53.0°,
Mostly Cloudy Back to her roots
Rockville Centre assistant principal retiring
Saying it was a sad night for him, school Superintendent Dr. William Johnson bade a public farewell to Eileen Kamhi, Rockville Centre’s assistant superintendent for special education and support services, on the occasion of her last Board of Education meeting on March 9.
Kamhi is retiring from the position she has held for 16 years and is set to become the new principal of the Henry Viscardi School in Albertson, one of the nation's foremost institutions for educating children with severe physical and medical disabilities.
During her tenure in Rockville Centre, said school board President Mark Masin, Kamhi “taught us that children with special needs are able to achieve at levels of learning that are unparalled through[out] the entire state of New York, and for this we are all grateful.”
Describing her as an advocate without peer for those who need our help the most, Masin said Kamhi’s knowledge of special education laws and regulations is immense. Despite the frequent changes to the laws and policies regulating special needs children, he said she has been, and will continue to be a voice in the profession.
Masin pointed out that in addition to her many responsibilities, Kamhi was also the district’s point person for community education, the drug and alcohol task force and its various summer programs.
“Her responsibilities are great and her heart is greater. She will be sorely missed by this district and certainly by the entire community, ” Masin said.
Taking an opportunity to comment at the meeting, SEPTA Co--President Felice Borat echoed that sentiment. “You will be greatly missed — not just by the special education community — but by everyone in the district,” she said.
“Thank you for allowing me the privilege of working in the district for 16 years,” said Kamhi in her brief remarks. “It’s been an honor, mostly fun. And working with Dr. Johnson has been the great professional love of my life.”
“We wish her well in her new position,” said Masin, “and even though we are losing her services, the children at Viscardi will benefit immensely from her presence.”
Masin said the Board of Education is looking for an interim administrator to immediately step in on a short term basis. If the district can’t find a short term interim replacement, he said, Dr. Johnson will cover the position until a permanent replacement is found.
