About
Leadership
Administration
The administrators are: John Baldi, Head of School; Lois Dierlam, Dean of Students; Carla Cusimano, School Psychologist; Peggy Spacek, Office Manager/ Registrar.
Head of School John Baldi
Mr. Baldi comes to the Vincent Smith School with twenty years of educational and administrative experience. Before coming to Vincent Smith, Mr. Baldi was Director of Finance of the Kew-Forest School, a PreK-12 private school in Forest Hills, Queens. Mr. Baldi served both as a senior administrator as well as a faculty member, and was responsible for all aspects of education, administration and facilities management. He is also actively involved with the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS), serving on numerous school accreditation teams and committees, and was part of the team of administrators that was responsible for the last accreditation of the Vincent Smith School before he arrived.Mr. Baldi is currently completing his Doctoral degree in Instructional Leadership. His research and thesis involves the early introduction of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education to middle school students. He earned his M.S. in Education from St. John’s University and his B.A. in Accounting from Queens College. He is also a published playwright and the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions for his off-Broadway productions.
"Vincent Smith’s tradition of excellence and its high regard for education amongt its faculty, students and parents has motivated and inspired me to continue and broaden its current path of success. I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of VSS during this exciting time in the school's history."
Dean of Students Lois Dierlam
Lois Dierlam is the Dean of Students. In this role, she oversees and manages services that impact students directly, such as counseling and advising, testing, resource services, student conduct and achievement. Additionally, she is responsible for the in-service training of teachers and the coordination of the co-curricular and extra-curricular activity programs of the school.Ms. Dierlam served as an Associate Professor at Concordia College from 2013-2015. Prior to that, she was the Chair of the Teacher Education Program at Concordia College. She completed her doctorate at Concordia University, Chicago, IL, her M.A. in Special Education from Hofstra University and her B.S. in Special Education from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University.
Faculty
Vincent Smith School is staffed by over 20 New York State certified teachers and related services therapists who are highly trained, qualified, and dedicated to the philosophy of the School.
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees, as the policy-making body, promotes the welfare of the school, especially in the areas of finance, fundraising, and public relations. The Board is composed of parents, former parents, and selected members of the community. The Board meets at the school on a regular basis throughout the year.
The members of the Board of Trustees are: Ms. Lauren Rothchild (chair), Dr. Peter Lewis, Dr. Andrea Carlsen, Dr. Lauren Schwartz, Vanessa Blackwood, and Mrs. Christina Marquino.
The members of the Board of Trustees are: Ms. Lauren Rothchild (chair), Dr. Peter Lewis, Dr. Andrea Carlsen, Dr. Lauren Schwartz, Vanessa Blackwood, and Mrs. Christina Marquino.
Chair Lauren Rothchild
Lauren Rothchild is an Administrative Supervisor for Northwell Health. She has over a 12-year history in healthcare and education with a Master's Degree in Healthcare Administration, and is a former VSS parent and long-time Board member.
Dr. Peter Lewis
Dr. Lewis is currently the Head of School at The Winston School, Short Hills, N.J. He was appointed to that position on July 1, 2009 and has been instrumental in the school’s success.Prior to joining The Winston School, and for the past 22 years, Dr. Lewis served as Head of School at The Kew-Forest School in Forest Hills, New York and at The Gateway School in Santa Cruz, California. Before becoming a Head of School, Dr. Lewis taught in independent schools in the San Francisco Bay Area for ten years.
An educator for 40 years, Dr. Lewis holds a Ph.D. in Administration and Policy Analysis from Stanford University’s School of Education. Dr. Lewis also holds separate Master’s degrees from Stanford University in History and in Education.
Dr. Lewis currently serves on the Committee on Accreditation for the New Jersey State Association of Independent Schools. Dr. Lewis has been a member of the Commission on Accreditation for the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS); and has been a Board member of The New York City Guild of Independent Schools. He currently serves on the Board of Kidpower—a worldwide organization dedicated to teaching children and adults skills of safety and personal empowerment. Dr. Lewis is also the President of the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools (NJAIS), co-chair of the Accreditation Committee and a new trustee at Rutgers Prep School in Somerset. NJ.
Dr. Andrea Carlsen
Dr. Carlsen is the Medical Director of North Shore TMS in Huntington, New York. She has been involved in education for both medical students and residents and has published in this area. She serves as voluntary faculty at North Shore LIJ Health Systems in the departments of psychiatry and pediatrics. She is trained in a technique called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), an FDA-approved treatment for patients with MDD (Major Depressive Disorder), who have not fully benefited from prior medication therapy. TMS is also effective for the treatment of anxiety disorders.Dr. Carlsen received her BA in English Literature from Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. She received her M.D. degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. After completing her residency training in adult psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center, she undertook sub-specialty training in pediatric and adolescent psychiatry at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital. She is Board Certified in adult as well as child and adolescent psychiatry.
Dr. Carlsen is a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Psychiatric Association, and the Association of Women Psychiatrists.
Dr. Lauren Schwartz
Dr. Lauren Schwartz is a Practicing Podiatrist in Manhasset and Floral Park. She is an Attending Physician in the Northwell Hospital System, specializing in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Schwartz is Board Certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.She is Immediate Past President of the Nassau Division of the New York State Podiatric Medical Association.
Dr. Schwartz spent 13 years working on the Medical Staff at ACLD; Adults and Children with Learning Disabilities at their Bethpage and Hauppauge campuses. She received her B.S. at the State University of New York at Albany and her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. She did her Residency training at New York Methodist Hospital, where she served as Chief Resident.
Dr. Schwartz is the proud mother of a Special Needs child.
