Director's Page
Executive Director
Vicki Mingin is Huntington’s executive director of Special Education/Student Support Services. Widely regarded as an expert in the intricacies of Special Education statutes and regulations, Dr. Mingin has more than two decades of experience as a teacher and administrator in the district.
A member of Huntington High School’s Class of 1970, Dr. Mingin holds several degrees from the University of South Florida, including a B.A. in physical education and health (1974), an M.A. in adaptive physical education and special education (1975) and an Ed.S. in administration supervision (1980). She obtained a Professional Diploma in 1997 and an Ed.D. from Hofstra in 2006.
Following her college graduation, Dr. Mingin worked for several years in Florida, including stints as a graduate teaching assistant, adjunct instructor, visiting instructor and intern supervisor at the University of South Florida, as a physical education and health teacher in Tampa and as a self contained classroom teacher in Duval County. She also taught night courses at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa and at the University of South Florida. An accomplished athlete and track star, Dr. Mingin has coached the sport in both Florida and Huntington.
Dr. Mingin’s teaching career in Huntington began in 1982. She has been a mainstay in the district ever since. She is a well known and highly regarded presenter at special education conferences and workshops and has gained a reputation as one of the leaders in her field. She maintains memberships in numerous professional associations.
In January 2008, Dr. Mingin was presented with the Spirit Award by the Huntington Foundation for Excellence in Education at the group’s Reach for the Stars gala. She is known as an energetic and knowledgeable advocate for the programs she leads.
Assistant Director
Nancy Wilson is Huntington’s Assistant Director of Special Education and Student Support Services. She has worked in the district since 1995 when she began here as a special education teacher at J. Taylor Finley Middle School. She has experience as both an inclusion and self-contained teacher in math, social studies, science, English, reading and study skills/organization.
Ms. Wilson has also been employed by Western Suffolk BOCES, coordinating special education services and teaching high school age student in a resource setting and has worked as a program coordinator at the Eddie C. Moore Day Treatment Center.
A 1992 graduate of Acadia University (BA in psychology/special education), Ms. Wilson earned a Master of Science degree in 1995 at Long Island University’s C.W. Post campus in special education.
In addition to her work as a teacher and administrator, Ms. Wilson has coached girls’ lacrosse and field hockey on both the high school and middle school levels and served as an advisor for Finley’s yearbook and environmental clubs. She has been listed in Who’s Who among America’s Teachers and been the recipient of the Special Education PTA’s Distinguished Service Award.
Chairperson, High School
Becky Arlin is Huntington’s Chairperson of Special Education at the high school level. She graduated from SUNY Binghamton in 1994 with a BA degree in English and general literature and music and obtained a Master’s degree in special education from Bank Street College of Education in 1997. She earned her administrative certification at Hunter College in 2003.
Prior to her career in Huntington, Ms. Arlin worked as an assistant principal at Churchill High School, was a national staff developer and facilitator at All Kinds of Minds, a learning specialist at Churchill middle and high schools, a special education teacher, graduate school course assistant, private tutor, assistant teacher, teen and adult choir director, children’s programming director and substitute teacher.
She has received professional training in Greenleaf Learning, PowerSchool, Wilson Reading System and Preventing Academic Failure, University of Kansas Learning Strategies and Churchill’s Integrated Research Process.
Chairperson, Middle School & Intermediate
Linda Roth is Huntington’s Chairperson of Special Education for grades 4-8. She has worked in the district since June 1991 when she began as a special education teacher at J. Taylor Finley Middle School. She has also served as a student council and environmental club advisor, coached lacrosse, tennis, soccer and volleyball and mentored students and fellow faculty members.
A 1986 graduate of Hartwick College (BS in management), Ms. Roth obtained her Master of Science degree in special education at Long Island University/C.W. Post campus in 1991. She later received certification in traumatic brain injury instruction through Hunter College/Mount Sinai Hospital in 1998 and was certified as a school administrator through the College of St. Rose in June 2004.
Ms. Roth has also worked as a home instructor, served as a Huntington Teacher Center facilitator and received training in IEP Direct, Lindamood-Bell, Literacy Collaborative and Root Cause Analysis and served on a variety of district committees and councils.
Chairperson, Primary
Kaaren Palumbo serves as Huntington Chairperson of the Committee on Preschool Special Education and also oversees special education services for students in kindergarten through third grade. Prior to coming to the district, she was principal of Mill Neck Manor Early Childhood Center, a building administrator at Developmental Disabilities Institute and a DDI supervisor for adapted physical education, occupational and physical therapy. She has also worked as a physical education teacher in the Smithtown and Patchogue school districts and as a junior high and high school athletic coach.
Ms. Palumbo obtained a B.S. degree at SUNY College at Brockport in health and physical education and earned a Master’s degree at Adelphi University in special physical education. She received her state administrative certification through Dowling College.