Marc Isseks, assistant principal of the Sewanhaka Central High School District, will be recognized as a 2026 BOCES Education Partners honoree on April 22 at the organization’s annual awards gala at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury.
Isseks is one of 18 honorees (16 individuals and 2 organizations) being celebrated this year as driven educational leaders. The Nassau BOCES Education Partner Awards program honors individuals and organizations that have contributed to positive change in Nassau County’s public schools.
The program recognizes nominees across 6 categories: education partners, Nassau BOCES employees, educational organizations, school board members, students, and teachers. The initiative not only highlights the work of educational leaders, but also allocates funding to programs that enrich learning opportunities throughout Nassau County.
This year marks his 31st year in education and his 15th year serving as an assistant principal within the Sewanhaka Central High School District. Isseks began his career in the district in 2002 as a social studies teacher at Floral Park Memorial High School before continuing in the same role at H. Frank Carey High School from 2005 to 2011.
Isseks holds an undergraduate degree from Binghamton University, two master’s degrees in teaching and school leadership from Touro College, and a PhD in curriculum, instruction, and the science of learning from the University at Buffalo.
As an educational leader, Isseks emphasizes supporting educators, believing that caring for teachers directly impacts student success.
“I really enjoy supporting teachers, because they have the most direct contact regularly with our students,” he said. “I know when I am supporting a teacher, I am also supporting our students.”
Students and faculty alike describe Isseks as a presence who leads with authenticity and empathy. Sewanhaka High School senior Tivanie Singhroy said Isseks’s approach to leadership is rooted in genuine care for the school community.
She described Isseks as someone who would ask how you are doing, but explained that he not only waits for a response, but also how “he truly cares about the response.”
“It isn’t a one-off, passive question; his authenticity and humanity are reflected in every interaction he has at Sewhanaka,” she said. “He uses his caring to build and fortify our community.”
Singhroy also said Isseks speaks to everyone — whether student or faculty member — with the same respect, holding each person in high regard.
Beyond daily leadership, Isseks prioritizes developing programs and initiatives that encourage students to think creatively and explore interests beyond the traditional curriculum. One such initiative is the 21st Century Scholars program, which provides students with after-school opportunities to engage in a wide range of activities.
Through the program, students have participated in sushi-making workshops, attended film screenings followed by question-and-answer sessions, learned coding skills, and watched Broadway shows. The initiative offers students an outlet to explore interests they might not encounter during a typical school day.
In November, Isseks also offers students the opportunity to participate in National Novel Writing Month. Throughout the month, he meets with students to support them as they work on stories of their choosing.
The experience allows students to challenge themselves creatively and academically. Isseks said the initiative helps students push their skills while giving them the freedom to express ideas that matter to them.
Another initiative Isseks highlighted is the Road to Wealth program, which focuses on financial and investment literacy for seniors. The program includes after-school meetings that introduce students to concepts in finance, investing, and asset management.
Later in the school year, Isseks organizes a trip to New York City, where participating students visit financial firms and engage in question-and-answer sessions with company executives.
“We have had several students who actually changed their majors in college after that experience,” Isseks said. “They have gone into financing and finance and asset management and things of that nature.”
Faculty members credit Isseks with helping shape Sewanhaka High School’s long-term commitment to educational excellence. Nicholas Simone, chairperson of the school’s social studies department, described Isseks as a leader whose impact extends well beyond his title.
Simone said Isseks “has been the spark behind Sewanhaka High School’s commitment to educational excellence for decades to come.” He added that Isseks has contributed relentlessly, coordinating services and initiatives that go far beyond the typical responsibilities of an assistant principal.
Simone also recalled his efforts to raise awareness about the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. Isseks organized a district-wide initiative that drew participation from hundreds of students.
As part of the effort, students wore shirts bearing the message, “Just Google search it,” encouraging others to educate themselves on global human rights issues.
“Efforts like these, as well as the many others that Dr. Isseks has launched, transcend the typical responsibilities of an assistant principal,” Simone said.
Chairperson of the Sewanhaka Central High School English Department Katheleen Crimmins described Isseks as a wonderful mentor for administrators. “I can approach him with different situations, and he always offers different approaches,” she said.
The recognition of Isseks as a 2026 BOCES Education Partners honoree reflects decades of dedication to students, educators, and the broader school community. Through innovative programming, authentic leadership, and a commitment to supporting those around him, Isseks continues to leave a lasting mark on Sewanhaka High School and the Nassau County education system.
