Program Directors
Alternatives For Children
Executive Director
Matthew Krivoshey completed his undergraduate degree at SUNY Buffalo. Upon completion of this coursework, he earned both a Master’s in Education and a Master’s in School Psychology at CUNY Queens College. He then began his career as a school psychologist with the New York City Department of Education. While working as a school psychologist, he pursued and earned a Doctorate of Psychology degree with a School and Child Clinical Psychology specialization from Yeshiva University. At this time, he began working for the Bayport-Blue Point UFSD as a school psychologist in their high school. He also opened his private practice as a psychologist, focusing on the mental health of children. While working in these roles, he also earned a Master’s Degree in School District Administration from Dowling College.
Dr. Krivoshey was promoted to Director of Special Education in July of 2000. In this role, he was able to use his expertise in child development and education to create programs and opportunities for disabled children in a more global manner. He continued in this role for another seven years until accepting a new position as Director of Special Education at the South Huntington Union Free School District. The new role, in a much larger public school district, allowed Dr. Krivoshey the ability to oversee the special education programs for over 1200 students. He held this position for the next sixteen years until retiring from public education, after 30 years of service, in 2023.
Dr. Krivoshey has always considered himself an advocate for children with disabilities. This commitment to children led him to become involved in the Long Island Association of Special Education Administrators (LIASEA), an organization committed to supporting students with disabilities on Long Island. He has held every position on this organization’s executive board including two years as president.
In his new role as Executive Director, Dr. Krivoshey seeks to continue his extensive record of supporting students with special needs. As an educator and psychologist, he has long understood the importance of early intervention in improving outcomes for children. In continuing this work with Alternatives he hopes to build upon the legacy created by its first director, Dr. Marie Ficano: Providing help and support to all children during the early stages of development when it is needed most.
Early Intervention Coordinator/IEP Coordinator
Laura Hauck has been a part of Early Intervention since the start of her career in 1992. Laura received her Bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s college in both elementary and special education as well as a Master’s degree specializing in Infant/Toddler Therapeutic Education. Laura was an Early Intervention teacher at St. Charles Educational and Therapeutic Center for many years and is happy to have the opportunity to return to Alternatives For Children in this new role. Her years of experiences working collaboratively with children and their families, both as an educator and ongoing service coordinator, are sure to be an asset to the Alternatives For Children organization.
631-331-6400 x 376
East Setauket Curriculum Coordinator
631-331-6400 x 784
Dix Hills Curriculum Coordinator
In 2014, Vivienne came to Alternatives For Children after thirteen years at the Gillen Brewer School in New York City, a non-public school for children with varying abilities, eight of those years as a Teacher Mentor and Program Director. As Program Director at the Gillen Brewer School, Vivienne supervised teachers, coordinated and managed extracurricular programming, developed and coordinated the School-Wide Reading Incentive Program, guided curriculum choices and facilitated teacher training of new curriculum, implemented classroom management and school wide positive intervention and supports protocols, and coordinated a yearly partnership with a nearby fitness center.
Vivienne’s administrative, supervisory, program and staff development skills, and extensive teaching experience with children with Autism will greatly benefit the Alternatives For Children organization as we begin a new chapter at our recently opened Dix Hills location.
Vivienne holds a BA in Psychology from Rutgers University; an M.A. in Early Childhood Special Education from New York University; certification as School Building Leader from the Bank Street Graduate School of Education’s Early Childhood Leadership program.
631-271-0777 x 413
Lisa Tracey, B.S., M.A., TSHH, SDL Dix Hills Curriculum Coordinator/IEP Coordinator ILisa Tracey received her Bachelor’s degree from Buffalo State College and her Master’s degree from Stony Brook University in Communication Disorders. She worked as a full time Speech therapist for AHRC for 25 years. Lisa completed her Administration Certification at Dowling College in 2012. She worked as an IEP Coordinator/Clinical Coordinator in a private preschool school in Queens before accepting an IEP Coordinator position with Alternatives For Children in 2016. In this position, Lisa cultivates positive communication with Suffolk and Nassau school districts and served as a liaison between the districts and the parents ensuring compliance with regard to the individual education plans for students. In addition to being an IEP Coordinator, in March of 2019, Lisa accepted a part time administrative position as Curriculum Coordinator at Alternatives For Children. Her additional responsibilities include the supervision of the IEP Coordinators and over-seeing transportation and safety. Lisa’s collaborative, team-oriented approach makes her a valuable asset to Alternatives For Children. 631-271-0777 x 404
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