Men of Elmont host an end of the year summit to remember

“It’s never goodbye — it’s just see you later.”
Those were the parting words from Kevin Dougherty, principal of Elmont Memorial High School, for the large crowd at the seventh annual Men of Elmont summit — the final one for the beloved program founder.
Affectionately known as “Doc,” Dougherty announced in April that he was leaving the school district after eight years. The 2023 summit theme — “MOE4Life” — focused not only on Dougherty’s departure, but on brotherhood and carrying on the Men of Elmont legacy.
“Nobody can ever take this away from us, and what we’ve done, and what happened here in Elmont,” Dougherty said. “We will remember that forever, we will tell stories about it — and I know that this will be carried on, because this isn’t about one person.”
Dougherty brought the program to the high school in 2016 with the initial thought of helping boys who were getting into trouble at school.

His goal was to give the students a space to have real discussions about topics of interest to them, and to set them on the right track.
Over time, he recruited several mentors to help teach core leadership values through weekly meetings and regular community service initiatives with the students. The group’s members follow the “LDRSHIP” mantra — loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.
Several alumni returned to Elmont Memorial High School for the special year-end summit to share how their experiences with Men of Elmont and the core values they learned shaped their personal and professional lives after high school.
They encouraged the young students to never doubt their abilities, know their worth and what they stand for, and to understand the importance of giving back to others. They also urged the students to surround themselves with people who will build them up and not tear them down.
“You have an amazing opportunity to not only show up for yourself, but to show up for the person you are yet to become,” panelist Matt Sanchez said.
Hundreds of students, parents and Elmont community members showed up to give Dougherty a proper send-off. Although it was an emotional evening, there were plenty of joyous moments as well.
Both the Elmont School Choir and the Elmont Dance Team put on powerful performances. The Men of Elmont advisors and students also put together a video tribute for Dougherty to show their gratitude for everything he has done for the program.
Several graduating seniors received leadership awards from their Men of Elmont mentors and took part in a transfer of leadership ceremony, where they chose their successors to serve as program leaders next year.
A lasting legacy in Elmont
Dougherty told the audience that he knew he wanted to become an educator when he was an 18-year-old college student and had just lost a very dear friend.
They played basketball together, and although they only knew each other for roughly nine months, Dougherty said he gifted him “a whole different perspective” on life.
“He changed my life — and one night he just never woke up,” Dougherty said. “That made me realize the harsh truth of you got to make every single day on this planet count.”
Over the past eight years as principal, Dougherty has not only made his mark through Men of Elmont, but has spearheaded changes to the high school and community as a whole.
Dougherty achieved a 97 percent graduation rate at Elmont Memorial High School, bettering the national average of 86 percent as of 2020. He drastically reduced the student suspension rate, and the New York State Department of Education has recognized Elmont as one of the top 10 schools for graduating young men of color.
During the height of the pandemic in 2021, Dougherty noticed a rise of food insecurity in the Elmont area. He helped jumpstart a food distribution effort at the high school, targeting 20 to 30 families that he knew needed assistance. He reached out to staff and community members about donating nonperishable food.
Dougherty and the Men of Elmont were praised for creating a 2020 police training video, in which students talked about their experiences with police officers and offered suggestions for improving relations between the Nassau County Police Department and communities of color.
“Mr. Dougherty just changed the trajectory of my life so much,” said Osa Omeike, Men of Elmont Class of 2020. “Just his mentorship, his wisdom, and more than anything, his willingness to believe in me and all of us.”
Although he made great strides as principal, Dougherty also faced some obstacles, particularly during the past year.
Dougherty had been placed on an unexplained leave of absence right before the start of the 2022-23 school year, in what administration officials described as a “sabbatical.” The move sparked protests among parents and students, who demanded answers about his sudden removal. Dougherty was reinstated to his position on Oct. 11.
“When I couldn’t talk to anybody, and I was sitting at home, on sabbatical, reminiscing, thinking, you all brought me back from the dead,” he said to the audience. “(That power) is what’s going to cause this work to continue, because you hold that within you.”
The principal ended the night surrounded by his students, hugging each and every one of them. He described his time as principal as an “absolute pleasure and honor.”
“I have the best job on Earth,” Dougherty said.