Riverhead - Dr. Lois Etzel was recently chosen as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the Riverhead Central School District. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Etzel was the K-12 Science Director for the District. Dr. Etzel began her career as a science teacher in South Country School District. Before coming to Riverhead, Dr. Etzel was a high school principal, assistant principal, and a science department chairperson. She recently completed her 28th year in education.

Dr. Etzel received her Ph.D. in Science Education from the Science and Mathematics Education Centre at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Australia, in November, 2008. The title of her dissertation is "The Learning Environment, Attitudes and Achievement of Students with Disabilities in Inclusion and Self-Contained Biology Classes". The study examined students' attitudes towards their science class and their achievement to determine the effectiveness of the instructional practice known as inclusion at the secondary level. Dr. Etzel has presented her doctoral dissertation work in Chicago at the American Education Research Association's annual conference. She holds a Master's Degree in Science and a Bachelor's Degree in Science, both from Stony Brook University.