Woodmere resident Stephen Witt retires from Nassau BOCES Board of Education

A near 50-year career of volunteerism has ended for a longtime Woodmere resident as former Hewlett-Woodmere School District Board of Education Trustee Stephen Witt announced his retirement from the Nassau BOCES Board of Education in May after eight terms and 23 years of service.

“I thought now was the right time to step aside and let somebody else take my position,” said Witt, 84. “I’ve been doing this for a long time.” Witt first joined the BOCES board in 1996.

Witt said his inspiration for joining the BOCES board was to advocate for Hewlett-Woodmere. “BOCES represents all of the public school districts in Nassau County and thought it was important for someone for our district to be involved with BOCES,” he said. Witt began serving on Hewlett-Woodmere’s board in 1984. He did not serve from 1996 to 2003. Then returned and stepped down last year. 

Born in 1935 and raised in Great Neck, Witt graduated from Great Neck High School in 1953. He attended Michigan State University and graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science in accounting. He has lived in Woodmere for the past 47 years. He worked as a banker, working for companies such as J.P. Morgan and Citigroup up until his retirement 12 years ago. 

Nassau BOCES Trustee Eric Schulz highlighted how Witt’s financial background was important to the board. “Stephen has been a wonderful role model of what a school board member should be,” Schulz said. “Leading by example, he has shown how we can work collaboratively while using our individual skills to bring change and improvement to school districts. His knowledge of finance helped to create the STAR program and brought fiscal relief to taxpayers.” STAR, the School Tax Relief Program, provides eligible homeowners with tax breaks on their property taxes.

BOCES Superintendant Dr. Robert Dillon said Witt had a substantial impact. “Mr. Witt is leaving a powerful legacy of service, dedication and devotion to the students of Nassau County,” Dillon said in a statement. “He has been an exceptional board member, always dedicated to doing the right thing for students.”

In 2009, Witt received the New York State School Boards Association’s top award, the Outstanding School Board Member Award. The same year, he also received the Town of Hempstead’s Make a Difference Award for his volunteerism. Witt was an assistant coach for Hewlett High School’s football, basketball and boys lacrosse teams over a span of 40 years.

“Quite frankly, I don’t even have the awards hanging up in the house,” he said. “What means the most to me is the kids who I’ve coached in the past that come to visit and say hello to me.” 

Witt said his plan is to spend more time with his two grandchildren who are both entering third grade at Hewlett Elementary School in September. “I’m going to spend time with the next generation of Hewlett students,” he said jokingly. “I still plan on being around the school district even though I’m retired.” 

BOCES is hosting a retirement reception for Witt on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at the Hempstead Golf and Country Club beginning at 5 p.m. Tickets are $90 per person. RSVP to Theresa Scaturro at: retirement@nasboces.org or (516) 396-2202 by Sept. 20.