By JUDY RATTNER
Among them are George Barnes, custodial staff, SSHS; Robert Healy, custodial staff, SSMS; Harry Hunter, custodial staff, SSHS; Leroy Riley, custodial staff, SSHS; Thomas Tobias, custodial staff, SSMS; Jean Cross, office staff, SSHS; Antoinette Dintino, office staff, SSMS; Patricia Izzo, office staff, Administration; Lois Livingstone, office staff, Covert Elementary School; Jean Maddaluno, office staff, Administration; Caroline Walter, office staff, SSHS; Joanne Schoenfeld, office staff, Watson Elementary School; Dolores Cerni, school nurse, Covert Elementary School; Hildegardt Gemer, ESL and foreign language teacher, district-wide; Mary Hessel, foreign language teacher, SSMS; Janette Kalny, music teacher, SSMS; Diane Reed, mathematics teacher, SSMS; Todd Shusterman, music teacher, SSMS; Roberta Yannelli, special education teacher, St. Agnes Cathedral Elementary School and Michael Heller, director-Physical education, Health and Athletics, district-wide.
Touching tributes poured in for Lorrie Brady, current secretary and former president of the board of education who is also stepping down, after 21 years of volunteer service, during which she is estimated to have attended well over 700 events. Many of her predecessors on the Rockville Centre school board came to the meeting to see her off.
Calling her a true champion for high quality education, and among the absolute best to work with, school Superintendent Dr. William Johnson said her tenure was distinguished both by her ability as a grand mediator, bringing everyone together to find consensus, and by her steadfast belief, dedication and advocacy on behalf of the concept that all students can succeed, and that all can succeed at high levels.
Johnson said that Brady was an integral part of the transformation of the special education curriculum in the district, and that she was responsible for closing the performance gap for special education and minority children. Acknowledging her humble nature, Johnson said the accomplishments in the district weren't necessarily because of her, but couldn't have happened without her.
Mark Masin, a school board colleague, also remarked on her instrumental role in the development of a mind-set - that all children can succeed at an advanced level if given the opportunity. She and others, he said, set a tone in the district, a direction, "that is the envy of every school district in the state and a model throughout the country...You exemplify what it means to be a member of a local school board," he added. "It is grass roots Americana at its best."
Responding that her service has been a privilege, Brady said a good education is the foundation of a moral society and the key to opportunity. For her years of service, she thanked the community "from the bottom of my heart."
