Elconin to retire as Director of Special Services in Somers

I’ve been inspired by the care, collaboration, and commitment of the people around me.”

Stacey Elconin

SOMERS, N.Y. - Once a Tusker, always a Tusker.

The Somers Central School District last week shared the bittersweet news that one of its longtime faculty members will be retiring at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

According to schools Superintendent Dr. Adam Bronstein, before becoming Director of Special Services, Stacey Elconin had held a number of roles, first as a fifth-grade teacher at Somers Intermediate School in 1997 who partnered with special education teachers and then later as a kindergarten teacher at Primrose Elementary School.

In 2010, she transitioned into administration, becoming assistant principal and then principal at SIS.

In a letter to families and the community, Bronstein said the district was “deeply grateful” for Elconin’s “leadership and dedication to the students and staff of Somers throughout her career.”

Bronstein officially became superintendent this past July.

“In my short time getting to know her, I have quickly come to appreciate and rely upon Stacey’s knowledge, expertise and sense of humor,” he wrote, asking everyone to join him in congratulating Elconin on her upcoming retirement “and wishing her all the best in her future endeavors.”

“Once a Tusker, always a Tusker,” Bronstein predicted.

He added that the district plans to start searching for Elconin’s successor as soon as possible in order to “ensure a smooth transition for the Office of Special Services and most importantly, our students and families.”

In its online intro, the OSS said it believes that “every child is unique and must have the supports and resources to explore an individualized learning experience.”

It added that by considering “all available programs and special educations realms,” it meets its commitment to every student to provide the least restrictive learning environment.

“Our goal is to foster independent as well as lifelong learners,” it said.

(For more information about what the OSS does, visit: https://www.somersschools.org/our-district/district-departments/special-services.)

Home & Heart

In an Oct. 8 letter, Elconin wrote that for the past 29 years, it had been “both a privilege and a joy to serve the Somers community – a place that has truly become my home and my heart.”

Expressing gratitude for being able to “work alongside such dedicated educators, staff, and families,” she recalled their being able to build “programs and services that support our students in meaningful ways.”

“I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with people who care deeply, think creatively, and always put children at the center of their work,” Elconin wrote, adding that when she first came to Somers in 1997, she could not have imagined the path her career would take or “how deeply” she would “come to love this work.”

As an assistant principal and principal she had the same goal – to ensure that “every student has the opportunity to thrive.”

In her current role as head of the OSS, Elconin said she’s had “the honor of supporting students across the entire district.”

“Along the way, I’ve been inspired by the care, collaboration, and commitment of the people around me,” she wrote.

Quoting Saint Francis de Sales who is credited with the lovely and inspiring advice, “Bloom where you are planted,” Elconin said she felt she’d been able to do that in Somers.

“I believe our students bloom, too, because of the love, support, and high expectations we surround them with every day,” she added.

While still director, Elconin promised to do everything she could to ensure a “smooth and thoughtful transition.”

“The Office of Special Services, our special education staff, and related service providers are an outstanding team. I am confident that the important work we do will continue to grow and thrive in the years ahead,” she wrote.

Elconin, who was recently certified as a teacher of the visually impaired, hopes to continue working with children in “some capacity” and to spend more time with her husband, Paul, and their three children: Alex, 26; Noah, 23; and Sarah, 19.

All the kids were Somers High School graduates, their proud mothe