Trainer Profiles
Lona Adler, Teacher Trainer
Deb Berman, Inclusion Trainer
Emily Feinstein, Out-of-School Time Trainer/Coach
Carole Friedman, Teacher Trainer
Neil Gross, Teacher Trainer
Cristina Harris, Senior Trainer/Coach
John Jenkins, Teacher Trainer
Sharmeen Khan, LMSW, Out-of-School-Time-Trainer
Nancy Klein, Teacher Trainer
Sheri Klugmann, Autism Training Specialist; Teacher / Parent Trainer
Susan Kosberg, Teacher Trainer
Carmen Lloyd, Teacher Trainer
Heidi Lopez, Out-of-School-Time-Trainer
Kawana McInnis, Out-of-School-Time-Trainer
Christina Olivares, Out-of-School-Time-Trainer
Linda Polsky, Teacher Trainer
Robert Schwartz, Teacher Trainer
Bonnie Taylor, Parent Trainer, Autism Specialist
Lisa Tazartes, Executive Director/Teacher Trainer
Lona T Adler, Teacher Trainer
Lona brings an extensive and varied background in education that includes 35 years as a New York City Public School classroom teacher, reading teacher, writing specialist, mentor/coach, assistant principal, teacher trainer and instructional specialist. As an instructional specialist on the district level and through the Office of School Improvement and Comprehensive Planning at Central Board, she provided on-site support, resources, training, and technical assistance to schools in the areas of assessment, curriculum content, organizational design, and team building. In addition, Lona has been a collaborator on several school redesign efforts and an adjunct instructor in the education departments of several universities. Lona holds a BA in Education from Brooklyn College, an MS in Reading from CW Post University, a New York State Education Department School Administrator /Supervisor (SAS) certification, a New York State Education Department School District Administrator (SDA).
Deb Berman, Inclusion Trainer
Deb is a graduate from Colgate University and holds an MBA in Public and Non-Profit Management from Boston University, and a Master of Education from Harvard University. After becoming a City Year Corps Member in Boston, Deb served as a Psycho-Educational Counselor at Judge Baker Children’s Center, MA, supervising several classrooms of children with severe behavioral disorders and designing and implementing school-wide behavior policies. She has worked as a head counselor at Ramapo for Children’s residential summer camp and is the founder and first Executive Director of Camp Starfish, Inc. in Boston, serving children with emotional, learning, behavioral, and social problems. Deb is now an Independent Consultant, engaging non-profit organizations to conduct strategic planning, marketing research, fundraising, coaching and executive recruiting projects. In this capacity, she also facilitates workshops designed to develop committees on inclusion in community-based organizations, followed by supportive coaching.
Emily Feinstein, Out-of-School Time Trainer/Coach
Emily has been working in youth development for over fifteen years. As a coach, trainer, and staff developer, she worked with numerous schools and after-school programs to create safe and supportive environments for children. She has trained students, teachers, and parents in conflict resolution and behavior management, coached teachers in positive discipline, developed advisory and mediation programs, and worked closely with program leaders to identify and implement best practices that promote community and collaboration. Emily has worked with a range of youth development agencies, including; Partnership for After-School Education, Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility, and Creative Response to Conflict.
Carole Friedman, Teacher Trainer
When Carole retired from her position as a principal with the New York City Department of Education, she was not yet ready to retire from the field of education entirely. As a Ramapo trainer and coach, Carole brings her understanding of the needs of school professionals and the vital skills that she developed during her 33 years in education. She draws on her experience as a principal, assistant principal, staff developer, and teacher to provide professional development for teachers and train them to change student behavior by changing their own behavior; this in turn enables teachers to devote valuable classroom time to instruction instead of management. Her special expertise in developmentally appropriate education provides valuable insights into childhood behavior.
Neil Gross, Teacher Trainer
Neil has been both an educator and an administrator in Westchester and New York City for over 38 years. He has experience teaching children with learning disabilities on elementary and secondary levels. His experience in New York City ranges from working in residential schools for emotionally challenged students to facilitating a total communication program for the deaf and hard of hearing. Neil was responsible for the implementation and development of a character education program in a highly successful alternative high school in Rye, New York. He has focused on developing programs for students and families of students challenged with emotional and social issues. The programs he has developed have provided a support community able to assist families with the myriad issues they face in today’s challenging world. He is also the recipient of the “Educator Overcoming the Odds Award” from Student Advocacy of Westchester. Neil has a Masters Degree from New York University in Special Education and completed his administrative work at Pace University.
Cristina Harris, Senior Trainer/ Coach
Cristina received her Masters in Social Work from New York University, and has provided counseling and training to parents, children, youth workers, and school professionals throughout the city, focusing on building strong relationships and effective communication. She began her professional career as a Teach for America teacher in the Bronx and has since directed after school programming, provided individual and group therapy to children and families, and designed educational and recreational programming for school-aged children in Ghana and Peru. Through her work as both a teacher and social worker, Cristina has gained a solid understanding of “what makes kids tick,” and this insight guides her training and coaching.
John Jenkins, Teacher Trainer
As a Learning and Development Specialist with a doctoral degree in Education from New York University, John has served as a training consultant with Kaplan K-12 services and schools throughout the New York City system. He has also been a principal at both charter and public schools in the New York City area. His doctoral research is on the experience of adolescent males in urban schools. John’s areas of expertise also include literacy; teacher training and development; and diversity, social justice, and inclusion. John received an SAS/SDA Certificate in Administration and Supervision from Baruch College, CUNY, and an M.S. in Secondary Education and English from Herbert H. Lehman College. He received his B.A. in English from the University at Albany.
Sharmeen Khan, LMSW, Out-of-School-Time-Trainer
Sharmeen started working with youth as an adolescent herself through her high school peer tutoring program, and went on to create and implement after-school programs. Most recently, she served as the supervisor of Youth Programs at the Arab-American Family Support Center in Brooklyn, during which time she coordinated all aspects of the after-school program, teen program, and summer camp. In this capacity, Sharmeen created and delivered trainings for staff, developed and facilitated group work, and supervised a staff of youth workers. She has experience facilitating groups with middle school students in both after school and clinical settings, and has extensive expertise in the area of child and adolescent development. Sharmeen recently graduated from NYU with a Masters in Social Work and plans to continue working in a clinical, administrative, and educational capacity with children, youth, and their families.
Nancy Klein, Teacher Trainer
Nancy’s commitment to public education has spanned over 30 years. Nancy holds New York State certification in Special Education in grades K-12. She holds a Masters of Science in Special Education and has done postgraduate work in School Psychology. Her experience includes working with students with both learning and behavioral challenges in a variety of settings. Nancy is certified by Cornell University’s Therapeutic Crisis Intervention program for supporting behavioral management strategies for both staff and students. Her experience as a coach includes implementing professional development activities and individual coaching sessions, and supporting instructional and behavioral best practices.
Sheri Klugmann, Autism Training Specialist; Teacher / Parent Trainer
Sheri is a Queens College graduate and earned both a Masters degree in Elementary Education from Hunter College and a Masters degree in Early Childhood and Special Education from Touro College. Sheri was trained at the YAI/New York League for Early Learning, where she studied and gained skills on Applied Behavior Analysis. After working as a general and a special education teacher in various public schools throughout New York City, she joined the YAI full-time as a Special Education Itinerant Teacher, working both at home and in school settings as a 1:1 shadow for children with PDD, Asperger’s Syndrome, severe speech and language delays, social delays, and behavior challenges.
Susan Kosberg, Teacher Trainer
Susan has been an educator in Westchester and New York City for more than 35 years. Her diverse experience includes classroom teaching to children with learning challenges and regular education students, and college- and graduate-level courses in Education. She has presented professional development workshops at the Superintendent’s Conference Day and for the NYS Department of Education. Susan has participated on numerous panels for educational conferences and associations, including “Effective Practices in Instruction with Children with Disabilities” for the Council for Exceptional Children at Manhattanville College. In addition, Susan has been teaching a college field experience course in special education for counselors at Camp Ramapo every summer for more than 20 years.
Carmen Lloyd, Teacher Trainer
Carmen is an experienced educator with an extensive background in school leadership and training. In her 35 years as an educator, she showed progressive advancement from classroom teacher to staff developer, assistant principal, and principal in New York City Public Schools and in the Non-Public sector. As a New York City principal, Carmen spent 13 years in the Chancellor’s District, where she focused on restructuring failing schools and closing the gap in educational achievement for high-risk, underachieving students. She has advanced degrees in Educational Administration and Supervision from Long Island University, C.W. Post College and a Masters in Education from Hunter College in New York.
Heidi Lopez, Out-of-School-Time-Trainer
Heidi has been working with young people in youth development and after-school settings for more than a decade. She has worked directly with youth through on multiple levels, from peer mentor and group leader to supervisor and director of a large Beacon program.. In addition, her experience includes supervision, administration, and community organizing. Heidi has her undergraduate degree in Sociology and a Masters degree in Social Work. In addition to her work as a Ramapo trainer, Heidi is a social worker at a community college, a volunteer with high school youth, and is pursuing a PhD in Social Justice.
Kawana McInnis, Out-of-School-Time-Trainer
Kawana has worked in youth development for more than 15 years as an educator, supervisor, trainer, coach, and mentor. She has served as a NYC Department of Education teacher, a youth development trainer for faith-based organizations, an Education Specialist for children in foster care, and an Educational Program Director for Advantage After School Programs. Kawana is a certified CDHS (Center for Development and Human Services) trainer for foster parents, an associate pastor for young people, and is currently participating in the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative to continue developing her skills as a youth development trainer and leader in the field. She obtained her BA in Psychology from Brooklyn College and plans to pursue a Masters in Divinity for Urban Ministry starting in 2010.
Christina Olivares, Out-of-School-Time-Trainer
Christina has been working in the field of youth development for more than 10 years in positions including Senior Program Coordinator for College Guidance at Harlem RBI, Youth Development Specialist with the NYC Department of Education, an arts curriculum developer, and an administrator. Christina’s experience working with middle and high school students in after-school settings has focused on building leadership skills in young people and coaching them toward success. Christina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Critical Multicultural Pedagogy from Amherst College, and is currently pursuing her Masters in Fine Arts at Brooklyn College.
Linda Polsky, Teacher Trainer
Linda has taught in New York City public schools for more than 25 years and was an assistant principal in a performing arts school for 6 years. She holds a Ph.D. in Administration and Supervision, as well as a BS and MS in Education. Linda continues to work with new teachers in her role as a Mentor with the Department of Education. In her work for Ramapo for Children, she helps teachers learn the skills necessary to be stronger and more effective in their classrooms.
Robert Schwartz, Teacher Trainer
Formerly the Principal of Greenburgh Eleven USFD at Children’s Village in Dobbs Ferry, NY, and Assistant Principal of Newtown High School in Queens, NY, Bob taught in elementary- , middle- , and high schools in NYC for 12 years, many of them as a special education teacher. His areas of expertise include special education, crisis intervention, and behavior planning. Bob is a product of the New York City educational system and graduated from S.J. Tilden H.S., in Brooklyn, NY. He holds an M.A. and P.D. in School Psychology and an M.A. and P.D. in School Administration and Supervision from Brooklyn College of the City University. Bob earned his undergraduate degree from Hunter College of the City University of New York.
Bonnie Taylor, Parent Trainer, Autism Specialist
Bonnie received her doctoral degree in Psychology from the Graduate Center of The City University of New York, where she concentrated in neuropsychology. She completed an autism-focused postdoctoral fellowship at the Seaver and New York Autism Center of Excellence at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. There, she participated in cutting-edge research in autism spectrum disorders, and conducted behavioral evaluations for children and adults with autism. Bonnie has also gained extensive experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities in community-based settings, including F•E•G•S and the JCC of Manhattan. Her work with people with autism spectrum disorders has included conducting diagnostic assessments and functional behavior analyses, evaluating and implementing programs, curriculum development, and facilitating social skills groups for young adults with Asperger’s. Bonnie brings to the Ramapo staff a font of knowledge and autism-specific experience for leading staff trainings.
Lisa Tazartes, Executive Director/Teacher Trainer
Lisa holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Swarthmore College. She has taught special education and is an experiential education specialist. Lisa is also certified in adventure-based counseling and life space crisis intervention. A member of the Ramapo staff for more than 15 years, she is a graduate of the Executive Level Program of the Institute for Non-Profit Management at Columbia University. Lisa is a founding director of both Ramapo’s Challenge and Adventure Retreats and Ramapo Training. Her career has been devoted to building the skills and capacity of educators and youth service professionals. Lisa is also the 2007 recipient of the prestigious Zella Bronfman Award, in recognition of her role as a change agent who is helping to transform the delivery of services to people with disabilities.
