At the May 22 Board of Education meeting, the district recognized retiring and newly tenured administrators, teachers and staff and rewarded valued personnel for their many years of service.

Congratulated for receiving tenure were Curriculum Associate for Fine and Performing Arts Bradley Murphy; District Data Coordinator Wendy Kraus; Deer Park High School teaching assistant Sandra DiThomas; Robert Frost Middle School ESL teacher Michelle Champlin, math teacher Lauren Stein and special education teacher Lori Sullivan; John F. Kennedy Intermediate School teaching assistants Michelle Alo and Linda MacDonald; John Quincy Adams School speech teacher Patricia Baldwin and ESL teacher Vanessa Pizzo; and May Moore Primary School ESL teacher Danielle Finocchiaro.

Recognized for their years of service were Gary Duprez and Lawrence Tronolone for 35 years; Ann Marie Abeltin, John Bennett, Peter Colletti, Lisa Feingold-Smith, John Giffone, Donna Novack and Lorraine Sears for 30 years; Dawn Mauceri-Guzzardi for 26 years; and Pamela Attonito, Ann Castagna, Clara DeDona, Michael Gennaro, Alicia Konecny, Brian Kruger, Richard Miller, Louis Nicolosi, Linda Stow and Debbie Smith for 25 years.

Twelve retiring staff members –teachers Pamela Attonito, Maria Adams, Barbara Charity, Gary Duprez, David Kessler, Marie Marck, JoAnn Romann, Debbie Smith and Victoria Wilson –  and non-instructional employees Jay Denen, Olivia Vogler and John Zimmerman – were all honored for their contributions to the district.

“One of the hallmarks of our staff is their commitment and dedication to this district, which is evident in the years that they have spent here,” said Superintendent Eva Demyen. “I truly cannot thank each and every one of our retirees for all they have done for their colleagues, this community, and most importantly, the children.”

Addressing his retiring colleagues, Deer Park Teachers’ Association President Bruce Sander told them, “Your dedication and love for the children will be missed. We wish you all the best.”