Religious and Independent School Support
- Dates to Remember
- Funding Opportunities- Academic Intervention for Nonpublic Schools (AIS)
- Archived- Allocations/Awards/Reimbursements
- Art & Music Teacher Salary Reimbursement Grant (AMTS)
- Mandated Services Aid (MSA) & Comprehensive Attendance Policy (CAP)
- Mathematics, Science & Technology Teachers (MST)
- Nonpublic School Safety Equipment (NPSE) Grant
- 4201 Capital Grant
- OSC Vendor ID Information/Payee Applications
- Additional Funding Opportunities & Information
 
- Emergency Assistance to Nonpublic Schools Program
- Home Instruction
- RISE Annual Conference
- School Incorporation Guidance
- School Operations Resources
- Substantial Equivalency
- Transportation
- SEDREF
- Contact Us
CONTACT ORISS STAFF
Office of Religious and Independent School Support (ORISS)
Email: ORISS@nysed.gov
New York State Education Department
Room 1074 EBA
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234
Main Line/Program Phone: (518) 473-8202 Fiscal Phone: (518) 474-3936 Fax: (518) 474-9200
| Name | Title | 
|---|---|
| Jeffrey Matteson | Senior Deputy Commissioner for Education Policy | 
| Giovanni Virgiglio | Executive Coordinator | 
| Althea Johnson | Director | 
| Name | Title | 
|---|---|
| Nicole Henderson | Supervisor of Education Programs | 
| Donna Bekkering | Associate in Education Improvement Services | 
| Druid Cohen | Associate in Education Improvement Services | 
| Denise Corbett | Associate in Education Improvement Services | 
| Deborah (Debby) Pelkey | Associate in Education Improvement Services | 
| E. Craig Howell | Assistant in Education Improvement Services | 
| James Manton | Assistant in Education Improvement Services | 
| Lara Vazquetelles | Assistant in Education Improvement Services | 
| Name | Title | 
|---|---|
| Alisha Hennet | Supervisor in School Business Management | 
| Amanda Kaczmarek | Associate in School Business Management | 
| Nicole Madlin | Assistant in Education Improvement Services | 
| Heather Zogas | Education Finance Specialist | 
|  | Responsible Program Team | |
| BEDS Code Applications | All program associates | |
| Child Abuse Prevention Training | Nicole Henderson | |
| Closing a School | All program staff | |
| Commissioner’s Consents | All program associates | |
| Fire Safety Inspection Reports | Donna Bekkering E. Craig Howell | |
| High School Registration | All program staff | |
| Home Instruction | Druid Cohen Lara Vazquetelles | |
| Petitions | All program staff | |
| Religious and Independent School Educator (RISE) Conference | Denise Corbett | |
| Substantial Equivalency | All program staff | |
| Professional Development Resource Centers (PDRCs) | Denise Corbett | |
| Webpage Updates | Nicole Henderson Nicole Madlin | |
| Ombudsman (issues between school districts & religious/independent schools) | Christina Coughlin Nicole Henderson | 
|  | Responsible Fiscal Team | |
| Academic Intervention for Nonpublic Schools (AIS) Grant | Heather Zogas | |
| Art & Music Teacher Salary (AMTS) Grant | Heather Zogas | |
| Mandated Services Aid (MSA)/Comprehensive Attendance Policy (CAP) Grant | Amanda Kaczmarek Nicole Madlin | |
| Mathematics, Science, & Technology Teachers in Religious & Independent Schools (MST) Grant | Heather Zogas | |
| Nonpublic School Safety Equipment (NPSE) Grant | Heather Zogas | 





