By Nicole Falco
Though she knows she'll miss the District 13 community, Margaret Daugherty is set to retire on June 30 as the district's superintendent, giving her more time to spend with family and to explore other interests.
"I have absolutely loved every aspect of my career," Daugherty said. "I came to a point where I felt I had completed many things that I was interested in doing. I though this would be a good time for me to look into other aspects of my career and my personal life."
Daugherty announced her retirement plans late last year to allow the Board of Education ample time to find a new superintendent. Dr. Elizabeth Lison will succeed Daugherty, and the two have met on several occasions to facilitate a smooth transition.
At 56, full retirement is still a ways off for Daugherty. She said she plans to travel more, read more, explore more and relax more -- what other retirees might do -- but the Suffolk resident said she also plans to work as a consultant to school districts and possibly teach on the college level.
It seems a bit ironic that Daugherty might end her career as she began it. As college students in the 1960s, Daugherty said, women often felt pressure to pursue careers in nursing or teaching. Daugherty, the first of 36 grandchildren to attend college, might have gotten caught up in the rebellious spirit of the '60s when she decided to earn her degree in sociology.
"I avoided [teaching] like the plague," she said.
With a sociology degree in hand, Daugherty worked as an adjunct sociology professor at Suffolk Community College. As vintage "Alka Seltzer" commercials once touted, "Try it. You'll like it," she switched gears and became a teacher with Head Start, a pre-school program. After falling in love with teaching the youngsters, Daugherty headed back to school.
"There is so much hope in everything [educators] do," she said. "Helping the children become the best they can be ... gives you hope for the future. [Education] is a future-oriented profession -- living in the now, but helping [students] get ready for the future."
Daugherty taught special education and elementary education for 21 years in the East Islip and Shoreham-Wading River school districts, and later worked as a principal and curriculum coordinator before coming to Valley Stream.
While in pursuit of professional success, Daugherty raised two daughters, now in their 20s, as a single parent, after the untimely death of her husband. She said she was always close with her daughters, Anne Leiter, a recent Georgetown University Law School graduate living in Wisconsin with her husband, and Patricia, a pre-law student living in Virginia. Retirement will give Daugherty more time to see them.
What retirement would be complete without a party? Daugherty's was held at Stewart Manor on June 12. Board members, teachers, parents, administrators, local officials, members of the community and Valley Stream's three other school superintendents offered her gifts and good wishes.
Those who worked side by side with Daugherty had nothing but nice things to say about her. Fair, easy-going, pleasant, energetic, committed, sincere and warm were among the adjectives some of those she worked with used to describe her.
"She's well liked by everyone ... that's unusual," said Bill Stris, District 13 trustee. "Usually when you make decisions, you have to alienate someone."
According to Dr. Ronald D. Valenti, high school district superintendent, Daugherty was always on call. Valley Stream's four superintendents meet regularly and coordinate important decisions together, including school closings.
"We've talked at 4 or 5 o'clock in the morning or late at night when we're getting snow or inclement weather," Valenti said. "No matter what time of day, early morning or late night, I called her and she was always wide awake ... I almost had the feeling she never slept during those inclement-weather days.
District Clerk Denise Michels said Daugherty treated everyone as an equal, "right down to the children."
"I've actually seen her get down on her knees to be at their eye level," Michels said. "The look on those little kids' faces -- it made them feel so special."
Besides her success with people, noted Harris Dinkoff, president of District 13's board, she succeeded in building on the district's instructional programs. "She has implemented early-intervention programs to help children avoid failure," Dinkoff said. "She pushed to keep the technology program moving forward. ... She moved teaching from teacher-directed classroom instructional practices to student-focused learning and assessing. ... She implemented differentiated learning.
"She leaves a child-based legacy that is a strong foundation of excellence for those who remain to continue to build on."
Daugherty expressed her thanks to all those who've offered support and good wishes. "People have been so kind and generous in their comments, it's almost overwhelming at times," she said. "It makes me feel very good that I've had that type of support, and also very sad that I'm leaving."
