Students, teachers shine in super’s report

The triumphs of the Uniondale school district shone through Monique Darrisaw-Akil’s Superintendent Report, delivered at the May 16 Board of Education held at the high school.

A somber tome was taken at the start as Akil asked for a moment of silence to honor Nancy Froelich, who had died suddenly earlier this month. Froelich, the Smith Street School librarian, had worked in the district for over 26 years. 

“Our hearts go out to her family,” Akil said, “including her Uniondale family, her school family, who remember her fondly.”

As Akil continued her report, the sense of Froelich’s contribution, and the contributions of all the teachers and staff in the district, grew into a sense of achievement.

“The district has much to celebrate this year,” Akil said. 

On May 4, author and New York Times best-selling author Luvvie Ajayi Jones spoke to an auditorium full of enthusiastic seniors about life, creativity and the persistence required to develop one’s dream career.

“We were very excited to bring the real world right here to Uniondale and to have people of her caliber come and speak to our young people,” Akil said. 

Uniondale teachers and nurses received goody bags and grateful messages during Teacher Appreciation Week and Nurses’ Recognition Week in the second week of May. Walnut Street music teacher Juan Carlos Tavarez was featured in a News12 segment about excellence in teaching.

Academics in the district have seen growth with some new programs. 

“We have a serious sports culture here in Uniondale, and we also have academic competitions,” Akil said. “We have our debate team, which you’ve heard a lot about, and last year we launched our mathletes program.”

An internal district program, 14 mathlete coaches and two administrators have been conducting competitions between Uniondale’s five elementary schools and two middle schools since April 18. The final event in the series is on June 1, at 4 p.m. at Uniondale High School, when three elementary teams will compete for the bronze medal, followed by the silver and gold competition at 6 p.m. All mathletes participants will receive certificates and awards. 

Akil’s pride in the achievement of Uniondale’s senior class illuminated the room as she listed the students’ accomplishments. 

“I’m very happy to report that 93.9 percent of all seniors have applied to at least one college,” she said. 

Simon Scholar was accepted to Stony Brook University, which offers a pathway to a doctorate degree; four will attend Hofstra University in that school’s competitive Noah program, which includes tuition assistance, mentoring, tutoring services, and a summer enrichment program; nine seniors earned the Dream US scholarship, which allows undocumented students full tuition at a four-year university. 

“I am very pleased to report that 10 students in this graduating class have received full tuition for four years of college, so if you’d like to clap your hands,” Akil said.

The school board and administrators applauded at length, and did so again when Akil revealed that Uniondale High alumna Arriana Mohammed had just earned her medical degree, and two other Uniondale High alumnae, Camara Perkins and Ayele Agboglo, graduated from the CUNY School of Medicine on May 25.

 As she continued listing achievements and programs, Akil noted that the district would once again take part in the Memorial Day Parade on May 29.

Buses will carry students from their respective schools to the parade site at 8:30 a.m., and the parade will start at 10 a.m.