Award-winning educator and children’s book author Robert Brizel resides with his wife, a dermatologist from Moscow, and daughter on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. He was born and raised in New York’s Catskill Mountains, site of one of the greatest children’s books written, The Legend of Rip Van Winkle written by Washington Irving. Robert was both Bar Mitzvah and married inside Jerusalem’s ancient Old City. He has been an Early Childhood classroom teacher for twenty years, and holds five college degrees in the Education field, with a Doctorate in Education in progress. He is certified in English and Spanish Elementary Education, English and Spanish Special Education, Teaching English as a Second Language, and School District Administration by the New York State Education Department. He is a New York State Challenger Fellowship Winner in Elementary Education, and a Long Island University Fellowship Winner in Educational Administration in the leadership program run by New York City Schools Chancellor Dr. Charles Schonhaut. His hobbies include singing, playing brass, and enjoying Manhattan’s cultural life. A solid all-around Role Model, Robert does not drink, smoke, gamble or use caffeine. Besides caviar, he is a strict vegetarian who drinks only Icelandic water.