New Huntington Teacher Snapshot Profiles
Huntington School Board members have appointed many new faculty members since the 2013/14 school year closed last June. Long-term leave replacement, part-time and full-time probationary teachers have been approved to work in district classrooms.
Some of the new teachers appointed include:
Christine Burns
Christine Burns has been hired to work as a long-term substitute art teacher at J. Taylor Finley Middle School and Huntington High School. She obtained a BA in fine arts at New York Institute of Technology in May 1994 and a MS in art education at Long Island University in May 2004.
Ms. Burns was an elementary school art teacher in Baldwin from 2006 to 2013 at which time her position was excessed. She worked as a long-term substitute art teacher in Huntington during the 2013/14 school year. She holds state certification in visual arts education, K-12.
District officials reviewed 150 applications, pre-screened 40 candidates and conducted 10 personal interviews before recommending Ms. Burns for appointment.
Natalia Herrera
The Huntington School Board has appointed Natalia Herrera as a part-time Spanish/Italian teacher. She will work at Huntington High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Italian studies at Stony Brook University in December 2013.
Ms. Herrera worked as a grade 6-7 Italian leave replacement teacher at Louis M. Klein Middle School in Harrison, New York from March to June 2014.
District officials reviewed 25 applications, pre-screened 15 candidates and conducted seven personal interviews prior to recommending Ms. Herrera for appointment.
Jason Rind
Jason Rind has been appointed as probationary special education teacher and assigned to Woodhull Intermediate School. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in fine arts and communications at Towson University in May 1998 and a Master of Arts degree in childhood education/childhood special education at Long Island University in May 2008.
Mr. Rind worked in North Babylon from 2006 to 2011 in various assignments. He taught special education in an eighth grade self-contained classroom at Soundview Academy in the Bronx in 2011/12 before teaching grades 4-5 in a self-contained classroom in North Babylon during the 2012/13 and 2013/14 school years.
District officials reviewed 130 applications, pre-screened 25 candidates and conducted 11 personal interviews before recommending Mr. Rind for appointment.
Dena Mortell
Dena Mortell has been approved to work as a long-term substitute art teacher at Huntington High School. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design from New York Institute of Technology (May 1989) and a Master of Science in art education from LIU-C.W Post (May 2010).
Ms. Mortell worked as a leave replacement teacher at Plainview-Old Bethpage for two years (2010-2012) before being hired as a full-time teacher for the 2012/13 school year. The position was excessed. She has worked as the USDAN Center for Creative and Performing Arts during the summer since 2010 and been a substitute teacher in Huntington and South Huntington since 2013.
District officials reviewed 150 applications, pre-screened 40 candidates and conducted 10 personal interviews before recommending Ms. Mortell for appointment.