The wonder years for Rockville Centre

The Rockville Centre Education Foundation is set to honor three veteran teachers at its annual black tie optional gala on March 26 at the Hempstead Country Club. The theme of the evening will be “The Wonder Years” — fitting for the three who all teach Rockville Centre’s youngest students.

Shirley Johnson has been a first grade teacher at Watson Elementary School for 43 years. She lives in Riverdale with her husband who is a social worker for the Administration for Children’s services of NYC. Her son is a graduate of Cornell University. An avid tennis player, Johnson has a B.A. in Elementary Education from Hampton University and an M.A. in Elementary Education from Adelphi University. Johnson was nominated for “Who’s who Among Americas Teachers” and mentored four new teachers. During her career she has instructed over 800 students and was honored with a Master Educator award from the Rockville Centre school district.

Paula Genovesi, a kindergarten teacher at Wilson Elementary School since 1974 who retired last year, has lived in Garden City with husband, Rudy, for more than 36 years. Rudy is a Vietnam veteran who works for the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Their son, Matthew, 30, works for Lee Hecht Harrison, a career transition consulting company in Manhattan. Their son, Daniel, 26, is a paralegal for the law office of Michael Russo and is engaged. Genovesi student taught at Hewitt in 1974, and then began her career teaching at Wilson Elementary School later that year. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education from Adelphi University and received a masters in Early Childhood Education from Adelphi University in 1976.