Meet Ms. Iwaki, a dedicated educator in her 11th year of teaching Chemistry and Principles of Engineering. With a background in Optics, she loves exploring the intersection of art and chemistry, inspiring her students to think creatively. Fluent in Japanese, Ms. Iwaki shares a global perspective in her classroom.
Outside of teaching, she enjoys traveling, yoga, hiking, swimming, and reading, which keeps her well-rounded and engaged. Her students appreciate her commitment, as she frequently attends their after-school sports events, showing genuine interest in their lives.
“I look forward to sharing my interests in Chemistry and engineering with my students.”
Meet Ms. Kicinski, a brand new Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Ramapo! Ms. Kicinski teaches Culinary & Intro to Child Development. For the past 22 years, Ms. Kicinski has been a Kitchen & Bath Designer and decided to opt for a “much-needed career change.” She earned her first Masters of Science in Direct Marketing Communications from NYU, and recently received her Masters of Science in Education in Family & Consumer Sciences from Hofstra University this past spring. Ms. Kicinski feels “very fortunate to have secured a job in the school district I graduated from many years ago!”
“So far, I LOVE IT and everyone I work with (students and staff alike). While I’m a “Raider” now, I will always be a “Brave” at heart! #IHHS1987.”
Meet Dr. Ross! This year, she is leading 9th and 10th-grade English classes. Dr. Ross earned her degrees from Rutgers University-New Brunswick, and her doctorate focused on the informal leadership of classroom teachers, a force that Dr. Ross really values. With 15 years of experience in education, she has recently transitioned from an instructional coach and curriculum designer to the classroom. Dr. Ross resides in Highland Lakes with her husband, two children, and numerous extended family members. Some of her students described her as: “Fun and a lovely person.”
“My favorite things to do are to spend time with them at the lake, go for a long run with an interesting podcast, and hang on the couch with a good show and some dark chocolate peanut butter cups.”
Meet Ms. Huang – a new Mandarin teacher here at Ramapo! This is her seventh year teaching after graduating from Rutgers University. Ms. Huang loves traditional and classic music, yummy food, and coffee.
Meet Mr. Guttuso! He graduated from Ramapo in 2004 and returned to the same school as a teacher in 2024. After graduating high school, he pursued his education at Ithaca College, majoring in Health and Physical Education. Mr. Guttuso dedicated 14 years to teaching Physical and Health Education and coaching football, track, strength and conditioning, and lacrosse at Ramapo. However, he taught health and physical education for the past two years and coached football at Demarest High School. He is now back, teaching at Ramapo again. Apart from his professional life, Mr. Guttuso enjoys spending time with his family and is passionate about fishing.
“I am thrilled to be back at Ramapo and love teaching and coaching in this community.”
Meet Ms. Prata, the latest addition to the Ramapo Media Center team! Ms. Prata loves a variety of genres, but she is particularly fond of Science Fiction. Her favorite author is Ray Bradbury, whose work first captivated her when she read The Martian Chronicles in middle school. Over time, she discovered a passion for the writings of authors such as Stephen King and Joe Hill. When not immersed in books, Ms. Prata enjoys watching movies, attending live music events, and tuning into cooking shows.
Ms. Prata holds a journalism degree from Rutgers University. After graduation, she worked at The Star-Ledger newspaper before moving to Colorado for a few years. She enjoys watching movies, attending live music events, and tuning into cooking shows when not immersed in books. She is also a mom to an 11-year-old boy in 6th grade in Hawthorne, where they live. Ms. Prata is excited to share her love of literature with the community!
“Basically, I am a self-proclaimed pop culture junkie.”
