By Jacquie Rath
Boggs grew up in the village graduating from South Side High School in 1931. She received her undergraduate degree from Skidmore College and a Master's degree from George Washington University. At age 26, she married Roderic 'Pete' Boggs, also from RVC, and the couple settled in the village where they raised their family.
Along the way, Boggs became very involved in the local schools through the PTA. She was extremely proud of the quality of instruction available and wanted to do whatever she could to promote the district's services.
Ultimately that interest led many friends to urge Boggs to channel that energy and run for a seat on the Rockville Centre School Board. While she initially shied away from the idea, eventually she was convinced that this was the most significant way to support and promote the schools she loved so much. And thus in 1954, Boggs ran for the Board and was elected.
Throughout her 12 years of serving as a School Board Trustee she worked tirelessly with fellow Board members, the Superintendent, staff and the community to guide the district through a period of rapid expansion leading to the building of new schools including the present South Side High School.
Being a feminist well before it became fashionable; Boggs ultimately had the honor of serving as the district's first woman Board President from 1963-1966. The 1966 South Side High School yearbook was dedicated to her.
Boggs' daughter Kathy, struggled as a student in the 1950s. Little did her family know that these events as a young student would serve to provide her with a unique insight and understanding of her future students as she entered the teaching profession.
Kathy initially worked as a Teaching Assistant at the Nassau BOCES' Rosemary Kennedy Center while beginning her pursuit of a teaching degree. After completing her undergraduate degree at C. W. Post College, and teaching a year in downtown Brooklyn, she began her career at South Side High School as a special education teacher. Later, she received her Masters degree from as well.
Kathy became renowned for her work in getting her special education students through all of their Regents Competency Exams. Regardless of which exam was preventing a student from meeting their graduation requirements, Kathy rose to the challenge and designed individual programs to guide her students to success.
Her students remember the pre-exam review pizza parties she held at her home prior tests where students would receive final preparation for examinations. Once the year ended and success was achieved, a barbecue and pool party was held to celebrate. Later in her career, she was assigned to work with over a 100 students, with or without a disability, who were struggling to pass the U.S. History and Global Studies Regents Examinations.
During her 24 year career at South Side, Kathy's students achieved an overall pass rate on their State Exams of 96%. "[Kathy] could get a Saint Bernard through the state exams," said the district's former Superintendent of Schools, Dr Wilson Eaves. The 2004 school yearbook is filled with three pages of thank-you and congratulations notes from her former students detailing the impact that she had on their lives.
Yet another Boggs' child, Helen, joined the ranks of educators. She wanted to be a teacher even when she was in High School. Helen majored in Home Economics at the University of Houston and received her Master's degree in Special Education from Hofstra.
Helen spent her first 12 years as a special education teacher. In 1980, she joined Western Suffolk BOCES in Dix Hills as an Assistant Principal in Special Education. Over her 25 year career at BOCES she served as an assistant principal, principal and Assistant Director then as the Director of Special Education for 10 years. She was appointed Deputy Superintendent in 1997 and served as the Chief Operating Officer of Western Suffolk BOCES during her last eighteen months of her career.
Kathy retired from her teaching career in the fall of 2005. Helen retired on Dec. 30. The Boggs' family truly enjoyed serving the children of Long Island and supporting public education.
