SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Markus W. Baloun serves as an Education Administrator in the Division of Early Childhood Education with New York City Public Schools. In this role, he supports public school leaders across all five boroughs of New York City in implementing early childhood curriculum with fidelity and impact. He has also worked as a program evaluator across the city, utilizing the CLASS and ECERS assessment tools to strengthen instructional quality and learning environments.

Prior to his current role, Markus built a diverse international career as a teacher and school leader in Austria, Egypt, Indonesia, and Spain, bringing a global perspective to his work in education.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (K–8) and a Master of Arts in Secondary Education in 2002 from the University of New Mexico. In 2020, he completed an Advanced Certificate in Educational Leadership: School Building & District Leader at Hofstra University.

One of his favorite quotes comes from John Dewey:
“Education is not an affair of ‘telling’ and being told, but an active and constructive process.”

Ronee comes from a proud Hofstra family tradition — her brother, sister-in-law, husband, and she herself are all alumni.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts in 1970, her Master of Arts in 1973, and completed an additional 15 credits beyond her master’s by 1975. During her undergraduate years, she immersed herself in learning, acting, singing, and teaching — passions that have shaped both her life then and ever since.

Although retired from the New York City Department of Education, Ronee continues to support students through in-home tutoring (even throughout the pandemic). She has also maintained her love of performance, singing at weddings and parties on weekends.

Ronee remains deeply grateful to the entire Hofstra community for fostering her love of learning, giving her opportunities to share her knowledge, and welcoming her into a vibrant and enduring educational family.

Dr. Allison Glickman-Rogers has served as the principal of Oceanside Middle School (OMS) for the past 17 years. Prior to her current role, she was the principal of School No. 5 and assistant principal at OMS. Under her leadership, OMS has earned recognition at both the state and national levels as an Essential Elements: School to Watch and has received designation from the Association for Middle Level Education as a School of Distinction.

A passionate advocate for middle level education, Dr. Glickman-Rogers serves as Co-President of the Nassau County Middle School Principals’ Association and is an active member of the New York State Middle School Association. She earned her doctorate from Hofstra University in 2010. Her dissertation, How Do Social and Emotional Competencies Influence the Grades that Male Students Receive?, reflects her commitment to social equity, developmental responsiveness, and academic achievement.

In 2014, Dr. Glickman-Rogers was honored as the Distinguished Educator of the Year by the National Association for Middle Level Education. She takes great pride in leading a school that was thoughtfully designed by the community and administration decades ago with a deep understanding of adolescent learners and the intention to create an environment ideally suited to their needs.

A proud mother of four, Dr. Glickman-Rogers is dedicated to fostering the social, emotional, and academic growth of all students during the critical middle school years. She lives locally with her husband, Brian, and their children

A distinguished, lifelong educator, Dr. James Grossane retired in June 2023 after 40 years of service to the students of Long Island public schools, including twelve years as superintendent of schools. 

Dr. Grossane began his career as a public school educator in the fall of 1982 as a Teacher of the Speech and Hearing Handicapped and Special Educator in the East Meadow Public Schools, working primarily at the elementary level.  Dr. Grossane has held the administrative positions of chairperson, assistant principal, principal at the elementary, middle and high school levels, assistant superintendent and superintendent. 

His Bachelor’s degree from Hofstra University and Master’s degree from Adelphi University are both in Speech Language Pathology. His Doctoral degree is from Teachers College, Columbia University in Special Education. 

Dr. Grossane currently is an adjunct professor in the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program at Saint Peter’s University.  

Robert-Wayne Harris, EdD, is a distinguished educator with more than 20 years of professional experience and a proven track record of success in nearly every facet in the field of education. He has received both local and national recognition for his leadership and ability to bring reform and improvement in student achievement, staff accountability, and overall organizational effectiveness. Most notably, Dr. Robert-Wayne Harris served as the Superintendent of Schools for the Roosevelt UFSD, one of the most controversial school districts in NYS. Appointed by the Commissioner of Education, he was tasked with reforming the educational program, improving academic performance, and restoring financial stability to the District. Through visionary leadership, Dr. Harris implemented a comprehensive plan focused on setting high expectations for student success, establishing strong accountability measures for staff, and fostering collaboration with the community. His leadership led to the district’s successful release from New York State oversight — a milestone achievement marking Roosevelt’s turnaround and positioning it on a path from good-to-great.

Prior to serving as Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Harris held several key positions in the field of education, including Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, School Improvement, Professional Development and Planning; Associate Director of the Long Island Regional School Support Center; Nassau BOCES and State Education Department Planning Administrator; and Classroom Teacher. Under his instructional leadership and guidance, Dr. Harris had a school named a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, four schools identified as “Most Improved” in NYS, and two middle schools removed from the State Improvement List. Recently, Dr. Harris served as the Chief Learning Officer (CLO) at Teq, an educational technology and instructional support services company. As the CLO, he provided visionary leadership for all of the instructional technology and educational initiatives. Additionally, he also supervised the entire Professional Development (PD) Department, all State Certified Teachers. Together, they designed and delivered innovative curricula and professional learning experiences that empowered educators and schools to enhance project-based learning and STEM initiatives across onsite, online, and remote learning platforms.

Currently, Dr. Robert-Wayne Harris serves as a K-12 Educational Consultant advising districts and education organizations on system-level transformation. In addition to the above, Dr. Harris is an accomplished lecturer, presenter, and motivational speaker on topics such as: Data and Root Cause Analysis, Leadership, Poverty, Comprehensive Educational Planning, Decreasing Gaps in Student Achievement, and the Effective Integration of Technology into Teaching and Learning. He was also featured in three New York Times news articles: “Superintendent Takes on Ailing Roosevelt” (October 2007); “Schools Have To- Do Lists Ready After Record Influx in State Aid” (April 2008); and “Troubled School District Is on Road to Recovery” (August 2010). He is also a published author contributing to several and has authored several blogs on federal funding to support educational initiatives and school reform.

Dr. Robert-Wayne Harris has earned a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy from Hofstra University, a Master’s Degrees in Administration and Supervision from the College of New Rochelle, a Master’s Degree in Education with Distinction also from Hofstra University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Howard University. He also and holds the following professional/administrative certifications: the School District Administrator (SDA) Certificate, the School Administrator and Supervisor Certificate (SAS), and the Staff Development Certificate. A proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and devoted servant in the ministry at Grace Cathedral International Church, Dr. Robert-Wayne Harris continues to exemplify leadership both professionally and personally.

When not pursuing his professional passions, he enjoys spending quality time with his family and friends, traveling, and staying active through fitness.

Amy Kenton has been a K-12 educator for over 30 years, serving in school and district leadership and secondary education. Dr. Kenton won the prestigious Congress’ James Madison Fellowship, which awards a Master’s Degree to one social studies educator per state for excellence. She applied this award at Columbia University, earning a Master of Arts in American Studies. She subsequently served on numerous federal and state grant review panels, assessing professional development programs, including the federal Teaching American History Grant. She also designed Kaplan University’s graduate Social Studies Methods course.

As a school and district administrator, Dr. Kenton served in diverse leadership positions, including Director of Curriculum and Instructional Technology for Baldwin Schools and Director of Counseling and Assessment for East Hampton Schools. She also served as the Principal and C.E.O. of the Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence Charter School in Scranton and subsequently served on the Board of Trustees. Dr. Kenton taught Supervision and Evaluation for Marywood University’s Graduate Educational Leadership program in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Kenton received her Bachelor of Arts in History from Cornell University. She obtained three Masters in Social Studies Education, American Studies, and Educational Leadership. She earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy at Hofstra University, focusing her research on youth leadership development.

Dr. Andrea A. López is a dynamic bilingual educational leader and instructional administrator who earned her EdD in Educational Leadership and Policy from Hofstra University in May 2025. With more than 14 years of experience spanning classroom instruction, district leadership, curriculum development, and school administration, she brings a systems-level perspective and an unwavering commitment to equity and excellence in education.

Dr. López currently serves as Assistant Principal of Roanoke Avenue Elementary School (PreK–4) in the Riverhead Central School District. In this role, she supports instructional leadership, student services, and daily school operations while fostering a safe, inclusive, and academically rigorous environment for diverse learners. She partners with faculty, families, and district leaders to strengthen curriculum implementation, advance data-informed practices, and ensure equitable access to high-quality instruction—particularly for multilingual learners and students requiring targeted academic intervention.

Previously, Dr. López served as an Elementary Math Leader and Building Coach in the South Huntington School District, where she designed and delivered professional development aligned to the New York State Next Generation Learning Standards. She led instructional coaching cycles, facilitated data-driven decision-making, and supervised Academic Intervention Services to improve student outcomes. As Principal of the district’s Summer Learning Program (2021–2023), she oversaw daily operations for more than 400 students and 30+ teachers, ensuring rigorous, standards-aligned instruction across general education, dual language, and ENL settings.

Dr. López began her career as an ENL and Dual Language teacher, where she designed and implemented a Spanish phonics curriculum, promoted biliteracy and biculturalism, and collaborated across grade levels to ensure vertical alignment of bilingual programming. Her expertise includes SIOP and Dual Language instruction (Center for Applied Linguistics), evidence-based practices for English and Dual Language learners (NABE Para Todos), and extensive work in professional learning communities, curriculum mapping, and educational technology integration.

Recognized as Teacher of the Year (2019–2020), Dr. López is an active member of professional organizations, including NAESP, ASCD, NYSABE, NABE, and CAL. She holds professional certifications in Educational Leadership (School Building & District Leadership), General Education (Grades 1–6), Bilingual Education Spanish (Grades 1–6), and TESOL (K–12). She also earned her M.A. in Spanish Literature and Linguistics from Hofstra University and her B.A. in Psychology and Linguistics (TESOL) from Stony Brook University.

Through her scholarship and practice, Dr. López remains dedicated to advancing inclusive leadership, strengthening academic intervention systems, and preparing educators to meet the needs of linguistically and culturally diverse communities. As a member of the Hofstra Education Dean’s Advisory Board, she is honored to contribute practitioner insight, community voice, and a steadfast commitment to educational excellence.

Dr. Charmian Smith serves as Vice President for Academic Student Services at Nassau Community College. She provides executive leadership for enrollment management and institutional student success strategy, advancing initiatives that strengthen access and completion.

With more than 25 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Smith has led comprehensive student support operations, integrated cross-divisional services to enhance effectiveness, and implemented data-informed practices that improve persistence and graduation outcomes. A committed advocate for equity and opportunity, she has championed programs that expand support for underrepresented students and promote a student-centered campus culture.

Dr. Smith earned her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy from Hofstra University.

April Francis Taylor is a strategic educational leader, systems thinker, and community builder with more than two decades of experience advancing curriculum coherence, instructional excellence, and equity-driven systemic change across K–12 and higher education. A proud Hofstra University alumna, April earned her Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Secondary Education, a Master of Arts in Social Studies Education and Literacy, a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership (SBL/SDL), and is currently pursuing her Ed.D. in Educational and Policy Leadership at Hofstra’s School of Education.

April currently is an educational leader at the American International School of Jeddah, where she leads K–12 curriculum alignment, accreditation initiatives, instructional coaching, and professional learning across international standards frameworks. Her previous senior leadership roles in New York State include Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity for Eastern Suffolk BOCES, where she led region-wide curriculum audits, accreditation efforts, policy development, and strategic planning initiatives supporting 51 school districts and thousands of educators.

As an adjunct professor at Hofstra University, April teaches graduate-level courses in social studies education, mentoring aspiring educators as they apply research-based, equity-centered practices to real-world teaching practices. Her work bridges theory and practice, reflecting Hofstra’s commitment to preparing reflective, justice-oriented educators.

April has served on multiple New York State Education Department task forces, university advisory boards, and nonprofit leadership teams, and she is a frequent keynote speaker and facilitator for schools, districts, and higher education institutions. Her leadership is grounded in the belief that sustainable school improvement emerges from coherent systems, inclusive leadership, and intentional investment in both people and purpose.