Middle School Staff

Arlene Dreitzer- Language Arts

Ms. Dreitzer received her BA in Education from Brooklyn College and holds a Master of Science in Education from the College of Staten Island.  With additional training and over 30 years of teaching experience in literature, grammar, legal studies and etymology with Gifted & Talented concentration; she is an amazing asset to our program.

Valiant Gallagher- History/Government/Geography/Life Skills

Mr. Valiant has a Bachelor of Science in Social Studies Education from Buffalo State College, specializing in Middle School methodology.  He has been working in the field of education for more than eleven years.   Outside of education, he is an illustrator, science fiction buff, avid reader, lover of music and films, and of course, a history buff.

Erica Sherlock- Math

Ms. Erica earned her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from UCLA, and furthered her education with a Master of Education Degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.  Her Master's focus was in Special Education, with an emphasis on both children with special needs and children with exceptional abilities.  Ms. Erica also earned a Master of Science in School Counseling, as she feels that understanding and connecting with pre-teens is crucial when trying to maximize the learning environment.  She brings twelve years of teaching experience to the classroom.