Community Update

With help from STEM teacher Mrs. Donohue, these scientists then used a lit match to help create the conditions needed to trap a cloud inside the bottle and see the science in action.

In her twelfth year at North Rockland, Kelley Herrmann believes that a school flourishes when its entire community works together and puts students first. Students are teachers, too and one lesson this principal has learned is that one cup of coffee in the morning is enough!

Christopher Frank at North Rockland in August 2021 as Assistant Director of Special Services, later serving as Director of Special Programs and Grants before becoming Principal of Neary Educational Center in March 2025. With just over five years in the district and about a year and a half as principal, he believes, "...every student has the ability to grow, but not every student follows the same path to get there. Our job as educators is to understand where students are and provide them with the support they need to succeed. At Neary, progress looks different for every student, but every milestone matters." Mr. Frank's students have reinforced the importance of celebrating every milestone, reminding them that sometimes the smallest steps forward are the biggest victories.

A North Rockland graduate from the Class of 2020, Brian Brezosky earned a Bachelor of Science from SUNY Oswego and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Manhattanville University. His connection to the district continued after graduation when he returned in January 2025 as a substitute teacher, a role he held through June 2026 before joining the district as a full-time physical education teacher. This school year, Brian is especially excited to return to the district where he grew up and begin the next chapter of his career in the same community that helped shape his educational journey.

Kieran Keenan holds a Bachelor of Science from St. Thomas Aquinas College and a Master of Science in Teaching from the same institution. Before stepping into this role as a special education teacher, Mr. Keenan gained classroom experience as a substitute teacher with the North Rockland Central School District. This school year, he is looking forward to helping his students grow academically while also developing character, becoming well-rounded individuals and serving as positive examples for others.

Zachary Kronenberg brings experience teaching both special education and science to his new role at North Rockland High School. Mr. Kronenberg earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Teaching from St. Thomas Aquinas College. Before joining North Rockland, he taught special education and biology at Ramapo High School, along with Earth Science at the Charter School of Educational Excellence and Biology at Clarkstown South High School. As he begins his new role at NRHS, he is excited to make a positive impact on his students and help prepare the next generation of college-ready young adults.

Madison Mavrogiannis holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science in Teaching from St. Thomas Aquinas College. Before joining the North Rockland team, Ms. Mavrogiannis worked as a special education teacher in the Clarkstown Central School District. She is now continuing her work in special education as a member of the North Rockland High School, bringing their classroom experience and commitment to supporting students into their new role.

A former Division I baseball player, Richard Paltridge spent two years playing at Penn State before transferring to Siena University, where he played for four years. Mr. Paltridge earned a Bachelor of Science in Business with concentrations in Sports Marketing and Accounting Theory, along with an education certification from Siena University. He completed his student teaching experience at Lansingburgh High School in Troy, New York. Now joining the NRHS team, he is excited to become part of the North Rockland community and looks forward to inspiring, motivating and educating students while building meaningful relationships with them.

Concepcion Pena holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Secondary Education from the College of Mount Saint Vincent and a Master of Science in Education in Special Education, Grades 7-12 and Literacy, Grades 5-12, from Mount Saint Mary College. Before joining North Rockland, Ms. Pena spent 13 years teaching English in the New York City Department of Education, including nine years at Bronx River High School teaching eleventh grade English and a twelfth grade theater elective, one year at August Martin High School teaching eleventh grade English and three years at the High School for Energy and Technology teaching English to students in grades 9-11.

Ms. Pena said, “... it feels especially meaningful to now teach in the community where I live and that I have truly come to love and call home. Although I wasn’t born and raised here, North Rockland has become such an important part of my life that it often feels like I’ve always belonged here.” She looks forward to building relationships with students and creating a classroom where they feel comfortable being themselves, taking risks and discovering that they have something worth saying.

Emma Schlagler holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Teaching from SUNY New Paltz. Ms. Schlagler completed her student teaching experience with the Valley Central School District before beginning her career in education as a chemistry teacher at North Rockland High School.

New to the Rockland community, she is excited to begin her career in a district that places a strong emphasis on supporting students. She is especially looking forward to bringing chemistry to life through hands-on labs. As she puts it, “The looks on their faces when they see chemistry come to life and everything starts to make sense are priceless!”

With an extensive background as a musician and educator, Dr. Gili Sharett Malkiel brings years of experience performing and teaching to North Rockland High School. Gili earned a Bachelor of Arts from the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, along with a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from Stony Brook University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Lehman College. Gili’s teaching experience includes orchestra and band programs in the Pleasantville Union Free School District and Chappaqua Central School District, the Hackley School Music Institute, Queens College and Juilliard’s Pre-College and Music Advancement Program and Young Audiences New York.

As a professional musician, Dr. Gili Sharett Malkie has performed with artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Andrea Bocelli and Jon Batiste, appeared in more than twelve Broadway productions and performed with organizations including the New Jersey Symphony, American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet. This year, she is excited to bring her experience to North Rockland while helping students grow as musicians, discover the joy of making music together and develop the creativity, teamwork and confidence that come with arts education.

Fiorella Torres earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a concentration in Secondary Education from St. Thomas Aquinas College. Her experience in the classroom includes student teaching in the North Rockland Central School District and serving as a leave replacement at Suffern High School. Now, Ms. Torres is excited to return to North Rockland and create memorable moments with her students. She hopes to build a safe and welcoming classroom where students feel comfortable being themselves, asking questions and learning from their mistakes. Most of all, she wants every student to recognize their potential and feel confident pursuing their goals.