Pete Balas: After graduating Hofstra University in 2000 and teaching social studies for one year in Northport, native Long Islander Balas moved to the D.C. Metro just weeks before 9/11. While teaching for 6 more years in Alexandria City, Va, he earned two Master's degrees and became an administrator, leading to his first principalship in 2011, where he established Mount Vernon Community School as Alexandria's first and only full-school Spanish immersion program. This past July, he began his new role as principal of the largest high school in the Commonwealth of Virginia, T.C. Williams High School, the school made famous by the Hollywood hit "Remember the Titans". Balas oversees over 4,000 students spread across two campuses, including a partnership with the International Network of Public Schools. He was recognized as a nominee to the Washington Post's Principal of the Year Award and honored by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce's 40 Under 40 Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to the City of Alexandria. He visits Long Island often to visit family and always makes a stop to get some Hofstra gear to show his Hofstra pride. You can follow Pete on Twitter at @TCWprincipal
Stephanie Piscitelli (Class of 2009) continued her career at Hofstra after graduation, earning her Masters in Education in 2010. She is entering her fifth year teaching social studies at Hicksville High School.
Stephanie is the founding teacher of a social science research program at her school and coached students to a second place finish at a local research competition in the program’s first year. She is also finishing up her doctoral work (still at Hofstra!) in Educational Psychology. In her spare time, she helps run a homeless shelter through her local church.
