Smithtown Christian School Opens STEM Lab and Welcomes New Superintendent and a Dean of Student Life

By Nina Rodríguez-Marty October 5, 2018

In addition to celebrating 40 years of faith-centered education this fall, Smithtown Christian School is expanding its science curriculum with a new STEM lab for elementary school students. The school is also welcoming two new staff members: Superintendent Reverend Joel Maus, M.Ed. and Dean of Student Life Robert Carrozzo.

The new STEM lab will aim to teach students about the design cycle. Students are first presented with a design then asked to identify pitfalls, come up with potential solutions, and test their hypotheses.

A strong emphasis on hands-on service learning also sets this school apart, and mandatory to each grade every year is a service project. In previous years, students have organized beach clean-ups, visited nursing homes and read with the residents, and hosted a special dinner for military veterans.

“We really try to help students make the world a better place,” says Lisa Eichenlaub, admissions director at SCS. “Our goal is to teach them how to be effective citizens of the world.”

The new superintendent and dean of student life are humbled to join the SCS community and further its vision. Maus began his teaching career at Lincoln Christian School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After receiving a masters of education in school administration from Northeastern State University, he transitioned into a more administrative role at Lincoln, where he remained for five additional years before moving to Smithtown.

Carrozzo is a US Navy veteran and a retired New York City Police Department officer. He is currently finishing his master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling. An active member of Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle, Carrozo served as a substitute teacher at SCS last year, an experience he says allowed him to “gain an understanding of SCS and the students’ lives.”

An affiliate of Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle, SCS is a private Kindergarten through grade 12 institution that integrates biblical teaching with a traditional academic curriculum.

Smithtown Christian School is located in 1 Higbie Dr, Smithtown, NY. For more information, visit the Smithtown Christian School website or call 631-265-3334.