A pair of familiar faces have been named to new leadership positions in Huntington’s science and math departments. The appointments bring the two disciplines up to full strength for the 2017/18 school year.
Huntington School Board members have appointed Jill Johanson as the district director of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). She previously served as chairperson of elementary grade level STEM for one year.
Ms. Johanson obtained an undergraduate degree in biology and chemistry at Bucknell University in 1998 and went on to earn a master of arts in secondary school science education at Columbia University’s Techers College in 2005. She studied for her state administrative certification at the College of St. Rose.
Prior to coming to Huntington, Ms. Johanson taught Advanced Placement chemistry, organic chemistry and biochemistry at Regis High School in Manhattan from 2000 to 2010. She taught AP and honors chemistry at Lynbrook High School from 2011 until the time of her recent appointment in Huntington. She was also serving as Lynbrook’s science department chairperson for grades 6-12.
Kathleen Aufiero
Trustees also named Kathleen Aufiero to serve as the chairperson of mathematics, 7-12. A longtime district faculty member, she taught math at J. Taylor Finley Middle School from September 1993 to June 1996 and at Huntington High School from September 1996 until the time of her appointment as the department’s secondary grade level chair.
Ms. Aufiero obtained a Bachelor of Science degree cum laude in accounting at the University of Buffalo in 1979 and a Master of Business Administration in finance at St. John’s University in 1982. She earned her state administrative certification through Stony Brook University in 2005.
A member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Association of Mathematics Teachers of New York State, Ms. Aufiero was co-director of the district’s Saturday/summer virtual learning program in 2014/15.
Over the course of her Huntington career, Ms. Aufiero has served in a number of posts, including as faculty advisor for the Class of 2004, member of the attendance and academic rigor committees and the teacher advisory panel for the Huntington Teacher Center, Math Subject Matter Council representative and as a mentor for new teachers and incoming freshman. She was also an elected member of the Associated Teachers of Huntington’s executive council, serving as the organization’s treasurer for eight years.
Prior to embarking on a career in education, Ms. Aufiero worked for Chemical Bank for 4½ years, rising to the level of assistant manager and for Security Pacific Business Credit for 3½ years, where she was promoted to vice president.
Ms. Aufiero holds state certifications as a teacher of mathematics, 7-12 and as a school district administrator.
Marybeth Robinette
Marybeth Robinette will be continuing as the Huntington School District’s director of assessment, instructional technology and elementary mathematics. She’s been in the post since July 2014 after earlier serving as the district’s data coordinator and chief information officer and as district director of mathematics, K-12. A member of the faculty since 1990, she has worked as a special education and math teacher.
Ms. Robinette earned an undergraduate degree in sociology with special education certification in 1978 at the University of Hartford and a master’s degree in computer science in 1985 at Union College. She obtained a certificate of advanced study in educational leadership along with state administrative certification at SUNY Stony Brook in 2009.
Prior to coming to Huntington, Ms. Robinette worked for Unisys Corp. and Harris Corp. as a software engineer (1985-1990), as a math teacher in the Wappinger Falls School District (1983-84), as a special education teacher in the Poughkeepsie School District (1981-83) and at the Astor Home for Children-Rhinebeck Country School.
Over the years Ms. Robinette has been a member of numerous Huntington School District committees, including the educational development committee, academic intervention services planning committee and technology committee. She has also been a member of the Response to Intervention development team, Tiers of intensive and educationally responsive services team and high school data team.
