Office of Instructional Technology

Winnie Bracco // WBracco@schools.nyc.gov

Borough Instructional Technology Director - Queens

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Mitchell Barlas // MBarlas@schools.nyc.gov

Borough Instructional Technology Assistant Director - Queens

Mitch is originally from Northern California where he taught elementary school and was involved in creating uses for technology in bilingual classrooms. He came to New York City to study Educational Leadership and Organizational Psychology in schools and tailored his studies to look at technology integration into the both the instructional and organizational side of school leadership. Mitch then worked as an Assistant Principal at PS 86 (CSD10) coordinating an overhaul of the school's technology infrastructure, facilitating the design and implementation of school-wide technology integration units, and using video conferencing for instruction. Mitch is currently working as an Assistant Director of Instructional Technology for the Borough of Queens. His interest lie in designing engaging, professional and successful learning opportunities for teachers and other adult learners around various topics in educational technology. He sees lots of potential with synchronous and asynchronous video and audio learning over the internet. In his spare time, Mitch enjoys traveling by bike through foreign countries.

Christopher Smith // CSmith31@schools.nyc.gov

Borough Instructional Technology Assistant Director - Queens

Christopher came to the New York City Department of Education following ten years of teaching in higher education spanning four states. In addition to administrative certifications, he is certified as a teacher in elementary education (Pre-K through 6th Grade), mathematics, chemistry and general science. He has taught middle school mathematics and science in K-8 schools in the Bronx (CSD9) and the Alternative High School superintendency, taught chemistry at Stuyvesant High School where he also advised research students in the physical sciences, served as a math coach and science coordinator in the Bronx and performed administrative/supervisory duties in instructional technology. He has served on regional and citywide curriculum, assessment and professional development teams. Christopher is driven by being able to help others improve the education of our children. In his current position as a borough instructional technology assistant director this is focused on using the tools of technology to improve the efficacy of teaching and learning across the curricular areas.

Phyllis Berkowitz // PBerkow@schools.nyc.gov

Borough Instructional Technology Specialist - Queens

Phyllis has been a technology teacher for over 23 years Ð three years in Westchester County and, for the last 20 years, as a computer lab teacher and a technology staff developer in New York City. Prior to becoming a tech teacher, she taught English in Georgia and in New York City. Her area of concentration has been in both middle and elementary schools. Currently she is an Instructional Technology Specialist.

Barbara King // Bking@schools.nyc.gov

Borough Instructional Technology Specialist -Queens

Barbara recently joined the Office of Instructional Technology as an Instructional Technology Specialist in the Queens office. She brings with her 10 years of teaching students Spanish and Technology in Grades K-8. In addition to her teaching certificates in Childhood Education, she recently received her certificate in School Administration & Supervision. For the past four years, she has embraced the Think Quest website competition with her junior high students, and was named the '2007 ThinkQuest Veteran Coach of the Year".

Frances Newsom-Lang // FNewsom-Lang@schools.nyc.gov

Borough Instructional Technology Specialist -Queens

Frances brings 15 years of teaching experience in the public and private schools and a career in the financial services industry.  She is permanently certified as a teacher and holds a NYS School Administration and Supervision license.  When asked why she returned to teaching from the business world, she responded:

“My world exploded on 9/11.  After much soul-searching, I decided that the world of numbers was just not where I wanted to be any longer.  I wanted to give back to my community, by returning to the classroom, working directly with students again.  My first teaching position upon my return from business was as a computer technology teacher in a kindergarten-only school.  I taught 250 kindergartners to use computers and they taught me how to teach again.  “Mrs. Lang, you talk too fast!” I remember them saying.  I listened and I learned.  Their ability to absorb language, mathematics and technology astonished me and made me realize that all I’d learned in the business world could help me help them make the transition into the 21st Century -  through technology.  I began training teachers to integrate technology to enhance learning under Title IID in Queens three years ago and now work with teachers city-wide.   I work so that teachers can make a difference with all our youngsters including that one child in the back of the room who just doesn’t get it.”

Mike Swirsky // MSwirsky@schools.nyc.gov

Borough Instructional Technology Specialist -Queens

Mike joins the Office of Instructional Technology with a global expertise which includes working in urban schools in New York City, suburban schools in Fairfax, Virginia and in international schools in Frankfurt, Germany. He has taught Social Studies, Language Arts, Technology, and is currently an Instructional Technology Specialist and works with the K-12 audience. Mike is proficient in MS Office, iLife, Web 2.0 tools and digital multimedia. He enjoys working with educators and students on digital documentaries, podcasting, and web design. In addition to sharing his skills with educators, Mike finds time to present at technology conferences. He recently presented at the New York State Computer and Technology for Educators' (NYSCATE) conference a workshop titled, "How to Create a Radio Broadcast in your School" at NYSCATE.

Wayne Demacque // WDemacque@schools.nyc.gov

Borough Instructional Technology Technician - Queens

Kin Fung Leung // Kleung@schools.nyc.gov

Borough Instructonal Technology Technician - Queens

Kin has worked as a computer service technician in the Central LAN, Queens Integration Center, and is currently with the Office of Instructional Technology. Kin's experiences include working with both PC and Mac platforms, helping schools with various networking problem, server rebuild, workstation setup, DOE application support, and much much more.