By Marley Seaman
Cigna's petition to resign for the purposes of retirement was accepted at the July 6 school board reorganization meeting. He will continue to work for the district until the end of August. His departure is considered retirement because he will no longer be working in public education. His wife, Cathy, is also retiring from her job as a clinical research scientist to become a science teacher at the new school.
"We looked at this and said 'What are we doing in the future?' as anybody reaching retirement age would," said Cigna. The new position "offered us an opportunity to step away from what I'd been doing, and take advantage of the retirement that's offered by public education while still working."
At the Oakwood Friends School in Hyde Park, Cigna will handle business and technology, as he has in many of his past positions. Before coming to Baldwin, Cigna spent six years at the East Williston School in Old Westbury as assistant superintendent and director of technology.
"I'll have the opportunity to do all the things I've been doing throughout my career," says Cigna. Becaus Oakwood Friends is a small school, with only 175 students, he will be able to perform multiple jobs. Cigna describes it as "a boarding school as well as a day school."
Not ready to "hang up the chalk" just yet, Cigna hopes to return to teaching when he is settled at Oakwood Friends. He began his career as a science teacher in Kings Park before becoming an administrator there and at other schools. The move will also allow the Cignas to be closer to family, including their first grandchild.
