Gayle Meinkes-Lumia has been teaching English Language Arts at the Brentwood School District for twenty-six years.  She attended the University of Buffalo for her undergraduate degree, where she specialized in English Language Arts.  She holds a Masters’ degree in English Literature and Secondary Education at Hofstra University, where she also instructs secondary education students.  Gayle is a master teacher who is heavily involved in student success and teacher education.  Gayle was the English Language Arts Staff Developer at Brentwood for two years, where she created innovative lessons and disseminated information to faculty and students.  She has taught classes at LIIPS and the Brentwood Teacher Center for twenty years, developed lectures for the Suffolk Reading Council, written articles for the “Social Studies Docket”, and has been awarded, “New York State Educator of Excellence” in 2000.  Last year, she additionally was awarded, “Teacher of the Year” in Brentwood.  She has two children, a high school rising senior, taking all AP level courses and a Northeastern University Honors student aspiring to be a surgeon. In her spare time, Gayle develops new courses for LIIPS, is an avid reader, and devotes the majority of her time to her children.