Board of Directors

What is an academy?

The Academy structure that you see in most Catholic schools puts a lay board in direct charge of the school. The principal is hired by this board and advises, consults, and consents on decisions. There is also a board of members that consists of Diocesan officials and school pastors. 

This governance model allows our school to better reach out to our communities. We are blessed to have such an active and experienced board at St. Ephrem Catholic Academy.  


Our Board


Sylvester Sichenze serves as the first ever board chair for St. Ephrem Catholic Academy. Under his guidance, the school has seen an increase in enrollment and parent engagement. He works closely with the principal and entire board to ensure the best efforts are made to better the school in every aspect. His lifelong commitment to St. Ephrem parish includes running the sports program and working with the pastor to hire the current principal. His tireless efforts as the board chair have brought renewed excitement to the school and community at large. Sylvester is a real estate attorney serving the members of the community with his father. His children proudly attended St. Ephrem and continue to serve the community.

Carol Fell has been an active member of St. Ephrem Parish for more than forty years.  Carol worked in Catholic education at Fontbonne Hall Academy for forty-five years before retiring to spend more time with her family and friends.  Much of that free time is now enjoyably spent volunteering as a Board member at St. Ephrem Catholic Academy, focusing on working with the Home Academy Association in their fundraising efforts.

Thomas J. Sbordone is a 20-year veteran of the airline industry with an emphasis on corporate sales and brand management.  He started his career in international banking on Wall Street working for such firms as Morgan Guaranty Trust Company and Lloyds Bank in foreign exchange trading and treasury sales. In 2007, he was part of the original flight team for Qatar Airways’ inaugural flight from Doha, Qatar to New York.   His last position in aviation management was with AirlinePros, an airline consulting company in Manhattan, as Vice President of National Accounts.

Along with working in the airline industry, Mr. Sbordone is a part-time mathematics instructor teaching at The Urban Assembly School of Music and Art, The Princeton Review, and Bank Street College.  He presently teaches Math 9 in a Regents program at St. Ephrem Catholic Academy and Bay Ridge Catholic Academy.

A life-long resident of Brooklyn, he currently sits on the Board of Trustees for the SSND Educational Center in Woodhaven, Queens and St. Ephrem Catholic Academy.

Mr. Sbordone is a graduate of St. Ephrem Catholic School, Xaverian High School, and New York University (NYU). He holds an MBA in international finance from St. John’s University and an MS in mathematics education from Columbia University.

Pat Arcieri serves as the treasurer of the board. Pat Arcieri has been a parishioner of St. Ephrem Church for well over 25 years. His wife, Geralyn, has served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Ephrem’s for the past 8 years. They were both very active in the Home School Association when their daughter, Amanda, Class of 2004, attended St. Ephrem School. After having passed the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards in September 1977, Pat continued his education by doing his residency in Dyker Heights. After getting licensed in 1978, he became affiliated with a local funeral home and has worked in the funeral industry for over 40 years. As a lifelong member of the Dyker Heights community, Pat has interacted both professionally and personally with many people of the community. As a member of the board, he brings his strong beliefs in the Catholic school system and his vast knowledge of the community. 

Gina Cicco, Ed.D., LMHC, NCC is Associate Dean of The School of Education and Associate Professor of Counselor Education at St. John's University. She is a licensed clinical mental health counselor, author/editor, and tenured college professor. She began her counseling career as a school counselor and obtained permanent certification in NYS before obtaining NYS licensure in clinical mental health. She earned a doctoral degree specializing in learning styles and administration and supervision and later taught teachers and graduate counselors-in-training and mentored doctoral candidates. She currently serves in higher education academic administration. She holds a Master’s degree in School Counseling, a doctorate in Instructional Leadership, and an Advanced Certificate in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She also serves as NYS DASA Certifying Officer for St. John's University and has trained thousands of educators on anti-bullying curriculum and legislation. She has presented and published extensively, both nationally and internationally, on teaching counseling in online modalities, with an emphasis on online supervision and rapport-building.

Jean M.  Venturini joined the Board of Directors of Saint Ephrem Catholic Academy in 2018 as a Founding Board member.   She is a practicing New York State attorney for more than 30 years, representing Insurance carriers, Self-insured employers, Municipalities, and Private clients. She was a senior partner at the law firm of Davis & Venturini for more than 20 years.  Currently, Ms. Venturini is the president of a boutique consulting firm providing consulting, financial and legal services to the Insurance industry. Additionally, Ms. Venturini is Special Counsel on behalf of Vecchione, Vecchione, Connors & Cano representing Insurance carriers at the NYS Workers Compensation Board.  Recently, she was named a member of the Board of Trustees of Fontbonne Hall Academy, and she volunteers at the Nassau County Museum of Art.    Ms. Venturini is a Brooklyn native who attended St. Ephrem and Fontbonne Hall Academy.  Later, attending Fordham University and Brooklyn Law School.  She is honored to play a role in the education of St. Ephrem’s students.

Michele F. Scotto has been a life-long member of St. Ephrem’s parish and is a graduate of St. Ephrem grammar school and St. Saviour High School.  After graduating from New York University, Michele taught at St. Saviour High School while attending Brooklyn Law School in the evenings.

Upon admission to the New York State Bar, Michele joined her father, Francis A. Scotto, in the private practice of law.  Thereafter she established a law firm in Manhattan which has flourished for forty years. 

Ms. Scotto was raised in a family of educators and is the President of the Board of Trustees of Brooklyn Dreams Charter School.  She was proud to join as a member of the Board of St. Ephrem Catholic Academy this year.

Nancy Lento Misseri is a lifelong member of the St. Ephrem community. She graduated from St. Ephrem School(class of 1972), Fontbonne Hall Academy, and St. Francis College.  Nancy worked as an auditor in banking for over 12 years, married Vincent Misseri and then chose to stay home to raise her two sons Joseph and Marc.  While the boys also attended St. Ephrem School, Nancy was a parent volunteer for countless fundraising events and a member of the Home School Association holding the position of treasurer.  More recently, she worked as a paraprofessional with the NYCDOE at PS 160.  Nancy is a proud, dedicated member of the St. Ephrem Catholic Academy School Board and is determined to help St. Ephrem achieve its place as the BEST school in the area!


Deidre Franki (Coreschi) grew up in Our Lady of Refuge (OLR) parish in Flatbush and attended OLR catholic school. Ironically, it is this experience that many years later would lead her to St. Ephrem Catholic Academy. Upon calling St. Ephrem’s to inquire about their nursery program for her then 2-year-old son, she discovered the school principal was her former first-grade teacher from OLR. It seemed like fate. In the years following, her son and daughter would graduate from St. Ephrem Academy, she would serve on their Home School Board and she and her husband would run the Parish Teen Club for 3 years in addition to volunteering for many school and parish events. Deidre’s husband Alex grew up in Sts. Simon and Jude parish where he also attend their catholic school. Deidre is currently a Vice President and business analyst at a financial services company in NYC. She is honored to serve on the school’s Board of Trustees and support catholic education.

Lorraine is a lifelong member of St. Ephrem Church.  Not only did both her parents graduate from St. Ephrem School, but she and her children are also alumni.  Lorraine was a member of the Home Academy Association for nine years, serving her first seven years as Treasurer and its President in her last two years of service.  Lorraine’s focus on the Board of Directors is working with the Home Academy Association in its fundraising activities.