Nassau County educators unite for peace, tolerance

Posted Friday, May 24, 2024 12:11 pm

Educators from across Nassau County worked together to develop lessons of tolerance and peace to be shared with districts across the region.

Courtesy Nassau County Council of School Superintendents

By Jordan Vallone

Educators from school districts throughout Nassau County worked in partnership with the Nassau County Council of School Superintendents’ Curriculum Writing Committee during the last several months to develop lessons for students in grades K through 12 on tolerance and peace.

On May 13, participating teachers presented their final curriculum writing projects geared at effectively educating students on symbols and speeches of peace and hate, with the goal of ending incidents of hate and discrimination within Long Island schools. During the half-day program that took place at Nassau BOCES Robert E. Lupinskie Center for Curriculum, Instruction and Technology in Westbury, presentations covered the various topics of bias some students face and ways that educators can effectively address this subject with students. The lessons developed will be shared with all districts throughout Nassau County so that every district is consistent in the curriculum being provided in this area.

“We appreciate the dedication and attention to detail given in every curriculum writing project shared today,” said Maria Rianna, president of the Nassau County Council of School Superintendents and the superintendent of the Glen Cove City School District. “Through this shared project, educators have developed innovative ways to create a school environment where respect and inclusiveness are paramount for all students, teachers and staff throughout Nassau County school communities.”

The Nassau County Council of School Superintendents is a professional organization representing 56 Nassau County school districts, including Nassau BOCES. The council extends its appreciation to all educators who served on the Curriculum Writing Committee, as well as committee co-chairs Vincent Randazzo, superintendent of Island Park Public Schools, and Mary O’Meara, superintendent of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District. The council also extended its thanks to superintendents in Hicksville, East Williston, Oceanside, Malverne and Garden City.