Contact & Staff

Office Hours: Weekdays 9:00am - 6:15 pm and 8:30am - 6pm camp Check our calendar to find out the days we are closed. Mailing Address A.C.T. Programs ~ 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, NY, NY 10025 Phone: Main office at the Cathedral: (212) 316-7530 E-mail: act@stjohndivine.org    Send resumes to actjobs@stjohndivine.org Please click here to leave feedback about our website.

Administrators, Specialists and Counselors:
A team of qualified administrators develop plans insuring that children will safely enjoy themselves. Summer Camp swim staff are certified by the Red Cross. Head teachers have experience in similar settings. Counselors are teachers and college-age students with an expressed interest in working with our youth. Staff return to A.C.T. year after year and have been enrolled in our programs themselves. Our staff is encouraged to directly communicate with parents regarding each child's progress. Staff meetings and training sessions are held before and during each program season. All staff are closely supervised and formally evaluated.

Administrative Staff

José V. Torres, Executive Director and Day Camp Director:
José Vicente Torres received his Masters in Social Work from Columbia University after teaching in elementary school. Mr. Torres is the chief executive for A.C.T. Programs. In addition to year-round responsibilities for all A.C.T. Program operations, Mr. Torres is the Summer Camp Director who has had the pleasure of sharing his work experiences with his own wife and children on the beautiful setting of the Cathedral since 1981. Formerly a teacher, Mr. Torres created and developed all A.C.T. Program activities since 1981 that include its preschool components, expanded summer camp program, Divine children's parties and Holiday Vacation camp. .

Marie Del Tejo, Director of Programs, August Camp Coordinator, Nursery head teacher
Ms. Marie Del Tejo has worked in the educational field for two decades. She holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in Education from Hunter College. She also attended Columbia University for middle Management program for youth services. Marie has worked in the A.C.T. Programs since the summer of 1990. She is the Director of Programs responsible for day-to day operations of all programs activities. Marie also teaches parent toddler classes and oversee the August Camp Program.

Nancy Torres, Assistant Camp Director, Educational consultant
Mrs. Nancy L. Torres has a Masters in Education from New York University. Mrs. Torres has 30 years of teaching experience in private and public schools. She is currently retired having taught in all elementary school grades, most recently at Hunter College Elementary School. She is certified in gifted education. She is currently serving as an adjunct professor for Hunter College School of Education and is a consultant for several non-profits organization including A.C.T.. She coordinates all day camp theme activities and supervises specialists who offer expert instruction in their fields.

Barbara Ciner, Preschool Head teacher
Barbara Ciner has worked in the educational field for over a decade. She received her a master's degree in English Education from New York University, and reading certification from Hunter College. Ms. Ciner, who has permanent certification in early childhood through grade 8, is in her third year as head preschool teacher at our A.C.T. Program. She implements lesson plans and over sees preparation of all materials related to curriculum development. Ms. Ciner also mentors classroom assistants and aids.

Ann Shepherd, Nursery Head teacher,parent-toddler instructor
Ann Shepherd, better known as Ms. Ann to our Nursery school children, has been teaching for almost two decades. A graduate of Wells College, with studies in English Literature, Ms. Ann has experience in a wide range of settings with children between the ages of three and eight years old. She has worked in Head Start and in full and part-time programs at the YMCA Coop Nursery. Before becoming a lead teacher, she did a student internship at P.S. 234, tutored children at the Northside Center of Child Development, and worked as a volunteer at The Lenox School and the Mabel Barrett Fitzgerald Day Care Center.

Melody McEnaney, Nursery Head teacher
Melody McEnaney, Pre-school Head Teacher Ms. Melody McEnaney earned her Bachelor of Art degree in Early Childhood Education from Americas University of Florida. In addition, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art and Design from F.I.T, as well as a Music degree from the Conservatory of Music/ Los Angeles. Ms. McEnaney has extensive experienced in the creation of successful classroom environments for the enrichment of children's education. She is a self motivated and detailed oriented professional with proven ability to build and foster rewarding relationships with children and parents.

Orissa Woods, Assistant Preschool Teacher, School-age program specialist
Orissa Woods has nine years experience as an early childhood education teacher. In 2003, she established Unity Group Family Daycare Services and administered the entire operation while maintaining a healthy educational environment. During the year, Ms. Woods serves as A.C.T.'s Preschool Assistant Teacher, is a program specialist in the after school program and in the summer she is an assistant teacher in the Summer Camp Mini A.C.T. Program. She is completing an associate's degree in Information Technology at Monroe College.

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