Our Team

Carmel Addae is currently the Executive Assistant for the Deputy Superintendent at the Diocese of Brooklyn. He has been with the Diocese since 2018 and has over eight years of experience working in the education field. He started his career at Teachers College Columbia University, where he worked on various research-related projects. He graduated from Morrisville State College with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Valerie Iacono joined the Diocese with over 15 years of experience in hospitality and focuses on helping schools with enrollment by exploring different marketing strategies that best suit their individual needs and focusing on growing their visibility to families looking to make an investment in their children’s education. Valerie believes that Catholic education is a wonderful choice for children to grow both spiritually and academically.

Jennifer joined the Office of the Superintendent in 2022. Jennifer began working with the Diocese in 1999 as a Kindergarten teacher. While working in the Diocese she worked her way up from a K-6 teacher to a technology coordinator, assistant principal, and then principal where she was prior to accepting this new position. She has received both her BS in Elementary Education and School Building Leadership from St. John’s University and holds certifications in both degrees. She enjoys working with the diocese where she feels that we teach the whole child in our schools.

Nancy joined the Diocese in September 2022 bringing with her over 30 years of administrative and financial experience and her love for our catholic faith. She has lived in Lynbrook with her family for 30 years and is a parishioner of Our Lady of Peace in Lynbrook, where she enjoys serving on several ministries, with a true passion for Sacramental Preparation for children and adults which require special needs.

Ted believes that education is a great equalizer and that given the chance, students will rise to the challenges they face. In his career, he has helped a variety of schools and systems increase enrollment, improve customer service, create operational efficiencies, and graduate amazing students who are ready to take on the world. Today, Ted’s role is guiding a small team to make a big impact in the marketing and recruitment operations in the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Katie comes to the Diocese after 20 years in the hospitality industry with a strong background in customer service, marketing, and event planning. She works one on one with schools to help them build a strong marketing and enrollment plan. Katie works closely with the Enrollment Management team to forge a path toward the growth of our Catholic schools and Academies. Katie believes that we will find a way to make Catholic education accessible to all families that wish to attend.

Luisa Manzo, Associate Superintendent of Special Education for the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens, brings over two decades of experience in the Catholic school system. Starting as a middle school English teacher and advancing to High School literature, she later became a Special Education Coordinator. Luisa holds dual master's degrees in regular and special education. Her leadership ensures comprehensive support for all students, driven by a commitment to inclusivity and academic excellence. She continues to oversee special education programs, ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.

John has over eighteen years of experience in Catholic education in the Diocese of Brooklyn. He started as a high school history teacher, coach, athletic director, and assistant principal. He then became a principal and served for eight years. John has a B.S. in Education, an M.S. in Literacy and an M.S. in School Building Leadership. John is dedicated to Catholic Education and to supporting the success of each school in the diocese.

Maria Viesta graduated from New York University and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Economics. After 12 years in publishing, she pursued a career in Catholic Education. She earned her Master of Science degree in Education at St. John’s University which prepared her for the position of Assistant Superintendent for Academy Governance. She worked very closely with the Superintendent of Schools to transition Catholic Schools to Catholic Academies by applying the two-tier governance model in “Preserving the Vision”. As a product of Catholic Education as well as sending her children to Catholic School, she has always recognized and supported the value of Catholic Education.

Daniela Volpe is an educator and leader in early childhood education, with extensive experience in young children's development and learning. She oversees early childhood education in our diocese and liaises with our NYCDOE DECE and NYC DOHMH partners. Daniela has degrees and certifications in Elementary Education, Children's Literature, and School Building Leadership. She has worked as a librarian, teacher, assistant principal, and director/manager in our schools. She is passionate about creating nurturing and stimulating environments for young learners and fostering their social, emotional, and cognitive skills.