Paul Adams
Management Affairs Assistant
Paul serves as the project assistant for the Chief Executive Officer and has been with Long Island Head Start since 1989. Mr. Adams first joined Long Island Head Start as a volunteer in the program and then joined the ranks as a Parent Involvement Coordinator and has held various positions in the Agency before moving to Administration. In his role is serves as the policy council liaison and oversees the coordination of the Community Outreach Department. Mr. Adams has previously served as a Member of the Region II Head Start Program Monitoring Team and was a former New York University Quality Improvement Center (QIC) consultant/trainer. In addition he served as a Federal consultant/reviewer in the grant application and an expert reader of Head Start proposals.
Elsa Cruciani
Director of Finance
Else joined Long Island Head Start as bookkeeper in 2004. Today Ms. Cruciani is serving as the Agency's Director of Finance. Ms. Cruciani holds a bachelors degree in Accounting. However before her career at Head Start she worked for various companies in Panama where she gained experience preparing tax returns for corporations, stockholders, and employees. After migrating to the United States Ms. Cruciani was the Finance Director for Alzheimer's Association, LI Chapter a non-profit organization whereby she managed the accounting and finance activities, including financial reporting, and cash management.
Diane Eppolito
Director of Program Services
Diane is responsible for the programmatic activities of the organization. Mrs. Eppolito joined Long Island Head Start in 2001 where she first worked as a teacher in an Early Head Start program. During her tenure with the agency, she has held many positions including Center Manager, Disabilities Services/Transition Coordinator, Child Development Supervisor, and in 2009 she became the Director of Program Services where she oversees programmatic activities for the Head Start and Early Head Start programs. These areas include education, disabilities, health, nutrition, mental health and social work services provided to children and families enrolled in our program. Mrs. Eppolito holds a Masters Degree in Infant/Toddler Therapeutic Special Education with NYS Special Education Certification from birth through 21.
Annette Harris
Director of Operations
Annette joined the Long Island Head Start family as a teacher August 1991 at our Huntington Head Start center. She truly enjoyed working with the children in the classroom. In 1998 she was able to share her expertise as she was selected to work at Central Administration as an Early Childhood Education Specialist. During her tenure with the agency, she has held many positions including EHS Team Leader, Child and Family Development Supervisor, Center Operations Supervisor and in 2007 she became the Director of Operations where she directly oversees the Head Start and Early Head Start center managers.
