos
7th and 8th Grade Social Studies
Education: BBA in Management with a minor in History from Baruch College MA in Adolescent Education - Social Studies grades 7-12 from Hunter College 
Hobbies/Interests: Some of my favorite hobbies are traveling, baking, reading, and spending time with my loved ones. 
Favorite Book(s): “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” by Dee Brown
                                               Fun Fact About Me: I have traveled to 20 different countries so far and the list keeps growing
                                               
I am looking forward to another year working with our great staff!

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Email: agoutos@ms177.org             
           
agoutos@schools.nyc.gov

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Ms. Grodner
8th Grade ELA

Education: Bachelors in English Education from NYU ,  Masters in Curriculum Development and Instructional Technology from SUNY Albany 
Hobbies/Interests: Dancing, cooking, reading, trying new restaurants
Favorite Book(s): Too many to name, but…One Hundred Years of Solitude, The Hunger Games, anything by Haruki Murakami, Firekeeper’s Daughter, Orleans

Fun Fact About Me: I can play piano with my eyes closed.
Every year I’m amazed by the creativity of our students and can’t wait to see what this year’s 8th graders have going on in their minds!

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Email: rgrodner@ms177.org
             RGrodner@schools.nyc.gov


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Mr. Horigan
8th Grade ELA and Social Studies

My name is Jim Horigan and I am honored to be part of the team at Yorkville East Middle School.  I received my undergraduate degree from St. Anselm college in Manchester, N.H. I entered a two yr. program at The William Esper Studio in NYC where I trained as an actor and worked professionally for over 20 years. As much as I loved acting, I always had a passion for teaching. My favorite roles both on stage and in film were that of a teacher! I began to substitute teach in my children's school in Westchester and was inspired to pursue a Masters In Education. I enrolled in the Jump Start program at Manhattanville College to gain my Masters in both General education as well as Special education.  As the father of three middle school aged children, I know how important these years of learning can be. I feel very fortunate to be able to contribute to the growth of the young minds of Yorkville East Middle School.
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Favorite Book: The Eighty-Dollar Champion by Elizabeth Letts

Email:
jhorigan@ms177.org
             JHorigan@schools.nyc.gov



Mr. Hussain
7th & 8th Grade Science

Hi guys! I am Mr. Hussain, your friendly neighborhood Science teacher. My favorite subject has always been Science; I find it so exciting! I always want to learn more and in order to do this, I got my Masters of Science degree in the Neuroscience and Education at Columbia University’s Teachers College and my Bachelor’s of Science degree from The City College of New York. I love teaching Science and have taught at many different levels.  I have had teaching experience at Henry Street School of International Studies (HSSIS) and Murry Bergtraum High School for Business Careers (MBHS). But my experience doesn’t just end in the classroom! I had the opportunity to experience teaching Science to diverse learners of all ages through the New York Hall of Science, the city’s premier hands-on science center of New York. It was a great experience, and I hope to share my excitement and love for Science with the YEMS community.

Favorite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Email: mhussain@ms177.org
            MHussain4@schools.nyc.gov
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Ms. Hyne
Art
Education: BBA in Marketing and Fine Arts from the George Washington University, MA in Art and Art Education from Teachers College, Columbia University
Hobbies/Interests: I love all things arts and crafts (printmaking, painting, crocheting, and sewing are my current favorites...but I really love it all!). I also enjoy running, yoga, travel, and spending time with my dog, Olive.
Favorite Book(s): The Overstory, The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating, The Creative Act, Americanah,
                                          Cloud Cuckoo Land

                                         Fun Fact About Me:  I have run 4 marathons and many half marathons.
                                         I am looking forward to seeing all of the amazing art that my students will create! I hope my classroom is a                                                 place where students can be creative, explore new techniques, and have fun!
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                                         Email: rhyne@ms177.org             
                                         RHyne@schools.nyc.gov


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Mr. Levin
6th Grade Math
Education: Williams college- bachelors in math and philosophy
Hobbies/Interests: Running, climbing, escape rooms, cider making
Favorite Book(s): Cat’s Cradle (but probably “The Woman in Me” when it comes out)
Fun Fact About Me: I make my own apple cider and have a play date app coming out
I love working with kids who love math, and I REALLY love working with kids who don’t know they love math yet!

Email: clevin@ms177.org
            CLevin4@schools.nyc.gov
   
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Ms. Mak
Physical Education


Hi! My name is Ms. Mak and I am super excited to be teaching Physical Education at Yorkville East Middle School! My lifelong passion in sports and physical activity has led me to become a Physical Education teacher. I hope to inspire my students to enjoy learning and participating in all kinds of physical activities, in order to help maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout their whole lives! I attended and graduated Brooklyn College with a B.S. in Kinesiology - Physical Education K-12 degree. 

 My favorite sport is basketball. I started playing basketball in middle school and continued to play                                     all throughout high school and college. Other physical activities that I enjoy include running,                                               swimming, biking.. but who am I really kidding... I enjoy it all! Aside from physical activities, I also                                         like to paint, try new foods, and travel. I look forward to the school year and to meeting you all!


Email: kmak@ms177.org
             kmak2@schools.nyc.gov


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Mr. Mueller
8th Grade Math

Education: University of Maine - Masters of Arts in Teaching University of Maine - B.A. in International Affairs
Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy cooking, hiking and traveling!
Favorite Book(s): The Nero Wolfe mysteries. A collection of 1930s-1950s New York city detective stories by Rex Stout. 
Fun Fact About Me: I am a collector! As a middle schooler, I collected sports cards. Now, I am collecting comic books and watches!

I love getting to know a new group of 8th graders and helping them achieve excellent results but keeping Algebra class fun and supportive!

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Email: kmueller@ms177.org             
            KMueller5@schools.nyc.gov

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  Ms. Oliveri
  8th Grade Counselor


  I am so excited to be part of the team at Yorkville East Middle School as a school counselor! I           received my undergraduate degree in Counseling and Human Services from the University of   Scranton. During my time in Scranton, I worked with children in a variety of non-profit settings,   which made me a firm believer that a good education is the most valuable gift that you can give a   child. This belief inspired me to pursue my Masters in School Counseling at New York University.   After working in a 6-12 school, I am so excited to be focusing solely on middle schoolers and helping them achieve their goals! I can't wait to meet you all and have a fun, productive year!

Favorite book: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
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Email: moliveri@ms177.org
             moliveri2@schools.nyc.gov


Ms. Park
7th Grade Social Worker
Education: Boston College (Bachelor's in Applied Psychology/Human Development and Sociology) NYU (Masters in Social Work) 
Hobbies/Interests: Most recently, I've become obsessed with playing Pickleball (sorry to all tennis players) and much of my summer has been spent on the court. I also enjoy traveling and one of my favorite places I've ever been to is Switzerland! My all time favorite TV show is Succession. 
Favorite Book(s): Maybe You Should Talk To Someone By Lori Gottlieb
Fun Fact About Me:  I grew up on the island of O'ahu, Hawaii!
Stepping into this role of a school social worker at YEMS this year fills me with enthusiasm. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to meet and partner with students, families, and staff to continue to foster a strong school culture where individualities are celebrated and challenges are met with empathy and support. I'm excited to embark on this journey of growth, learning, and empowerment together!

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Email: jpark@ms177.org
            Jpark48@schools.nyc.gov

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Ms. Parnell
Paraprofessional
​

Helping others has always been my passion. As a paraprofessional, my job is to make sure students are on task and understand their assignments. I also teach them to believe in themselves and understand that they can achieve whatever they put their minds to.  Believing in my students has helped me help them become more confident in subjects they previously struggled with. This in itself, is not only the greatest feeling, it also lets me know that I am getting through to my students.
​

I  graduated from Kingsborough Community College with an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts.  I'm currently taking classes at SUNY Empire State College to obtain my Bachelor's Degree. I love my job as a paraprofessional, however my long term goal is to become a School Psychologist.


​Favorite Book(s): I have a lot of favorite books. I enjoy reading authors such as Pricilla Shier. ​

Email:
tparnell@ms177.org
             tparnell@schools.nyc.gov



Ms. Romero Lee
6th & 7th Grade Social Studies
Education: I am a proud graduate of Barnard College where I majored in Sociology. I earned a Master’s degree in Childhood Education from Bank Street College.
Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy gardening and reading in my spare time. My family has an extensive collection of board games.
Favorite Book(s): Bel Canto by Ann Patchett; Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri; and All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Fun Fact About Me: I am an avid soccer fan.
I look forward to seeing how much our former 6th and 7th graders have grown and matured heading into the new school year.

Email: cromerolee@ms177.org
             CRomero12@schools.nyc.gov



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Mr. Schmutter
6th Grade Science and Math
Education: BA in Biology from NYU, Masters in Education (Special Education) Teaching Fellows program at Pace University
Hobbies/Interests: Board Games, Video Games, Reading, Poker, D&D
Favorite Book(s): The Name of the Wind, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Moneyball
Fun Fact About Me: I've performed at Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, and Carnegie Hall
                                      This year I want to convince  my new students that math is FUN!!

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Email: eschmutter@ms177.org
             eschmutter@schools.nyc.gov


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Mr. Tufo
6th & 8th Grade Science
Education: Binghamton University - Bachelors of Science in Cell Biology, Columbia University Teachers College - M.A. in Science Education
Hobbies/Interests: Volleyball, Snowboarding, Video Games, and Reading
Favorite Book(s): The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
Fun Fact About Me: My family has a long tradition of having huskies - we currently have two!
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Knowing how each year at YEMS leads to improvements and innovations I'm excited to see what this year has in store. I'm looking forward to teaching the 8th grade again and always look forward to meeting our upcoming 6th grade!


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Ms Zaientz
​8th Grade Science and Math
Education: BS - Augsburg College, MS (Social Work) Columbia University, M.Ed - Hunter College
Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy traveling and seeing new things, this includes exploring all that New York City has to offer. I also like to volunteer in my community. 
Favorite Book(s): I love so many books!! Let’s chat and see what we have in common.
Fun Fact About Me: I have averaged reading 52 books a year since 2019. I read a lot before that but don’t have an accurate count of the number of books.
I am excited to be back in 8th grade teaching Living Environment and Algebra 1! We have made some good changes to the curriculum over the summer. I also love the trips we have planned for this year. It is going to be a great year!


Email: kzaientz@ms177.org
            KZaientz@schools.nyc.gov

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1458 York Avenue, New York, NY 10075
Phone: (917) 432-5413  -  Fax: (917) 432-5418 - Email: middleschool177@gmail.com
Christina Riggio, Principal
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