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Center for Global Studies Teachers and Staff
Center for Global Studies
at Brien McMahon High School
300 Highland Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06854
Telephone: 203-852-9488, press 2
Administrators
Roz McCarthy
CGS Director (ext 11007)
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Roz attended SUNY at Stony Brook,
receiving her BA in History. After teaching for two years in Brooklyn,
she moved to Norwalk and received her MA in the teaching of
English from Fairfield University. From 1981-2003, she taught
English and Journalism in New Canaan High School. Roz has
been involved in interdistrict programs for many years. Border
Crossing, a high school class with students from 6 districts, was
founded, taught and administered by Roz for 10 years. From 1982-
1984, she and her husband became Resident Directors of the ABC
Program in Darien, acting as house parents to six minority urban
teens who lived together and attended Darien High School. Before
coming to the CGS, Roz was a Housemaster in Norwalk High
School.
Suzanne Brown Koroshetz
Brien McMahon High School Principal (ext. 11329)
John Castelluzzo
Guidance Counselor (for students from outside the Norwalk Schools)
(ext 11297)
Chad Southerland
Guidance Counselor (for all CGS students within the Norwalk district)
(ext 11307)
Laurie Cawley
Secretary (ext 11007)
Arabic Language
Emad Eldigwy (ext 11021)
Born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, Emad graduated from Ain Shams
university, faculty of commerce with a major in accounting. He taught
Arabic and Middle Eastern studies at the Metropolitan Learning
Center Magnet School in Bloomfield, Connecticut for 3 years. Then
he went to the ARC program and graduated in May of 2006 with a
teaching certification in world languages. Emad represented the
United States in an educational conference in Alexandria, Egypt in
2003 with about 250 teachers from 20 countries. He also holds a
third degree black belt in Judo. Emad was the heavy weight
champion of Egypt, Africa, and the Middle East for 12 years. He
recently coached Judo at New Britain Judo club for 2 years.
Chinese Language
Qi Li (ext 11027)
Qi Li was born and raised in Shandong Province, P. R. China. She
earned her B. A. from Shandong Teachers' University and then
attended Shandong University for her M.A. in English Language and
Literature. She was a translator and lecturer in Shandong University
for three years. After living and traveling in Europe and Canada for
three years, she came to the US and taught at the Yale Community
Chinese School for two years while attending the University of
Bridgeport for her M. S. in Education. Qi was an intern for one
semester at Forest School in West Haven,
where she gained valuable experience to be a passionate educator.
Whitney Lok-Defino (ext 11007)
Whitney was born in Guangzhuo (Canton), PR China, and
immigrated to the United States as a young teen. She is a native
speaker of Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese, but has grown up in
both American and Chinese cultures. Whitney earned her BA in
English literature from Binghamton University, but her career as an
educator is rooted in twelve years’ experience teaching
developmentally disabled high school students in Virginia, New
York, and Connecticut. During a brief hiatus to raise her two young
children, she discovered a new passion while teaching them her
native language, and immediately set about earning credentials in
Mandarin Chinese through the ARC (Alternate Route to Certification)
program, which she completed in 2009. Before joining the CGS
faculty, Whitney taught Mandarin in the Glastonbury and Ridgefield
school districts, as well as the Huaxia Chinese School in Danbury.
Japanese Language
Keiko Sigmund (ext. 11020)
Mrs. Sigmund was born in Tokyo and after graduating from Japan
Women's University (high honours), earned a B.A. in education. She
lived in Hong Kong and Singapore and travelled through many
Asian countries as well as exploring Western culture through
extensive trips to Europe and Latin America. Mrs. Sigmund has
experience teaching all age groups including nursery school, high
school, and adult education. She received a Master's Degree in M.P.
E. from Manhattanville College, NY with Magna Cum Laude and has
been with the CGS since 1996. She contributed to the CGS by
earning the John Thayer Award from the Japan Society of Boston in
2003 and was twice named in Who's Who among American
Teachers in 1999 and 2003 by the National Academic Affairs
Organization. Mrs. Sigmund has directed, overseen, and taught the
summer and after school language immersion programs for middle
and high school students from Fairfield County in Norwalk for the
last eight years. Her students participate in the Japan Bowl National
Competition where they placed 5th in 2002 against national
competition. This was an excellent opportunity to share their skills.
Mrs. Sigmund resides in Weston CT with her husband Richard.
Sean Driscoll (ext 11024)
Sean Driscoll received his M.A. in Asian Studies with a
concentration in Japanese language and literature from Seton Hall
University in 2004. While a graduate student at Seton Hall, he
worked as a teaching assistant for the Japanese language
program, and focused on the Meiji Period (1868-1912), one of its
greatest authors in Natsume Soseki (1867-1916), and the
translation of his novel Gubijinso (The Poppy). He received a B.A.
with a double major in East Asian Languages and Cultures
(Japanese language) and English from Indiana University in
Bloomington, Indiana in 2002.
Eric Tischer (ext 11024)
Eric grew up in several towns in New York State and Connecticut.
He built upon a meandrous childhood by managing to attend five
universities with five different majors in nine years, receiving a BA in
English from Southern Connecticut State University in 1990.
Through his college career, Eric worked at a variety of jobs, such as
waiter, apple cider maker, house painter, cook, factory worker, office
clerk, landscaper, driver, etc. He also hitchhiked around the US
several times. Wanting to find his bearings in a new culture, he
bought a one-way ticket to Japan in 1991 and lived in Miyagi and
Tochigi Prefectures as a student and teacher. He taught English
conversation at language schools and later worked as an English
instructor at companies, nursery schools, and a private high school.
In 2000, he earned a certificate in Japanese proficiency at the first
level after having attended language school. Kyoko, Eric, their
daughter Aoi, and son Aiden moved to Colorado in 2005. In Boulder,
Eric was a graduate student learning classical Japanese and
working as a Japanese language teaching assistant. His bulky
master’s thesis is a study of the ways scientific and Buddhist
worldviews intersect in the early twentieth century poetry of Kenji
Miyazawa; he is currently translating a collection of Kenji’s poetry.
Teaching Japanese at CGS, Eric finds, is not so different from
teaching English at high school in Japan.
Middle East History, Chinese History, and Japanese History
Sadhana Bilodeau (ext 11029)
Sadhana Bilodeau was born in India and grew up in seven
countries. She has traveled through Europe and Africa many times
and now makes Connecticut her home. She earned her B.A.
degree from University of Delhi, India and has an M.S. from Pratt
Institute in Information Science. She has enjoyed a career in
research and information for many years. Sadhana developed a
passion for teaching while working with students a few years ago.
She has since pursued her teacher certification in History from
SCSU and teaches Japanese and Chinese History as well as the
International Human Rights course.
World Literature
John Epifanio (ext 11026)
John Epifanio has been the language arts teacher with the magnet
school since its inception. He attended American University
undergraduate, but enlisted in Army Communications Intelligence
rather than be drafted at the beginning of the Vietnam era, and upon
return 31/2 years later, completed his undergraduate at Goddard
College with a BA. He went on to earn a M.A. from Fairfield University
with a concentration in writing. He has lived and worked in Japan,
and has a lifetime interest in its culture. Prior to the teaching
assignment with CGS, John taught English at Staples High School
in Westport. He is a long time student of Tai Chi chuan and is an
avid runner and bicyclist.
Angie Catalano (ext 11022)
A California native, Angie Catalano earned her B.A. in English from
Rutgers University in New Jersey. After a 5-year career in Marketing
Research and Consulting, Angie taught for two years at Warren
Harding High School in Bridgeport while also attending graduate
school. She earned her Master's degree in English from SCSU in
the summer of 2006. Angie is a passionate teacher and learner,
with particular interest in using literature as a means for
understanding universal themes. She credits her upbringing in a
bicultural household, in a multicultural San Francisco Bay Area, as
the foundation of her teaching philosophy, which models social
justice, cultural awareness, and lifelong learning. Angie is an avid
athlete and coach; she was the 1998 Big East Player of the Year
(softball) at Rutgers, and is currently a member of the Connecticut
Yankees Women's Rugby Club in Norwalk. She currently resides in
West Haven.
Diana Martinez (ext 11025)
Diana Martinez grew up in a Spanish-speaking household in
Passaic , NJ and then attended bilingual classes in Stamford ,
Connecticut . One of nine children born to Puerto Rican parents, her
parents emphasized literacy in both English and Spanish so that
their children could succeed as Americans while also maintaining
their cultural identity. Ms. Martinez received a BA in English from the
University of Connecticut , focusing heavily on her interest in
multicultural literature. She then received a Masters in English
Education from Teachers College of Columbia University. She has
taught English in Connecticut for 11 years in districts such as
Stratford , Greenwich , and West Hartford . She is currently taking
classes for a second Masters degree in writing and hopes to
publish a collection of short stories some day.
Julie Parham (ext 11007)
Julie Parham has lived in many exotic locations: Kansas, Des
Moines, London, Cincinnati, Poughkeepsie, and Darien. Along the
way, she has earned an MA in English and Comparative Literature
from the University of Cincinnati and a BA in theatre and sociology
from Drake University. Before joining the CGS, she taught at the
high school level in Ohio, New York, and Connecticut. Since 2004,
she and her husband have been the house parents for A Better
Chance in Darien, where they live with six young women who attend
Darien High School on academic scholarships. Julie has two sons
and has almost finished writing her first middle grade novel. Her
favorite writers include Lorrie Moore, Virginia Woolf, Ishmael Reed,
and Mark Bittman. She regrets never learning other languages in
her youth, but is delighted that she can finally count to ten in
Spanish, French, and Japanese.
Center for Global Studies
at Brien McMahon High School
300 Highland Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06854
Telephone: 203-852-9488, press 2
Administrators
Roz McCarthy
CGS Director (ext 11007)
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Roz attended SUNY at Stony Brook,
receiving her BA in History. After teaching for two years in Brooklyn,
she moved to Norwalk and received her MA in the teaching of
English from Fairfield University. From 1981-2003, she taught
English and Journalism in New Canaan High School. Roz has
been involved in interdistrict programs for many years. Border
Crossing, a high school class with students from 6 districts, was
founded, taught and administered by Roz for 10 years. From 1982-
1984, she and her husband became Resident Directors of the ABC
Program in Darien, acting as house parents to six minority urban
teens who lived together and attended Darien High School. Before
coming to the CGS, Roz was a Housemaster in Norwalk High
School.
Suzanne Brown Koroshetz
Brien McMahon High School Principal (ext. 11329)
John Castelluzzo
Guidance Counselor (for students from outside the Norwalk Schools)
(ext 11297)
Chad Southerland
Guidance Counselor (for all CGS students within the Norwalk district)
(ext 11307)
Laurie Cawley
Secretary (ext 11007)
Arabic Language
Emad Eldigwy (ext 11021)
Born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, Emad graduated from Ain Shams
university, faculty of commerce with a major in accounting. He taught
Arabic and Middle Eastern studies at the Metropolitan Learning
Center Magnet School in Bloomfield, Connecticut for 3 years. Then
he went to the ARC program and graduated in May of 2006 with a
teaching certification in world languages. Emad represented the
United States in an educational conference in Alexandria, Egypt in
2003 with about 250 teachers from 20 countries. He also holds a
third degree black belt in Judo. Emad was the heavy weight
champion of Egypt, Africa, and the Middle East for 12 years. He
recently coached Judo at New Britain Judo club for 2 years.
Chinese Language
Qi Li (ext 11027)
Qi Li was born and raised in Shandong Province, P. R. China. She
earned her B. A. from Shandong Teachers' University and then
attended Shandong University for her M.A. in English Language and
Literature. She was a translator and lecturer in Shandong University
for three years. After living and traveling in Europe and Canada for
three years, she came to the US and taught at the Yale Community
Chinese School for two years while attending the University of
Bridgeport for her M. S. in Education. Qi was an intern for one
semester at Forest School in West Haven,
where she gained valuable experience to be a passionate educator.
Whitney Lok-Defino (ext 11007)
Whitney was born in Guangzhuo (Canton), PR China, and
immigrated to the United States as a young teen. She is a native
speaker of Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese, but has grown up in
both American and Chinese cultures. Whitney earned her BA in
English literature from Binghamton University, but her career as an
educator is rooted in twelve years’ experience teaching
developmentally disabled high school students in Virginia, New
York, and Connecticut. During a brief hiatus to raise her two young
children, she discovered a new passion while teaching them her
native language, and immediately set about earning credentials in
Mandarin Chinese through the ARC (Alternate Route to Certification)
program, which she completed in 2009. Before joining the CGS
faculty, Whitney taught Mandarin in the Glastonbury and Ridgefield
school districts, as well as the Huaxia Chinese School in Danbury.
Japanese Language
Keiko Sigmund (ext. 11020)
Mrs. Sigmund was born in Tokyo and after graduating from Japan
Women's University (high honours), earned a B.A. in education. She
lived in Hong Kong and Singapore and travelled through many
Asian countries as well as exploring Western culture through
extensive trips to Europe and Latin America. Mrs. Sigmund has
experience teaching all age groups including nursery school, high
school, and adult education. She received a Master's Degree in M.P.
E. from Manhattanville College, NY with Magna Cum Laude and has
been with the CGS since 1996. She contributed to the CGS by
earning the John Thayer Award from the Japan Society of Boston in
2003 and was twice named in Who's Who among American
Teachers in 1999 and 2003 by the National Academic Affairs
Organization. Mrs. Sigmund has directed, overseen, and taught the
summer and after school language immersion programs for middle
and high school students from Fairfield County in Norwalk for the
last eight years. Her students participate in the Japan Bowl National
Competition where they placed 5th in 2002 against national
competition. This was an excellent opportunity to share their skills.
Mrs. Sigmund resides in Weston CT with her husband Richard.
Sean Driscoll (ext 11024)
Sean Driscoll received his M.A. in Asian Studies with a
concentration in Japanese language and literature from Seton Hall
University in 2004. While a graduate student at Seton Hall, he
worked as a teaching assistant for the Japanese language
program, and focused on the Meiji Period (1868-1912), one of its
greatest authors in Natsume Soseki (1867-1916), and the
translation of his novel Gubijinso (The Poppy). He received a B.A.
with a double major in East Asian Languages and Cultures
(Japanese language) and English from Indiana University in
Bloomington, Indiana in 2002.
Eric Tischer (ext 11024)
Eric grew up in several towns in New York State and Connecticut.
He built upon a meandrous childhood by managing to attend five
universities with five different majors in nine years, receiving a BA in
English from Southern Connecticut State University in 1990.
Through his college career, Eric worked at a variety of jobs, such as
waiter, apple cider maker, house painter, cook, factory worker, office
clerk, landscaper, driver, etc. He also hitchhiked around the US
several times. Wanting to find his bearings in a new culture, he
bought a one-way ticket to Japan in 1991 and lived in Miyagi and
Tochigi Prefectures as a student and teacher. He taught English
conversation at language schools and later worked as an English
instructor at companies, nursery schools, and a private high school.
In 2000, he earned a certificate in Japanese proficiency at the first
level after having attended language school. Kyoko, Eric, their
daughter Aoi, and son Aiden moved to Colorado in 2005. In Boulder,
Eric was a graduate student learning classical Japanese and
working as a Japanese language teaching assistant. His bulky
master’s thesis is a study of the ways scientific and Buddhist
worldviews intersect in the early twentieth century poetry of Kenji
Miyazawa; he is currently translating a collection of Kenji’s poetry.
Teaching Japanese at CGS, Eric finds, is not so different from
teaching English at high school in Japan.
Middle East History, Chinese History, and Japanese History
Sadhana Bilodeau (ext 11029)
Sadhana Bilodeau was born in India and grew up in seven
countries. She has traveled through Europe and Africa many times
and now makes Connecticut her home. She earned her B.A.
degree from University of Delhi, India and has an M.S. from Pratt
Institute in Information Science. She has enjoyed a career in
research and information for many years. Sadhana developed a
passion for teaching while working with students a few years ago.
She has since pursued her teacher certification in History from
SCSU and teaches Japanese and Chinese History as well as the
International Human Rights course.
World Literature
John Epifanio (ext 11026)
John Epifanio has been the language arts teacher with the magnet
school since its inception. He attended American University
undergraduate, but enlisted in Army Communications Intelligence
rather than be drafted at the beginning of the Vietnam era, and upon
return 31/2 years later, completed his undergraduate at Goddard
College with a BA. He went on to earn a M.A. from Fairfield University
with a concentration in writing. He has lived and worked in Japan,
and has a lifetime interest in its culture. Prior to the teaching
assignment with CGS, John taught English at Staples High School
in Westport. He is a long time student of Tai Chi chuan and is an
avid runner and bicyclist.
Angie Catalano (ext 11022)
A California native, Angie Catalano earned her B.A. in English from
Rutgers University in New Jersey. After a 5-year career in Marketing
Research and Consulting, Angie taught for two years at Warren
Harding High School in Bridgeport while also attending graduate
school. She earned her Master's degree in English from SCSU in
the summer of 2006. Angie is a passionate teacher and learner,
with particular interest in using literature as a means for
understanding universal themes. She credits her upbringing in a
bicultural household, in a multicultural San Francisco Bay Area, as
the foundation of her teaching philosophy, which models social
justice, cultural awareness, and lifelong learning. Angie is an avid
athlete and coach; she was the 1998 Big East Player of the Year
(softball) at Rutgers, and is currently a member of the Connecticut
Yankees Women's Rugby Club in Norwalk. She currently resides in
West Haven.
Diana Martinez (ext 11025)
Diana Martinez grew up in a Spanish-speaking household in
Passaic , NJ and then attended bilingual classes in Stamford ,
Connecticut . One of nine children born to Puerto Rican parents, her
parents emphasized literacy in both English and Spanish so that
their children could succeed as Americans while also maintaining
their cultural identity. Ms. Martinez received a BA in English from the
University of Connecticut , focusing heavily on her interest in
multicultural literature. She then received a Masters in English
Education from Teachers College of Columbia University. She has
taught English in Connecticut for 11 years in districts such as
Stratford , Greenwich , and West Hartford . She is currently taking
classes for a second Masters degree in writing and hopes to
publish a collection of short stories some day.
Julie Parham (ext 11007)
Julie Parham has lived in many exotic locations: Kansas, Des
Moines, London, Cincinnati, Poughkeepsie, and Darien. Along the
way, she has earned an MA in English and Comparative Literature
from the University of Cincinnati and a BA in theatre and sociology
from Drake University. Before joining the CGS, she taught at the
high school level in Ohio, New York, and Connecticut. Since 2004,
she and her husband have been the house parents for A Better
Chance in Darien, where they live with six young women who attend
Darien High School on academic scholarships. Julie has two sons
and has almost finished writing her first middle grade novel. Her
favorite writers include Lorrie Moore, Virginia Woolf, Ishmael Reed,
and Mark Bittman. She regrets never learning other languages in
her youth, but is delighted that she can finally count to ten in
Spanish, French, and Japanese.