By Nicole Falco
On Jan. 31, Clerico will attend one last meeting with Dr. Ronald Valenti, superintendent of the high school district, and board vice president Anthony Iadevaio, who will be appointed acting president as of Feb. 1.
Clerico had planned to retire from the boards in June, but sped up her plans after her husband, Lou, accepted an early retirement in October. Lou was deputy chief clerk of the Surrogate Court of Nassau County.
Clerico, a 24-year resident of Valley Stream, will officially become a resident of Lido Beach just two days after her retirement.
Education has been at the center of her life for the past 25 years, first in her 10 years as a math and computer teacher in Malverne schools and then with her involvement in the Howell Road School PTA. Clerico's sons, Michael, 21, and Andrew, 18, graduated from Howell and attended Memorial Junior High School.
"As a result of having kids, I got involved in the PTA at Howell Road School," Clerico said. "As a result of [being a PTA member] I became interested in the school board . . . I did have a vested interest: My kids are products of Valley Stream schools."
At the time of her election, hot-button issues in District 13 included full-day kindergarten conversion and the possibility of eliminating transportation to and from school. She was appointed to the high school board in 1997.
Clerico has participated in numerous board initiatives, including the passage of a bond in the high school district that helped alleviate space constraints; the construction of libraries in the Howell Road and James A. Dever schools; and the hiring of Valenti in 1999, new principals in District 13 and the high school district as well as other administrators.
As co-founder of the non-profit Valley Stream District 13 Educational Foundation Inc., Clerico and other board members have been able to secure library and technology grants for the district from local politicians including Sen. Dean Skelos, Assemb. Tom Alfano and Legis. John Ciotti.
A past PTA president, Clerico received a lifetime PTA membership award, an honor she is particularly proud of; the National School Board Association Participation Award, and "Woman of the Year" recognition from the Nassau County Legislature.
"I think Valerie has done an outstanding job as a board member," Valenti said. "She is extremely dedicated and has worked very hard not only as a board member but as board president. She pays great attention to detail and has proven to be an effective leader."
Valenti said that Clerico will be invited back to the high school district so her years of service can be formally recognized.
In Lido Beach, with two grown sons, Clerico may not have as much of a vested interest as she has had in Valley Stream, but she said she will still look to do volunteer work. "Because I've been involved in education so long, I wouldn't want to say I'd just leave completely," she said.
Clerico is looking forward to traveling with her husband, including an upcoming trip to Florence, Italy, to visit their son Michael, who is studying abroad.
As much as she may be anticipating retirement and getting settled in a new home, she said her retirement is bittersweet. "I really enjoyed what I was doing," she said. "I loved volunteering and then getting to see what I had helped implement come true."
