Our Faculty

Ms. Tobi J. Phillips, Ed. D. (cert.)

Founder/Headmaster

Teaching Experience: 44 years

DEGREES:
Ed. D. (cert.) Teacher's College, Columbia University – Educational Technology
U M. Ed. Boston College -Education and Special Education
M. Ed. Boston College -Peripatology/ Blind and Visually Impaired
B. A. Ithaca College – Music /Anthropology

CERTIFICATES HELD
Gifted Education
Early Childhood-Kindergarten
Elementary Education Grades 1-6 and Social Studies/English Grades 7-12
Special Education K-12
Special Education for the Blind and Visually Impaired K-12
Braille Transcription
Peripatology (Orientation and Mobility for the Blind)
License from New York State in Archaeological Excavation

Read more about our founder...

Name: Deborah Goldfarb

Position: Teacher of the Gifted

Teaching Experience: 43 years

EDUCATION
M.S. Adelphi University: Reading Teacher
M.S. Beit Beryl University, Tel Aviv: ESL
B.S. SUNY Buffalo: Early Childhood, Elementary and Special Education

CERTIFICATES HELD
Reading Teacher: Permanent
Early Childhood/Elementary K-6 Teacher: Permanent
Special Education Teacher: Permanent

WORK EXPERIENCE
Half Hollow Hills School District, Dix Hills, NY
Chestnut Hill Elementary School-Elementary Teacher Grades K-3
Three Village Central School District, East Setauket, NY
Minnesauke Elementary School- Kindergarten Teacher
East Woods School, Oyster Bay, NY
Nursery and First Grade Teacher
YMCA, Huntington, NY
Nursery Teacher
Middletown Central School District, New Monmouth, NJ
Pre-School, Multi-Handicapped Teacher
The Walworth-Barbour American International School
Pre-K and Kindergarten Teacher
United Cerebral Palsy, Inc., Long Branch, NJ
Kindergarten, Primary Multi-Handicapped Teacher
Springville-Griffith Central School District, Springville, NY
Secondary School Resource Room Teacher

Name: Marilyn McNeil

Position: Teacher of the Gifted

Teaching Experience: 45 years

EDUCATION
S.D. CUNY Queens College - School Admin/Supervision
M.A. CUNY Queens College - English
M.S. CUNY Queens College – Education
B.A. CUNY Queens College

CERTIFICATES HELD
NYS Permanent Certificate- Nursery, Kindergarten & Grades 1-6
NYS Permanent Certificate- Reading Teacher
NYS SDA: Permanent - School District Administrator
NYSUT Effective Teaching Program – Cooperative Learning for Exceptional Students
TESOL/TEFL: ESL

WORK EXPERIENCE
Suffolk County Community College
Adjunct Professor - World Languages, Literacy and Education/Faculty Writing Tutor
NYACK College
Adjunct Professor - English
Long Island Conservatory
ESL Instructor
Farmingdale State College
Adjunct Professor - English
NYC DOE Middle School 72
Assistant Principal
NYC DOE Middle School 391
Staff Developer/Literacy Instructional Specialist/Teacher
NYC DOE P.S. 134
Springfield Gardens Community Day Care Center
Director/Group Teacher
Reading and Math Cluster Teacher
Springfield Gardens Community Day Care Center
Director/Group Teacher

Name: Paula Giugliano

Position: Teacher of the Gifted

Teaching Experience: 31 years

EDUCATION
M.S. Adelphi University-Elementary Education/Reading
B.A. St. John's University -Elementary Education

CERTIFICATES HELD
NYS Permanent Certificate- Nursery, Kindergarten & Grades 1-6
NYS Permanent Certificate- Reading Teacher
NYS Permanent Certificate-Special Education

WORK EXPERIENCE
Half Hollow Hills School District
Reading Teacher
Half Hollow Hills School District
Elementary Teacher Grades K-5
Nassau Community College
Adjunct Professor
St. Martin of Tours School
Middle School Teacher

Name: Noah Pastula

Position: Former Staff Mentor (Employee)

Years at Village East Gifted: 8 years

GPA: 4.0

ACT: 34/36

Accomplishments
Class President 11th & 12th grade
American Citizenship Award 2021
St. Micheal's College Book Award 2021
IB Diploma Candidate
Future Business Leaders Of America Vice President 10th, 11th & 12th grade
World Language Honors Society President
Science Honors Society
North Shore High School Wellness Council
Advanced Medicine LI summer intern 2020/21
Traveled to over 40 countries

Name: Samar Iqbal

Position: Former Staff Mentor (Employee)

Years at Village East Gifted: 8 years

GPA: 3.9

ACT: 34

SAT: 1600

Accomplishments
President of Speech and Debate (11th)
Girls Learn International
AP Scholar with Distinction
State Finalist in New York Forensic League in Public Forum and Extemporaneous Speaking
Research at Columbia, Johns Hopkins, and Albert Einstein Medical Center
Global Volunteering-Medical Rotation in India (9th and 10th every Summer)
Volunteer @ VA Hospital (11th)
Volunteer at Hospitality Too Soup Kitchen (Alternating Saturdays)
Volunteer in Harlem Medical Group (8th to 10th grade)
Free tutoring for underprivileged in the district (Mon, Thurs, Fri)
Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity (11th)
Volunteer at Nursing Home for Tri-M Music Honor Society (10th and 11th)
Johns Hopkins CTY~ Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, Biotechnology Global Politics
Spanish Honor Society
National Forensic Honor Society
National Honor Society
Tri-M Music Honor Society
Pitcher for JV Softball Team

Name: Rachel Vaughan

Position: Former Staff Mentor (Seasonal Employee)

Years at Village East Gifted: 9 years

Attending: The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

GPA 4.0

SAT: 1600 (out of 1600)

ACT: 34

Accomplishments
DECA International Career Development Conference: 2nd Place, Buying and Merchandising Operations Research
2nd Place, Buying and Merchandising Operations Research
National Merit Commended Student
National Hispanic Award Recipient
DECA State Career Conference: 1st Place, Learn and Earn Business Plan
The President's Volunteer Service Award: Silver
DECA State Career Conference: 1st Place, Franchise Business Plan
DECA State Career Conference: 1st Place, Buying and Merchandising Operations Research
DECA State Career Conference: Top 10 Test Score, Principles of Business Administration and Management
DECA Regional Competition: 1st Place, Travel and Tourism Team Decision Making
Emerging Leaders: 1st Place, Travel and Tourism
DECA Regional Competition: 1st Place, Travel and Tourism Team Decision Making
Emerging Leaders: 1st Place, Hospitality Services
DECA Regional Competition: 1st Place, Principles of Business Administration and Management
Young Professionals Chamber of Commerce: 2nd Place, Hospitality Services

Name: Eric Gesulae

Position: Former Staff Mentor (Seasonal Employee)

Years at Village East Gifted: 9 years

Attending: Boston College School of Business

GPS: 3.8

SAT: 2190 (out of 2400)

Accomplishments
AP Scholar with Honor
Business Honor Society of New York State
High Honor Roll (18 Times)
National Honor Society
New York State Academic Excellence Award
Future Business Leaders Of America (Grades 9-12), President
Outstanding Achievement in Behavioral Science – Long Island Science Congress 2013
1st Place of 50 teams in Entrepreneurship – Huntington Township Chamber of Youth Professionals Competition 2011
1st Place of 50 teams in Hospitality Services – Chamber of Commerce Youth Professionals Competition 2012
1st Place Varsity Extemporaneous – LIFA December Tournament 2013
1st Place Varsity Extemporaneous – New York State Qualifying Tournament 2013
2nd Place in the New York State Suffolk County Regional Competition 2014
2nd Place Varsity Public Forum – LIFA December Tournament 2013
2nd Place Varsity Public Forum – NCFL National Qualifying Tournament 2012
3rd Place in Job Interview – Chamber of Commerce Youth Professionals Competition 2010
3rd Place Parliamentary Debate, 7th Best Speaker Award
Best Delegate Security Council – Columbia University Model UN Tournament 2012
Bicycle Film Festival (Summer 2012), Intern
Charity: Water: Board of Volunteers
Citibank (Summer 2013), Intern
DECA (Grades 9-12)
French Cultural Club (Grades 9-12)
Honorable Mention in Behavioral Science – Long Island Science Congress 2012
Model United Nations (Grades 9-12), President
Pegasus Literary Magazine (Grades 10-12), Assistant Editor
Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Classic Debate Tournament 2013
Quarter-?nalist Varsity Extemporaneous – New York State Championship 2013
Recycling for Charity, Co-Founder
Science Explorers (Grades 9-12), President
Scleroderma Foundation, Volunteer Coordinator
Speech & Debate (Grades 9-12), Public Forum Debate Captain

Name: Alyson Givre

Position: Former Staff Mentor (Seasonal Employee)

Years at Village East Gifted: 9 years

Activities, Awards, and Achievements:
High Honor Roll – eighteen times (2007- present)
President's Education Award for outstanding academic excellence (2009)
International Mathematics/Verbal Talent Search
Distinction in Mathematics and Critical Reading (2009)
Nominated for National Scholars Program (2011)
Future Cities Competition-Best Infrastructure Award (2009)
Future Cities Competition-Best Water System Award (2010)
Building Future Leaders (2008-2010)
National Junior Honor Society (2009-2010)
National Student Leadership Conference (2012)
Excellence in Health Award (2010)
National Spanish Exam Gold Winner (2010 and 2011)
Varsity Field Hockey in 9th grade (2011)
Dolphin Macabee Swim Team-Most Improved Swimmer Award (2007)
Outstanding Judaica Student (2009)
Excellence in Attendance-Temple Beth Torah Religious School (2007)
In-school Academically High Aptitude Program (2006-2008)
Certified Lifeguard and CPR/First Aid (2011)
Odyssey of the Mind International Competition Village East Gifted team member
(2009-2010 – 2nd place and 2010-2011)
Mock Trial Club (2010-present)

Name: Pooja Pandya

Position: Former Staff Mentor (Seasonal Employee)

Years at Village East Gifted: 7 years

Attending: Stonybrook University; Civil Engineering

PGA: 3.8

SAT: 2250 (out of 2400)

Accomplishments:
High Honor Roll
National Honor Society
President's Award for Excellence
National Spanish Exam Honorable Mention
National Spanish Exam Silver Medal
The NYS Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Award
Student Executive Council Elected Member
Odyssey of the Mind International Competition/Second Place (2 Years)
NYSSMA: Four Instruments
Competitive International Dance Performer

Name: Matt Mautarelli

Position: Former Staff Mentor (Seasonal Employee)

Years at Village East Gifted: 9 years

Finished Middle School in 7th Grade

Graduated Bard College by Age 15

Attending Columbia University: MA/Ph.D. Program

SAT: Writing 800 (out of 800) at 13 years old

Accomplishments
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth: Appointed Poetry Queen (3 years)
Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do: Age of 12
Played first trombone with the Gemini Traveling Orchestra at Lincoln Center (Age 13)
SCMEA Concert Band, Orchestra and Jazz Band (Age 12-14).

Name: Tulsi Pandya

Position: Former Staff Mentor (Seasonal Employee)

Years at Village East Gifted: 7 years

Attending: Stonybrook University; Civil Engineering

GPA: 3.8

SAT: 2110 (out of 2400)

Accomplishments
National Junior Honor Society
National Honor Society
National Spanish Honor Society
National Spanish Exam Gold Medalist
Piano NYSMMA Participant
Competitive International Dance Performer