Rabinowitz reflects on a special career

For Harriet Rabinowitz, director of special education for District 30, her job has been an essential part of her life. She has been an impassioned contributor to the district and is retiring this summer after 11 years of her service.

“I was very fortunate to work with a capable and motivated staff,” she said about her time in the district. Rabinowitz said she found it fulfilling “seeing the children being successful and progressing, moving ahead.”

Rabinowitz began as administrator of special education for District 30 and then became the director of special education after 10 months.

Prior to working for the district, she had done some volunteer work one summer, where she developed an interest in teaching and working with students with special disabilities and their parents. She then decided to enroll at C.W. Post College where she received her master’s degree in special education, and later earned a doctorate in administration.

For 10 years, Rabinowitz was a special education teacher in New York City. She spoke of coming across an advertisement for Valley Stream District 30, applied, and landed the job which brought change to her life.

The special education program in District 30 is designed to identify, evaluate and provide educational services to students with disabilities. The basis of the program is to provide public education in the least restrictive environment.

Rabinowitz introduced the concept of an inclusive program, which the Board of Education accepted. The program consists of general education teachers, special education teachers and other specialists collectively working together to assist students. They collaborate for student assessments, classroom resource management, designing the curriculum, planning social problem solving curriculum, behavior management, working with parents and managing education support staff. Rabinowitz continued an inclusive collaborative teaching model for many years.

Rabinowitz said it is exciting to see the combined involvement. She said she feels that it is important for non-disabled students to learn how to interact with children with disabilities as well. This will promote a less confined atmosphere. The special education program is “more integrated, no longer on the side,” said Rabinowitz.

She has worked to enrich the special education program by developing and guiding the Life Skills Program, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, Response to Intervention, Fundations, and the Wilson Reading Program. In the time before her retirement she has been planning a Strategic Instruction Model intervention program that will be introduced into the district in September.

Rabinowitz has provided “wonderful assets to the program,” said Elise Antonelli, president of the Board of Education. “She is an excellent example of professionalism.”

Antonelli spoke of how Rabinowitz always put the children first and showed devotion to the district. According to Antonelli, the district is searching for Rabinowitz’s replacement.

Some words of advice for the new special education director are, “Get to know the staff, get to know the program. Keep moving the district ahead,” said Rabinowitz. She encourages her replacement to keep the program as inclusive as possible. Rabinowitz said she wants to give them “encouragement to continue along that route. It has been proven to be successful.”

On her reason for retiring, Rabinowitz said she would like to take part in things that time has restricted her from doing. “I’m looking forward to new challenges,” she said.

Rabinowitz said she looks forward to getting to know her grandchildren better. She will be spending time with her family and traveling. In addition, Rabinowitz says she might give an art career some thought since she has always held an interest in art ever since she was younger. Her first degree was a bachelor’s in fine arts from Brooklyn College.

She won’t be saying farewell to the district forever, since she plans to be a consultant in the future.

Antonelli said Rabinowitz will be missed by the staff, board members and students, especially those children that have benefited from her help.

Rabinowitz said she will miss seeing the children succeed, the staff, the secretaries and everyone who was wonderful to her. “I will miss all the people who have helped move me,” she said.