CROSS RIVER, N.Y. - Two assistant superintendents in the Katonah-Lewisboro School District, Dr. Julia Drake and Lisa Herlihy, have been granted tenure after successfully completing three-year probationary periods.
In ceremonies in the high school auditorium, they were among 22 teachers and administrators granted tenure’s guarantees of job security and due-process rights. The June 4 event also saluted another 33 KLSD employees, bound for retirement, for their years of dedicated service.
Dr. Ray Blanch, the superintendent of schools, praised the work of his assistant superintendents.
Drake, who supervises the district’s curriculum and instruction, has most recently “been instrumental in our districtwide effort to enhance our students’ experience in literacy,” Blanch said. “This is just one example of the many contributions Julia has made to KLSD.”
He said Herlihy, the assistant superintendent for business, “applies mathematical reasoning and principles” to her multiple responsibilities, which include not only managing a budget of more than $130 million but also overseeing district operations, transportation, safety and security.
“I don’t think I saw you driving a bus yet,” Blanch quipped, “but I’m sure that’s coming around real soon.”
Drake and Herlihy were preceded in the honorees’ spotlight by a score of other educators who had earned tenure’s coveted protections. They were:
John Jay High School: Roseanne LaForte, teaching assistant; Mallory McDonald, assistant principal; Stefania Mercurio, school psychologist; Anna Nuccio, mathematics; Kristin Spiros, guidance counselor
John Jay Middle School: Katherine Burns, guidance counselor; Christina Connors, family and consumer sciences; Michael Pompa, assistant principal; Jacob Ryder, mathematics 7-12
Increase Miller Elementary School: Jacqueline Russo, elementary education; Heidi Weintraub, elementary education; Julia Zaremba, art, IMES/MPES
Katonah Elementary School: Rosina Bain, special education; Meredith Fontalvo, English as a new language; Sharon Paige, elementary education; Samantha Thompson, teaching assistant
Meadow Pond Elementary School: David Bournas-Ney, assistant principal; Christina D’Ambrosio, special education; Rachel Henderson, special education
Katonah-Lewisboro School District: Alison Heitin, speech language therapist
In addition to a near-spotless probationary period, an award of tenure requires Blanch’s recommendation as superintendent as well as the school board’s endorsement.
Cloaked in tenure, public school teachers and administrators are safeguarded against arbitrary adverse actions. They can be fired or otherwise disciplined only for just cause; if so accused, they have the option of demanding a formal hearing to resolve the matter.
But those kinds of concern were far from mind in the auditorium’s celebratory atmosphere last Thursday.
One by one, building leaders and department heads who supervised the tenured and retiring staffers invited them to step into the spotlight. Jeffrey Swiatowicz, principal of John Jay Middle School, was doing the honors when he called up a retiree whose KLSD experience began long before she was ever teaching there.
Kendra Collins has exposed students in the middle and high school to the joy of art for more than three decades. Moreover, as Swiatowicz noted, “She is a graduate of JJMS and JJHS [and] Increase Miller Elementary School, left for college for four years, then returned to her former hallways as a teacher.” He said Collins had “brought years of creativity, style, vision and experience in the art program at John Jay Middle School.”
In their own way, each of the evening’s 32 other retirees has had an impact on KLSD, their enduring imprint called out in personal accolades.
John Jay High School: Cynthia Blando-Mallon, registered professional nurse; Neal Blum, teaching assistant; Carlyn Bochicchio, guidance counselor; Lauren Carrigan, library media specialist; Lisa Cirillo, teacher aide; Kathleen Dailey, social studies; Kim Piccolino, assistant principal; Matthew Rocchio, teaching assistant; Xiaomei Tang, mathematics; Victoria Weiss, English; Candy Wilmot, English and instructional coach
John Jay Middle School: David Cook, head custodian; Katrina Costello, special education; David Fritsch, mathematics and science; Joe Mammoser, physical education; Susan Reiss, French and Latin (JJMS/JJHS); Jesse Weiss, sixth grade; Laura Woelfel, home and careers
Increase Miller Elementary School: Debra Chumsky, library clerk (IMES/KES/MPES)
Katonah Elementary School: Jean R. Jean-Pierre, custodian; Anthony Burzesi, custodian
Meadow Pond Elementary School: Ann Marie Friscia, elementary education; Lynne Licht, office assistant; Sandra Mackenzie, teaching assistant; Joseph Murphy, physical education; Amy Signore, instructional coach
Katonah-Lewisboro School District: Ken Snyder, maintenance mechanic; Paul Clarke, bus driver; Ann Heffernan, bus driver; Juan Matos, bus driver; Julio Ordonez, bus driver; Susan Fowler, secretary to school administrator, special education
A reception for all the retirees and tenure recipients preceded the evening’s individual honors. John Jay's house band, Route 121, led by Jared Henderson, and Oliver Schlecter on the piano provided music. Route 121 featured Alexander Cardinale and Seven Kelly on bass; Dylan DiGiacomo and Miles Katz, drums; Julianna Ferrajina and Sami Sperling, vocals; Miriam DiPaolo and Sam Katz, guitar; Oliver Schlecter, piano; and Skyler Monasch, saxophone.
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