001concession where matters made confidential by federal and state law and the employment history of particular person were discussed. Um for your eyes to the pledge of allegiance I just in a moment of silence I would call us during the moment of silence to remember the site program community um they had tragic loss this week um with a student um says a drunk passing away. So the moment of silence that will be in honor of him and the community and remembering that and stuff with this experience. So please rise for the pledge of allegiance to the stands one nation indivisibley andice for all. Thank you. >> M your attention for a brief announcement. Upon fire alarm activation, immediate evacuation to the closest emergency exit is required. The emergency exits are located all over here tonight. Please
002exit away from the building so not to interfere with the fire department. Proceed to the evacuation areas. Please follow the school officials directions. Once assembled outside the building, everyone must await tools to give it all clear before re-entering the building. Will the clerk please call the role? >> Yep. >> Here is Thank you. Um, may I have your attention for some brief announcements here? Um, >> oh wait, no, I skipped. Um, does the clerk have any additions or deletions to the agenda? >> There have been no additions. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, some brief announcements real quick. Uh, the board of education will hold a regular meeting retiree recognition on Tuesday, June 16th, um, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in the SIS cafeteria. Buddy day for the intermediate school and elementary school will be held on
003Thursday, June 4th. The high school annual um goal soccer tournament will be held on Sunday, June 7th at 8:00 p.m. on the turf. The high school pops concert will be held at 700 p.m. on Monday, June 8th at the Parish Art Museum. The wellness committee will protect uh will meet on June um Tuesday, June 9th at 3 p.m. The personnel committee will meet on Tuesday, June 9th at 4:30 p.m. in the district office. PreK graduation will be held on Wednesday, June 10th at 9:30. The fourth grade moving up will be held on Thursday, June 11th at 9:30 p.m. The intermediate school music department will host the June jam on Thursday, June 11th at 3 p.m. The policy committee will meet on Thursday, June 11th at 4:30 p.m. in the district office. The senior awards night
004will be held on Thursday, June 11th at 6:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium. And um I just want to thank all of our voters last two weeks ago for passing our budget. We had a very successful budget pass. So um thank you for that and thank you to the administration here for their hard work on all that stuff. So that was very exciting. And um Friday we went to a nice ceremony with all the people that are joining the um military leaving the school. So I want to congratulate those students and stuff that are in choosing to enlist. And um it's all I got. So I think we got a whole house of teners tonight. So um for that um Mr. D. Roza and has a presentation here. So Dr. Mora, would you like
005to introduce them? >> The hugs program is here. Human understanding and growth services. Uh we'll have Mr. D. Rosa and students to discuss their trip to the Long Island Team Institute. And then we also have a nice video presentation. >> [applause] [laughter] >> Good evening, members of the board, administrators, faculty, families, and guests. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share about one of our most meaningful experiences our students have each year, the hubs long island institute weekend. Before I begin, I would like to take a moment to thank Dr. Zan. Four years ago, Miss Lopez and I first approached you with the idea of framing our Southampton students to hugs and you said yes. You trusted us to build this program from the ground up and created an experience that would have a
006lasting impact on our students. Four years later, we're proud to stand before you with our largest group ever and program that continues to change lives. Thank you for your support and your belief in this work and your commitment to creating opportunities for our students. This year marks Southampton's fourth year attending LITI and it was our biggest and most successful yet. We brought 38 students, making us the largest delegation from any school district. One of the reasons we're able to bring so many students is the incredible group of adults who volunteer their time and energy to support this program. So I would like to recognize Miss Lopez, Mrs. Se, Mr. Rapo, Mrs. Kain, and Mrs. Fritz for their dedication to making opportunities like this possible and we're deeply grateful for everything that we they do. And
007I do have to give a quick shout out to Mr. Emma, who always comes with us, but this year he had a really good reason why he couldn't come, and I'm going to let him shed up with you later. A true highlight of the weekend was our student leadership team. To become a student leader, students must first attend it over attend LITI as participants and then commit to multiple leadership training weekends throughout the school year. Well, out of just 14 student leaders selected from across Long Island, an incredible seven came from Southampton alone. And even more impressively, five of the seven male student leaders selected were from Southampton. Please join me in recognizing Eric Mahia, Nishawan Williams, Will Dupree, Valin Reic, Leo Estrada, Matas Faria, and our lone female student leader, Evelyn Gutierrez. >> [applause
008and cheering] >> Now, I would also like to recognize Satie Shallon. Satie was selected as a student leader and completed all the required training, but unfortunately due to a last minute scheduling conflict caused by a change in the conference dates, she was unable to attend. But her commitment and dedication deserve recognition tonight as well. [applause] Now, what makes this group even more remarkable is the diversity they represent. Together, these students speak three different languages: English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and represent not only the United States, but also Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ecuador, Brazil, Mexico, and the Shinak nation. >> [applause] >> They reflect the rich diversity of Southampton and demonstrate the strength that comes from bringing different experiences, perspectives, and voices together. While each student's story is unique, they share a common commitment to leadership, service, and
009making their community a better place. In many ways, this group embodies exactly what HUDs is all about. celebrating our differences, learning from one another, and recognizing that diversity is one of our greatest strengths. A huge part of the experience is made possible by Kim Lowi and Jackie Canarola, who created an incredible space where every student feels seen, heard, valued, and accepted. Their motto, make the space better, is more than a slogan. It's something they model in every interaction and every aspect of the conference. While Kip and Jackie are the driving force behind LITI, they would be the first to tell you that this experience is totally studentdriven. They provide the foundation, but it's the students who bring it to the conference to life through their leadership, vulnerability, and willingness to connect with others. At its
010core, hugs is about building community through weekend. Through the weekend, students participated in workshops, discussions, and activities designed to foster empathy, inclusion, leadership, and personal growth. We were also fortunate to hear from some incredible guest speakers and performers. Jim Donovan, founding member of Rusted Brutes, led an unforgettable workshop focused on drumming, mindfulness, and breathing techniques. And one of the highlights of the weekend came when Jim recognized the talent of one of our very own students, Mr. Dobby, who you'll hear from in just a moment. Jim invited Dobby to play on his drums while he conducted the rest of us in the group. It was a special moment that many of us will never forget. We also had the privilege of hearing from Jim Mauy, a finalist on The Voice, who spoke openly about his journey
011through addiction and recovery. His message of resilience and hope resonated deeply with our students, and he concluded the evening with an inspiring live performance. But as memorable as these moments were, the true impact of the weekend came from the connections our students made, the conversations they had, and the confidence they gained in themselves and one another. Rather than hear about the weekend from just me, I'd like you to hear directly from the students who lived it. A few of them will share their experiences, what they learned, and why this weekend continues to be one of the most powerful leadership opportunities available to young people. But before they come up, I want to note that Hugs is not a school club. It is a program that Miss Lopez and I spend the entire year planning and
012coordinating. And because of that, we're not able to fundra through the school directly. So students are responsible for covering the cost of attending and as we know our students come from a wider range of socioeconomic backgrounds and without the generosity of Heart of the Hamptons and Hampton's community outreach many would not have been able to participate. Together these two organizations provided scholarships for 14 of our 38 students contributing more than $2,500 to make this experience possible. So please join me in thanking our phenomenal community members Molly and Merritt. You are truly amazing and their kindness and support have made a lasting impact on our students. [applause] So what you're about to witness is more than a presentation. These students are sharing a piece of themselves with you. And honestly, what could be braver than standing
013in front of a room full of adults and speaking from the heart, sharing the feelings, struggles, and growth that we often keep hidden. Thank you. And at this time, I would like to invite up Mr. Will Depri. [applause] >> Good evening, everybody. At Hugs, one of the ways we show love, appreciation, and support for each other is by exchanging warm fuzzies. Before we begin, we would like to share with each of you a warm fuzzy to show our appreciation. Nice. [laughter] That's like Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Davis. During my time at Hogs, I learned how I can use music to uplift others and change the energy of a room. Jim Donovan helped us build a connection with each other through music and taught us a way to relieve anxiety in a
014fun, musical way. I was taught how to open up to others and see past the cover of other children's books. The energy that we fostered at HubS was brought into Southampton High School and other high schools on the island where we were able to see the lessons we learned, use the lessons we learned to encourage others and foster a healthier school environment. I noticed students talking to people they have never spoken to in the hallways on the Monday after we came back. I too was filled with a conviction to bring positivity into the school. Words cannot express how powerful Hugs has been for me as a person and I strive to bring the lessons I learned with me into college and beyond. Thank you for making this opportunity possible. [applause] >> Hi, good afternoon. My
015name is Kira. Um, I went to hugs this weekend and I'm very grateful for the that opportunity because I was coming straight from counties. So, I was at my side. It's an hour and 30 minutes from outside of the Sack Harbor and I got there at 7:30 and I'm very grateful that I did cuz if I didn't I wouldn't have had the opportunity to go. And I'm very happy that I did get that opportunity because I've been telling everybody about this trip that this is like one of the top five experiences of my life. Um it was great. I made friends with like everybody there because our student leader leaders and every family group taught us how to connect with people on a deeper level and just be comfortable with each other like in general.
016So by creating this comfort with each other, we were able to create a room where it was just like the vibe was just like so uplifted and positive and it was just great because in every room we went in for like the community groups and the group activities, it's like all these people are connected with each other on a people level and it's like it's hard to describe but it's like >> [laughter] >> Um, so on the back of our shirts they say amplify your voice to create change. Now what this means is to change your voice in the way you speak to actively communicate. Communicate to elevate the room the mood of a room or space. In hugs we were taught by our student leaders and how to gain trust with the people with
017people we've never met. reach a certain level of comfort, gain confidence in how to navigate and communicate the things that we feel. By teaching us this, a group of people we don't know transformed into a group that we knew on a deeper level than would ever be expected. This transformation is so important because it really transformed a room and space into one of comfort and deep understanding. And in society today where there is harsh social media, changing societal norms and increasing difficulties, sorry, increasing differences in opinions and ideas. Learning these skills that put aside put aside all these um differences and help us come together and connect is is a really valuable skill. I'm really grateful for all that I've learned in this one short weekend and it truly opened up my mind. I hope
018HUDs can continue to instill these skills in students and create a better and creative change space by space. Thank you. [applause] Uh hello, my name is Eric and during my final year serving as a leader at HUGS, I really enjoyed the opportunity to share ideas and perspective perspectives with others. I also appreciated being able to make new friendships with both fellow Latinos and English speakers. I felt that I gave my absolute best throughout the entire conference and demonstrated great potential. As a Latino, I would like to see even more Latinos attend in the future to introduce them to this aspect of of the conference and to ensure they feel truly welcome into this multicultural community and share their ideas. Thank you. [applause] Hi, my name is Na and I'm a junior and this is my
019first year going to LA. >> My experience on this year's hug trip taught me perseverance, the importance of community and empowerment to others. On this trip were many fun activities that allowed everyone to create better connections with each other while also expressing our emotions. Being a person who aspires to make a difference, meeting other people with the same motives and drive as me [clears throat] feel so much better. My favorite part of hugs was family group where we had a certain certain group of kids that met up multiple times a day and created close bonds with each other. My group was the coffee patties I have on today. Um if it wasn't for the endless memories, conversations, and games with this group, my LCI experience wouldn't be as great as it was. Thank you. [applause]
020Hello, my name is Lero Sharda. I'm student leader at the Long Island Teach Institute of Allstars as we know as host. My experience with the program has shown growth within my life. When I first arrived at Hog, I felt lost and felt like I didn't belong. I felt that my interest and likings weren't anything alike to others and I couldn't hang around them. As time went on, my mind began to change. I realized that differences have to be embraced and you have to stand out for who you are. be by by being yourself. It shows the sparse friendships between others being themselves. I also learned more values about myself which later contributed to my life. Just this weekend, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to be a student leader in this organization. I'm
021grateful and blessed to have this opportunity, especially as a Latino teenager. Unfortunately, in this world, Latinos don't get the opportunity more commonly to become a leader. I'm proud of the Latino I am and was able to show kids what it's like to be a leader in this hustrip. Now today I share that the Long Island Teen Institute is a continuous growth program where it has inspired many others including myself to find your voice and make an impact wherever in the world. Thank you. [applause] >> Hi, my name is Del Re. I was a student leader this weekend. The only reason why I thought I could be a student leader cuz Dao over here pushed me to be a student leader and I'm happy I did. Um, I was going to write a whole thing, but
022I wanted to talk from the heart. You don't want me to write a whole thing, but I just wanted to talk from the heart. >> Um, when I first got to hugs, I was like really shy. I didn't want to talk to anybody. And uh as I started getting like more confident and like I realized that people wouldn't judge me for like anything uh I really started to come on my shell. This is for the fuzzies. It's like when you meet new people and they give you something and they give you a compliment. This is from my first year so there's not that many. And this is from this year. I have so much more and I met so much more new people. It just shows how much people can grow at Hugs and um
023I just built so much relationships there that I like always have forever. So I just want to thank all these people behind me for that. Um, this year being a student leader was like really fun because I got to learn from other people's experiences and it made me better as a person. >> The student leader thing was like I was like a counselor basically. I was making sure everybody was good and stuff, but I was also in like a way a therapist because [laughter] people were like venting to me, telling me their problems and I was just there to help them. And um I just tried to make everybody feel included and not left out and made everybody feel important. So I just want to thank you guys for that opportunity. [applause] Good evening, Dr.
024Morell, the board of education, our administrators, and our guests. Southampton students should be grateful for the lives we have as high school students, considering we are receiving an education some people around the world may never have the opportunity to ever get. However, a student going to school daily, doing the same classes, talking to the same people, and doing the same activities after school usually begins to isolate themselves. By doing similar things daily, meeting new people becomes something weird all of a sudden. The hug trip we just went on this past weekend includes students from over 12 schools, different school districts, making it impossible not to come across new people. Through activities like smaller group meetings called family group and morning share, where participants share an important piece of their lives everybody on the trip, participants
025immediately begin to learn new things about people they have never met before or even a little bit more about people they already knew. As meeting new people in our own community begins to become weird, we begin not to judge or we begin to judge a person often using the words good or bad. Whether we know them well or not, this type of judgment is the exact opposite of what the hug strip is all about. Students learn to talk to new people regardless of what they look like at first glance. They begin to learn people's life stories instead of deciding what type of person they seem like. New people should be judged off of what they have have had to go through throughout their lives instead of being called good or bad. High school students are
026often comfortable with their friends and don't feel the need to reach out to new people. However, most of these p people will not be here after high school and students will be forced to put themselves out there whether they go to college or another new environment. I personally found that putting myself out there for others was hard before I went on the hook trip. What helped me stand up and share my story was that hugs teaches students not to judge what others say. This helps students build confidence to understand that their voice matters. Once they understand that they that what they have to say is important, speaking to others begins to become easier. Most importantly, the weekend long trip gives all participants the opportunity to be themselves. It can serve as a break for some
027students who are always trying to fit in or even a lesson that there is somewhere in the world that they can have amazing relationships by being their true selves. Thank you. [applause] >> All right, that's the end of our presentation. Do you have any questions? I don't have any questions, but I just want to say thank you. It's a great uh thing you're doing over there and although I'm glad you got Will Degree up there sharing stuff. So >> crazy, right? >> I know it's good speaking. So all right, >> now we won't stop talking. You know, all baseball season we didn't say a word and now he's up here. So it's great. So uh thank you. >> All right. Thank you guys. [applause] >> Thank you. and all of the teachers and faculty members
028that were involved. Um, I want to thank each of the students with you there for the courage and bravery it took to participate in the program. I know it wasn't easy, but um, I want you to take this lesson that you learned and now share it. Whatever you do next year and the following year, now share it and spread it with the rest of the world. I'm very, very proud of you. Great job. [applause] just I just want to say what an amazing opportunity for our students and I'm so proud of how you all spoke um and elevated your voices. I'm just extremely proud of you. But uh thank you uh Mr. D. Rosa and um Miss Lopez uh thank you for your leadership with this program and um doing everything you do for our
029students. Thank you. Mr. [applause] Um, I just want to say, you know, thank you for all the students, you know, coming today and really speaking out about your experience. I want to thank Miss Lopez, Mr. D. Roza for all their hard work and all our teachers that, you know, went with them over the weekend as well. I heard great things about the program and um I'm very very excited for each one of you. Congratulations. [applause] up here and everything. Uh, you guys spoke from the heart. You guys did a great job. Very proud of everybody. Uh, a lot of you guys are my classmates. So, it's really cool to see you guys with, uh, like Miss White said, Chelsea White said, like all the bra and everything. It's really, it's just incredible. You guys are
030really just role model students and I hope you guys continue to do that to the kids that you can inspire throughout throughout your time at the high school. So, good job. [applause] All right. Thanks, guys. I'm going to stay because I'm part of this next thing. [laughter] So, I'd like to invite up Maggie Glans, please. >> John, if you could cue the video. Just going to give you a quick backstory before I hand the mic to Maggie. So, Mrs. Clinton, can you wave cuz she's here tonight? She sent this video from another school to me and Miss Flores and said, "Wouldn't that be cool if Southampton did this?" And so we said, "Yeah, that would be great, but how do we do that?" So we reached out to Mr. Z in the broadcasting department and
031we said, "We needed two student leaders that could step up and take charge of this video." And we reached out to Maggie and Emma Owen and they just made this amazing video for May's mental health awareness month. and they made this video to kick off our month of May and we are super excited. Something I hope we can continue each year. And here's Matt. >> Hi, I'm Igy Gland and when Rosa came to me and Emma in March, um it was more of like a do this, but we wanted to anyways. And him and Miss Flores helped us a lot throughout the way and so did Mr. Z. and we went to the middle school first and the kids like enjoyed talking to us and we're just sitting out in the hallways instead of going
032to class, but that's okay. And um went to elementary school the next day. They were just so cute and all of them wanted to participate and we fit in as many as we could, but we just thought it's a good way to kick off mental health month and to show that all of our schools are connected in one way or another. [applause] Bye. >> I hope you have a fun day. [screaming] We love you. You little elementary students, you got it. You always will. >> I hope you guys have a good day. Do something good today. >> Don't give up. different enjoy while you should be generally kind to other people [laughter] and you should be a proactive student and please turn your homework in on time [laughter] and always believe in you know Love
033the life you live and live the life you love. >> Have a great day. >> Never give up. >> And today is a good day. Don't change who you are when you come to high school. Be exactly who you want to be and be who you are. Do not change yourself for nobody. never goes. >> Always try your best. >> You should always follow your dreams and chase your goals. >> Just be yourself. Don't try to fail. Just be you. >> We're going to take one day at a time. Just be kind and treat others how you want to be treated. Stay true to yourself and put your own health first. >> Be kind to others. [applause] >> Thank you. [applause] >> Maggie, you're you're a senior right now, right? Where you going to college?
034>> Yes, I'm going to Sunni Courtland. >> Very nice. And you just got some kind of award scholarship thing I saw. What What was that? >> Um I was awarded um it's called Positive Athlete and um Miss Cross nominated me for it. >> Okay. And you were one of in New York State, right? >> Yeah. It was like 800 in the state and like 15,000 in the country. >> That applied, right? You got it. So congratulations. That's amazing. [applause] That was a very nice video. Um, just melted my heart and thank you um for putting it together, Maggie. I've seen all your uh accolades and it's been just a joy having you serve on the leadership cabinet and I wish you all the best at Cornell. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] >> All right.
035So, next um Dr. supposed to go. We have 17 tenure candidates tonight. So, it's a very important exciting night. Um, so we'll get that going. And Dr. Morell, >> thank you, Mr. President. Yes, we have 17 tenure candidates and two special recognitions for our nurses. Um so at this time we will start with our elementary school and our principal uh Lowski [cheering] [applause] with our special presentation. >> Good evening everyone. I just want to say thank you for all of you coming here tonight. It is a school night. So thank you all so very much. One of the greatest responsibilities and privileges of a principal is recommending educators for tenure. Tenure is not simply recognition of years of service. It is recognition of a sustained commitment to excellence, professionalism, and the success of all of
036our students. The individuals I am recommending this evening have consistently demonstrated that commitment. They've embraced challenges, built meaningful relationships, continued to grow as professionals, and made a positive impact on our school community. They have shown that they are not only effective in their roles today, but they possess dedication, character, and passion necessary to continue serving our students at the highest level and for years to come. Tonight, it is my honor to recognize Christine Caligie. Please rise >> [cheering] >> Erica Rohasa, [cheering] >> Britney White [cheering] >> and Miss Laura Pel, who is not with us tonight, but is also being recognized as her retirement. First up is Christine. Today, I am proud to recommend Christine Caligie for tenure. She quickly discovered that Southampton was where she belonged. In her own words, she loved the school
037and felt comfortable within her first five minutes here, a feeling that has only grown stronger throughout her career. Christine earned her undergraduate degree from St. Joseph's University and later attended Toro University. Along the way, she completed some Spanish courses through the Fingerlakes Community College, reflecting on her commitment to lifelong learning and professional growth. She loves co-eing and learning from her colleagues. If you walk down to her classroom, you can find her criss-cross applesauce teaching her kindergarteners. What Christine values most about the Southampton community is a sense of belonging. She describes the district as welcoming and appreciates the many opportunities available to students. Outside of school, Christine enjoys spending time with her beautiful family who are with us tonight. her two and a half-year-old daughter Riley, her husband Cody, and her beloved golden noodle Charlie. When
038she's now with her family, you'll likely find her at the beach. What I'm most impressed by is how humble and gracious she is every single day. What stands most out most about Miss Tali is her willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty. Whether supporting students, collaborating with colleagues, communicating consistently with families, or finding new ways to improve her practice, she does more for children in the community than I could ever ask for. Christine, thank you for your dedication to our students, commitment to our community, and the positive impact you make every single day. It is an honor to recommend her for dinner tonight. [applause and cheering] We're going to just call everybody up at the end that have said that. I apologize, but yes, congratulations. Next up is Megan Gaguiardo. [applause] >>
039For Megan, education is more than just a profession. It's an opportunity to make lasting impact on the community that helped shape her. As a proud Southampton alumni, she understands firsthand the importance of school, strong schools, and dedicated educators. After graduating from Southampton, she continued her studies at the State University of Onianka. Go Dragons. and later earned her degree in literacy from LU, preparing herself for the work she was always meant to do, helping children discover the power of joy of reading. When asked what she loves most about her job, the answer is simple. She gets to spend her days helping children learn to read. What's better than that? Megan understands that reading is a foundation for all learning, and she approaches that responsibility with skill, patience, and enthusiasm every single day. What makes her work
040more work meaningful is that she is serving the very community that helped raise her. She often speaks about how rewarding it is to give back to students and families of Southampton. Her commitment to students extends far beyond the reading room. Megan helps lead this community service club, inspiring young people to become active, compassionate members of their community. Through service projects and outreach opportunities, she teaches students that making a difference begin with giving back locally. Her own commitment to service began years ago through her own involvement in the Rotary programs in elementary and high school. >> Megan's passion for literacy, dedication to service, commitment to professional growth, and deep connection to this community make her an extraordinary educator. She helps students become stronger readers, but more importantly, she helps them become confident learners who believe in
041themselves. South Hampton is so fortunate to have you back and it is my honor and privilege to recognized [applause] in two weeks. I would just like to extend some recognition to her today. We are proud to recognize Morabella for her four years of dedicated service to our community. As our school nurse, Moore is often one of the first people students and staff turn to when they need help, any type, guidance or reassurance. She possesses a remarkable ability to know when a child truly needs medical attention and when they just need a little TLC. That is a balance of professional expertise and genuine compassion that makes her so special. Mora's office is much more than a health room. It is a place where students feel safe, cared for, and understood. She has a calming presence that
042helps students be at ease, whether it's dealing with an illness or an injury or just helping them through a difficult day. Over the past four years, Mora has become an essential part of her school family. Her dedication, professionalism, and caring heart have touched countless students, families, and colleagues. She brings comfort during challenging moments, celebrates healthy successes, and helps ensure that our school remains a safe and supportive place for everyone. We thank Mora for her service and I've even gone to a many occasions for my own health questions. We are very grateful for her and look forward to her retirement and are so proud of the work she's done. Hey Laura. [applause] Next up is Marina Bravon. Marina brings an energy and enthusiasm to education that is truly contagious. She has a special passion for working
043with multilingual learners and is always looking for new ways to help students grow, succeed, and feel connected. Whether through bilingual education, gifted in talented opportunities, technology integration, or innovative programming, she consistently seeks out experiences that enrich learning for all of her students. She doesn't just attend professional development, she runs with it, transforming new ideas into meaningful experiences for students and colleagues alike. She is a valued collaborative partner. She enjoys learning from others through intervisitations, inter uh bilingual classroom experiences and shared professional conversations. She always participates in PD and always participates in book study. Anyone knows her knows she brings joy wherever she goes. She is very fun with her students, creating a classroom environment that is engaging, welcoming, and full of excitement. Her students know they are cared for, and they respond to the genuine
044enthusiasm she brings every day. And of course, no recognition would be complete without the mention of her famous earring collection. [laughter] Whether it's a holiday, special event, season, or school celebration, she's got the perfect pair of earrings to go with it. [laughter] Most importantly, Marina leaves a heart. Her love for children is evident in every single interaction and the relationship she builds with students often last way longer than she leaves the classroom. The impact makes extends be beyond academics helping students feel seen valued and inspired. Thank you for your passion, your creativity and your service. and proud. [applause] There we go. >> Next up is Erica Roas. [cheering] >> It is an honor and privilege to recommend Erica Rohos for tenure. To truly understand why Erica is such an invaluable asset to our school, you
045have to understand her journey. Growing up as an English language learner, Erica faced the pressure of navigating new language without the support of a formal dual language program. She found herself acting as a translator for her family. Carrying the weight of adult conversations in middle and high school. But Arabic took that pressure and turned it into passion. She pursued her education with fierce determination, earning her degrees at Suffic and Sunni Old Westbury with a singular vision to become the dual language educator she always wished she had. She is exactly that. She brings a beautiful sense of pride in being of being bilingual into her classroom. Under her guidance, it's not just our English language learners who thrive is our English students as well. Beyond academics, Erica is deeply invested in the hearts of our students.
046She models poise and professionalism daily. She teaches her children above all else how to be kind and be good friends. She calls them her friends. The impact of her care is clear as her students themselves have said. Caddy, who's with us today, she plans special surprises for us. So, Mara says, "I like when she smiles." And Milo says, "She helps us with our feelings." And Sunny said, "She teaches us a lot of stuff." Which is true. Miss Rojos even serves our students in BASA, which we're so grateful for. Erica's dedication doesn't end when the school bell rings or the buses are released. If there's a PTO event, you can guarantee she is there with belts on and her students absolutely light up when they see her outside of school. She is a bridge between homeschool
047and the culture that every child deserves. What does she want for her students? She hopes that they feel loved and I can tell you that they do. I am so proud to recognize Erica for [applause and cheering] What's really special is some of their students have joined us this evening. Just so so awesome and heartwarming. Last but definitely not least is Britney White. [applause] >> For Britney, education has never been simply a career choice. It has been a calling. Coming from a family of educators, teaching has always been woven into the fabric of her life. In fact, while she may have cried on her very first day of prek, [laughter] it didn't take long for her natural compassion to shine through, almost immediately, she was helping a fellow student and drawing their tears. A small
048moment that foreshadowed the educator she would one day become, someone who instinctively looks out for others every day and ensured no one is left behind. Britney developed a deep understanding of the importance of meeting every single learner where they are. She continued to grow professionally by earning advanced degrees and certifications in literacy and Tissole and expanding her ability to support the diverse needs of her students. What stands out most about Britney, however, is her remarkable strength and resilience. No matter what obstacle she faces, she continues to show up every single day with professionalism, positivity, and a genuine desire to make a difference. She often speaks about how much she values working in a district where everyone shares the same goal of helping students succeed and where colleagues are treated as profess as as professionals and
049equals. In turn, she has become the kind of colleague who contributes to that culture, supportive, collaborative, and always willing to lend a hand. Beyond the classroom, Britney is devoted to her family, who are some of them who are with us tonight. She is a loving wife, a proud mother of three amazing children, and a caretaker of a lively household that includes three dogs, a cats, and even a bearded dread. [laughter] She balances responsibilities with the same care, grace, and patience she brings to work every day. Bernie embodies the qualities we hope to find in every tender teacher. Compassion, expertise, perseverance, and an unwavering belief in the potential of every child. Our students, staff, and community are better because of her. Her students had this to say about her. Pablo said she is the best teacher
050in the whole world and Nora said she does everything good. [laughter] It is my privilege and honor to recommend Britain rights [cheering] [applause] please join us in the >> [applause] >> Yay! [screaming] A! Look at that. >> [cough] >> Like my family is offended. [laughter] >> [cheering] [applause] >> One more round of applause. >> [cheering] [applause] >> right now. That's okay. Thank you so much. >> [applause] >> Nice job. >> Thank you. [laughter] Excellent. Congratulations to our elementary teachers and nurses. And now we have Principal Benson for our intermediate school rec uh tenure recognitions. >> Thank you, Dr. Morell, members of the board, everybody here. I have the privilege tonight to celebrate uh three amazing uh members of the intermediate school community. Uh [laughter] much of what they do makes the work that I do
051uh so much easier to have them. Um we appreciate all of them. So, we're going to have them all stand up. Our first one will be uh Ashley Kelly, our school nurse. [applause] Miss Cindy Smith, the great DA teacher, and Miss Shannon Sodto, our sixth grade teacher. >> Uh, first one for me, I'm going to start with, uh, nurse Ashley. So today, uh, we gather to celebrate a milestone that reflects your dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to our school community. Uh, nurse Ashley tonight is being recognized for all that she means not only to the intermediate school, but to the greater Southampton community. She's a testament to a mother's love and courage, a courage and strength that has inspired multiple communities on the east end. And I get emotional. I'm sorry. I'm I'm a happy
052cry. Um, from an early age, Ashley was busy addressing bandages and tending to her family's wounds. It's a true story. 10 and 11 years old tending wounds. Uh, that journey to nursing school to her own admittance was not traditional. Uh, she held the most important job of mom to three beautiful children before she ever held the title of nurse. I can barely read the email and drink a sip of coffee, but she managed to juggle three little ones and still maintain a 4.0 average through nursing school. So, round of applause for that. I can't [applause] uh nurse Ashley served as a NICU nurse at Stony Brook for her first two years in the nursing field. Being with those patients a lot of times is for long-term months at a time. And to see them get
053better, it kind of touched something inside of her that made her want to pursue school-based nursing. And while she had many options during her interview process, she described what she called a sense of being at home when she pulled into the intermediate school parking lot for that first time. Since then, that is exactly how she makes our students and staff feel like they're at home. Her advocacy for students are at the cornerstone of our health services program. every day. She tends to students with injuries, manages chronic conditions, provides immediate care when emergencies arise. She's very fast, especially with the the medical care. Uh her expertise and calm demeanor have created a safe space where students feel comfortable seeking help, whether for a scraped knee or a serious health concern. Beyond first aid, nurse Ashley educates
054our students about nutrition, mental health awareness, and healthy lifestyle choices. She understands that a healthy student is a student ready to learn and she works tirelessly to ensure our young people have the knowledge and support they need to make good decisions about their bodies and minds. Ashley's work with students who have chronic illnesses, allergies, or other medical conditions has been transformative. She manages complex medication schedules, coordinates with families and physicians, and ensures that every student, regardless of their health challenges, can participate fully in school life. Her attention to detail and compassionate approach have given countless families peace of mind. Nurse Ashley matters because she sees each student as a whole person. She understands that health is not separate from education is foundational to it. She matters because she shows up every single day ready to
055care for our young people with skill and kindness. She matters because she has built trust with students and families and staff. And she matters because she represents the best of what our school community can be. This is a well-deserved recognition of your excellence and your dedication and your heart. So, thank you, Nurse Ashley, for all that you do, and we are honored to have you as part of our school, and we look forward to many more years of your outstanding service. Congratulations on this recognition. [applause] >> Hey, Miss Smith. So, Miss Cindy Smith, man, true story. Uh, we both started the same year and um me, my personal journey, you're not here for that. I get it. Uh, 15 years in the Bronx and I'm like, what am I doing? What's going to happen? And
056then I get here and on my first day, I found out there's another teacher that just came from the Bronx and I'm like, oh, good. I'm going to have someone that that sense that person. So, our journeys have kind of run parallel to each other. So, it's I'm I'm so happy to be up here to speak these kind words for you, Miss Smith. Uh, did you know that Cindy Smith's her first passion was science? Uh, paleontology to be specific. She was surely going to be a great scientist. Born and raised in the Bookie Down Bronx, her road to digging up dinosaur bones took a backseat to her love of kids and that greater calling to work with children. A calling that's brought her all the way to Southampton. With a bachelor's from Stonybrook and a
057master's from Hunter College, she took her first position in a city charter school before moving into city public school. Certified childhood education 1 through six, also having her bilingual extension. Uh there was much that she could do to spread their roots. Uh she loved her roots in the city, but she has a growing family uh including a husband and a daughter as well as a few domestic cats that needed more space and wanted a new challenge. for her career. So last week, oh, so she came out here. There we go. Last week, I actually had the opportunity to attend the ISSA commencement over at the high school. It's a great moment uh where you share in uh these amazing achievements of our fourth, our eighth, and our 12th graders, but you also get to see
058that passion and that pride that comes with seeing students being able to sustain a bilingual and bicultural identity. I know that this sense of pride is at the heart of what Miss Smith does and why she's such a great educator. At this ceremony, uh, Senora Martin, uh, and Miss Smith had worked with a group of amazing fifth graders as they planned to sing a beautiful song in Spanish to open up the ceremony. Senora Martin told me each practice run, each time, uh, the kids sang and she look over at Miss Smith and each time she was welling up with tears. Um, and so that hit as I was preparing these state this this these this address. Um, this is why Miss Smith is so important to the intermediate school community. It's that passion for ensuring
059that students have access to their native language. So many native Spanish speakers feel that pressure to assimilate, learn English as fast as possible. But it's our HLA program for which he teaches in our fifth and sixth grade that ensures they're also developing their reading and their writing skills in their native language, keeping our students connected to their ancestors in a way that so many without an HLA class or without a Cindy Smith will not have that opportunity. City's kind of like a lighthouse in that way, guiding many of our fifth graders, guiding them as they make that transition into middle school, guiding them as they navigate remaining bilingual and bicultural. Miss Smith's impact comes in the form of the high standards and the high rigor she demands of her students. That rigor pays dividends and
060I can proudly boast that 81% of her students are near or at grade level proficiency in reading 100%. Check the numbers. >> [applause] >> Uh her impact extends beyond the classroom. She supported our school's Hispanic Heritage Months, uh creating and designing activities that supports all student identity. Her eye for art this year alone saw her create projects with connection to Native American culture and projects around Harlem Renaissance artists. She's piloted curriculum and is a willing collaborator to plan and deliver highquality instruction for all. Miss Smith, above all, is a devoted wife, ambassador of the Bronx, an amazing mother to her daughter, and a passionate cat lady. Uh she looks forward to this new milestone in her career. I'm very proud of the work she has done and would like to emphatically submit Miss Cindy Smith
061to this esteemed body for tenure. [applause] [cheering] Last but not least, Miss Shannon Sodto. [cheering] [applause] >> Miss Shannon Sodto, born and raised here in Southampton, just a few steps away from where we're sitting right now. She has a profound connection to the local community, a connection that has brought her here to this now wonderful milestone in her career. Her early passion for reading and writing brought her to quickly realize she should be an educator. In her undergraduate and master studies, she pursued special education in English. She also took advantage of her time to pursue multiple certifications to just ensure her higher ability. Miss Smith's first Miss Sodto's first job was at the Riverhead Charter School where [clears throat] she taught middle school ELA and she was also a curriculum director. Her next stop was
062teaching at my alma mater Phillips Avenue Elementary School in Riverhead. Small world. All the while her and her growing family, always hoping for her to return to her Southampton community. When that opportunity to teach in Southampton came available, she jumped at the opportunity. Like I said, Miss Sodto's hire ability is something I just mentioned. And how could you not look at the certifications? English 5-9, English 7 through 12, generalist 5-9, special education birth group 2, special education 1-6, special education 78, bilingual extension, teacher of English to speakers of other languages. You name a course, she has that certification to teach it. At the intermediate school, she's taught multiple ELA, HLA reading courses to students on every grade level. She's often been the first person to open up the world of literature to her students. Miss
063Sodto is a lifeline to so many students, colleagues, and administrators. Need a class to show off to your boss? Go to Miss Sto's room. [clears throat] You need to see a great co-eing team in action, visit Missto. You want to see students light up as they share their knowledge with pride and bravery? Observe Minnesota. You want to pilot or roll out a new literacy curriculum? She'll give her best shot. You need something to smile about when the day is long? Just check the beautiful work on display in our hallways, in our front lobby, or on Parent Square. [snorts] She's going to play the humble card, but she's good at what she does, and everyone deserves to know it. When she isn't teaching, she's co-f facilitating the builder's club at the intermediate school, organizing clothing drives,
064a holiday shop, and community service for our students. This year they decorated our school and our walkways with affirmation during state testing time and made sure during teacher appreciation every staff member was appreciated. She's also a facilitator in our after school academy. Co-eing with Miss Rashard, her afternoons are spent supporting and unlocking that day's learning for her students while also giving those same students that space to unwind after a long day. A proud mom to three wonderful daughters, Alicia, Camila, and Liliana. I am sure they are so proud of their mom and they're also asking how does she have so many certifications? You can't even teach that many classes at a time. Were you in school for like 40 years? I know those certifications were achieved in an effort to make her marketable to potential
065employers. But today we get to officially tell Shannon Sodto that this is her district and that there are so many more beautiful years to look forward to. So I'm happy board and our executive team to present to you Miss Shannonoto [cheering] [applause] at this time. Uh Kelly have presents >> [applause] [clears throat] [applause] >> Next here. The next year. The next [applause] >> [laughter] >> All right. Nothing [laughter] [applause] yet. Thank you and congratulations to our intermediate school teachers and nurse. And now we will have our high school principal for his team. [applause] All right. Good evening, members of the board of education, faculty, staff, family, students, and guests. Tonight I have the privilege of recognizing a group of exceptional educators from the high school who have reached an important milestone in their professional journey.
066Earning tenure is a reflection of their dedication, commitment to students and consistent contribution to our school community. We are proud to celebrate their accomplishment and thank them for the positive impact they make each day on the life of our students. And now I'm going to ask them to stand as I say their names. >> Matthew Emma English [applause and cheering] Natasha Jeff [cheering] [applause] Vanessa Lopez [cheering] >> [applause] >> Jennifer Lorenzan, [applause and cheering] >> Andrew Rebecca, [applause and cheering] science and Steven Rezen, science teacher. [applause] Now I would like to recommend for tenure Mr. Emma. Mr. Emma is an outstanding English teacher whose impact extends far beyond the classroom as an adviser for SHS leadership and class of 2027. He helps students develop the skills and confidence needed to become future leaders. He also
067supports students through the AP capstone program for certain critical thinking, research, communication skills. His commitment to students growth and engagement makes him a valued member of our school community. It's my honor and privilege to recognize Mr. Emma. [applause and cheering] Next, Miss Lorenza is a dedicated social studies teacher who consistently seeks opportunity to grow professionally and enhance her instructional practices. She actively participate in professional development focus on social emotional learning and effective classroom strategy. Beyond the classroom, she supports students through hubs, overnight shelter island trip, summer credit recovery, numerous school trips, and athletic events. as a timer and bookkeeper. Her willingness to support students and staff is countless ways exemplifies her commitment to the Southampton High School. I am so proud to recognize Miss Lorenzo. [applause and cheering] >> Now, Miss Jeff. >> [applause] [cheering]
068>> born and raised at Southampton and went to Southampton High School as well as a compassionate educator who serves as both a math and special education teacher while making a significant impact through our school community. She works closely with students in the alternative school setting, serves as an adviser for black girl magic, advocates for Chinikok students, and coaches the girls black football. Through each of these roles, she demonstrates an unwavering commitment to supporting, empowering, and advocating for students. Her dedication helps create a positive and inclusive environment where all students can thrive. I am bravely proud to recognize Miss Jeffrey. [applause] Mr. Recker is a passionate science teacher who is deeply invested in both student success and school culture. He serves as a robotic adviser and class advisor while consistently volunteering his time to support school
069events and activities. His commitment to professional growth is reflected through his participation at the high school new program coming this upcoming school year which is PLTW AI course training and his involvement in multiple state and national science organization. He is a true team player whose dedication strengthened our entire school community. Besides that, during Christmas time, because of him and other teachers, I was uh Santa Claus. [laughter] [applause] It is my honor and privilege to recognize Mr. >> [applause and cheering] >> Miss Lopez. [applause] Miss Lopez is a dedicated teacher assistant who works tirelessly to support students both academically and socially. While continuing her educational journey towards a master degree in secondary mathematic, she serves students through her work in in the alternative school and BASA program. In addition, she supervises hug strip and advises the
070boxing club, providing meaningful opportunity for students beyond the classroom. Her commitment to student success and personal growth is evident in all that she does. It is a great honor to recognize Miss Lopez. [cheering and applause] >> Mr. Ruiz is an amazing science teacher who inspires students to his passion for learning and discovery. As a robotic adviser, he provides students with the opportunity to develop critical STEM skills while encouraged innovation and teamwork. He remains actively engaged in numerous professional organizations including state and national science association and regularly supports after school activities and events. [clears throat] His commitment to education, student engagement, and community involvement makes a lasting impact on Southampton High School. It is my honor and privilege to recognize Miss Re. [applause] And now at this time, can I have all our tenure candidates from
071the high school come up front? [applause] Woo! Woo! [applause] Thank you very [applause] Congratulations. [applause] Good job. Thank you, Principal Robinson, and congratulations to our high school [applause] tenure candidates. And now we will have Dr. Zan with our administrative tenure candidates. [cheering] [applause] All right. Uh we are very very excited [cheering] to be celebrating some of our administrative uh tenure candidates and I must say it's been a while since we've done this. So we are very very excited to tenure some administrators here. So uh the following administrators are going to be honored this evening. So why don't I call your name? Please stand up. Our first recipient will be Mr. Patrick Benson. [cheering and applause] >> We also want to congratulate Mrs. Daniel McCoy. [cheering] [applause] [cheering] Congratulations to Dr. Melissa Mitchell. [cheering and applause]
072>> And let's hear it for Dr. Martha Toddill. [cheering] All right, we're going to start off. Mr. Benson, uh, it is time to honor you. And I see that you have one of your little Bensons with you. And I know there's a couple more, so don't All right. So, um, Mr. Benson came to Southampton after a successful tenure as an assistant principal while serving in the Bronx, New York City. As you can imagine, there was just a little bit of a school culture adjustment that Mr. Benson had to work through during that time. And on top of that adjustment of coming out to Southampton, Southampton Intermediate School was also working through its own set of transitions as there were two recent principal changes along with multiple changes at the assistant principal level. Yet, in just
073a few short years, the culture of the intermediate school made significant shifts for the better, and our students and our teachers are all benefiting from it. I [laughter] mean, who doesn't enjoy listening to Mr. Benson on the morning announcements each day? It's like the best part. Uh, in addition to being a great way to start your day, we just love the quirky dad humor and it always brings a smile to all of our faces and the faces of everyone in the building. How many people love those announcements? I mean, [applause and cheering] Mr. Benson has successfully led a great deal of positive change at the intermediate school since his arrival. He has tackled the intermediate school comprehensive education plan over the past two years leading to significant improvements in student achievement. He [clears throat] also
074developed with partnership with the partnership of his assistant principal Dr. Epley, an ongoing social emotional learning plan that has provided our students with opportunities to hear from local and national speakers, participate in team building activities, engage in service projects in and around our community, and develop soft skills needs to be highly successful 21st century global leaders. Yet, Mr. Benson's talents don't just start and end in our school building. In addition to being instructional leader here at SIS, he's also a proud husband and a great father to his four children who are here tonight. It's always great to see the Little Benson clan at our school events and we love seeing them here tonight with us. And his teaching just does not stop at the intermediate school because he also serves as a religion teacher to
075his children and many children in his community. In closing, Mr. Benson has shown that he's ready to tackle the ongoing challenges that come with managing and leading a school building, and we are just so proud of your progress. Dr. Morell and Board of Education trustees, it's with great enthusiasm that I present SIS principal Mr. Patrick Benson for tenure consideration here at [applause and cheering] All right, guys. So, those come to Wro. There you go. Wave those uh wave those Mr. Benson heads. >> All right. At this time, I would like to honor Dr. Marthur Tutill. [applause] >> Dr. Tutill has successfully led the Southampton Counseling Department these past four years um as serving as their director. Th this was no easy task as Dr. Tuttle stepped into the director of counseling role while in the
076middle of responding to the onslaught of academic and mental health issues caused by the CO 19 pandemic. Now I must say that Southampton High School had a great counseling department with really good success. But Dr. Tut Tutill took this department and our success to a whole new level. To start, a great leader knows how to maximize the talents of others, and Martha brought out the best of so many stakeholders. She does this through consistent ongoing team meetings with her staff in each building, ensuring that all counseling programs run tight. She's also developed a strategic Southampton business advisory committee that brings local business owners, town and village employees, students, and community leaders together to strategize on ways to advance our students growth through work-based learning opportunities, internships, lunch and learns, and so much more. She and
077her team of counselors and clerical staff singlehandedly secure an average of anywhere from 350,000 to $500,000 a year worth of scholarships for our graduating [applause] students every single year. Once secured, she and her scholarship committee go through the painstaking process of ensuring that all of our graduates are recognized and supported for their next chapters. In staying with the college application process, Dr. Tuttle has helped us take our college acceptances to another level by developing relationships with college admissions counselors and partnerships with universities that provide specialized programs such as those that support our indigenous students and more. In addition to bringing these programs to our students, Dr. Tutill provided ongoing opportunities for parents to learn about financial aid and the college application process as well. Her quest for student wellness does not stop as she has
078led the district seal initiatives each year. Dr. Tuttle is also part of an administrative team here that helped launch the Stony Brook Care model that is now used in many districts across the county. [applause] This program in partnership with Stony Brook Medicine has helped so many students and parents since its inception. And on top of that amazing work, she's a loving wife and a great mom to her adult children. And she's just also a really darn good person who everyone loves to be around all the time. So, Dr. Morell, board of education trustees, it is with great enthusiasm that I present Dr. Marthur Tutill, director of counseling for tenure consideration here at South H. [applause] All right, Mrs. McCoy. [cheering and applause] >> It is my pleasure to recognize Mrs. Danielle McCoy, who came to
079Southampton after a successful tenure as a school counselor. Since that time, Mrs. McCoy has taken the lead to help drive many programs at SCES while serving with our former principal and now partnering with Mrs. Denowski. As many know, the life of an elementary school administrator is not an easy one. It requires one to develop skills not only to nurture our early childhood students but to also create a warm welcoming environment holding fair levels of accountability where students can learn and develop their academic behavior and executive functioning skills in a very safe way. Mrs. McCoyy's constant smiling, warm, bubbly personality and commitment to caring for every single student and staff member in the school has helped her develop a really strong base of support while sharpening her building leadership skills. Often when I walk into SCES,
080Mrs. McCoy is rarely found in her office. Rather, she's often found in our hallways, in our classrooms, in our lunchroom, on the playground, in service provider rooms, in the nurse's office, and everywhere else that you would expect to find someone who's [applause] dedicated to service, [laughter] helping others, and growth. Mrs. McCoy has spearheaded all of the heritage day and social emotional programming that takes place within the school. Just this year, she was responsible for bringing Mr. Roan Murphy to meet with our students. This gentleman served as a a collegial wrestling champion at Penn State University and rose to this level while overcoming the challenges of having no legs. You see, Rohan's message fit perfectly with the overarching theme behind all of the programming that Mrs. McCoy spearheads, which is that you can accomplish anything you
081want. no matter the obstacles that have thrown your way. And Mrs. McCoy lives her life that way and assists with leading SCES based on that mission. In addition to the great things that Mrs. McCoy has done for the students and staff of SCES, she's also a dedicated mom to her three beautiful children. Rumor has it that she's still trying to get Mariah Carey to sign on as an assembly presenter at one of our seal assemblies and that she loves Mariah Carey so much that she may have named one of her children who may be here after her. [cheering] And lastly, Danielle is deeply committed to other causes outside of school, such as supporting the ALS community after experiencing the tragic loss of her dear cousin due to this terrible disease. Dr. Morell, board of education
082trustees, it is with great enthusiasm and pleasure that I present Mrs. Danielle McCoy, SCES assistant principal for any situation here. [applause and cheering] >> All right, we have one more left here. Dr. Mitchell, are you ready? All right. [cheering] [applause] >> So, just four short years ago, I remember pondering our next steps after our high school assistant principal ship became available at the high school. And this was a time where we were all still reeling from the impacts of COVID as we had so many families in need of support and a building where longstanding systems were just completely sideways based on the very difficult night at school reopening plans. I knew that Southampton High School needed someone that the community could look to and feel a sense of trust. Well, based on the performance of
083Dr. Mitchell as a classroom English teacher and then as our instructional technology coach, I knew we had that person right here under our noses. You see, Dr. Mitchell was the right kind of doctor that our school community needed to help get us through that tough time. And there are several reasons why. From the time that Dr. Mitchell came to Southampton High School as a classroom teacher after serving many years in the intermediate school. I was so impressed with her deep connections to her students and how she always led her classroom not only with her amazing intellect, but with her tremendous heart. You see, Dr. Mitchell is one that tends to gravitate to students in need of the most support. Whether it be academic support, social emotional needs, or meeting with a student who just simply
084needs to be heard at that very moment. I mean, think about this. Typically, your AP in a school is someone that students want to avoid as that person is often always associated with student discipline. But in this case, it's very common for students to seek out Dr. Mitchell when they have an issue, they need to solve a problem or they just need someone to connect to. I mean, we can talk about all of the tasks that Dr. Mitchell is charged with and how she runs those operations so smoothly. Everything from the New York State regions exam and AP exam coordination, leading our multi-tered system of support committee, managing student discipline, supporting student attendance, 504 compliance, scheduling support, developing seminar days, and so much more. But it's her deep connection with students, her commitment to serving
085them, and her ability to make things happen for them. Look no further than what happened this past year with our robotics team. Just a That's right. Let's give it up [applause] again. Just a few short years ago, Dr. Mitchell had an idea and started working with a very small group of students, even taking them over to Pearson High School to get this started. Three years later, we have a championship level team. So, congrats. [cheering and applause] In addition to being a school leader here at Southampton, Dr. Mitchell is an amazing mom to her daughter Ava and her son Tyler who are here with us tonight. And in addition working to your with your mom and alongside your mom, it's just been so awesome watching you two grow and seeing all the amazing things that you're
086doing, too. So, Dr. Morell, Board of Education Trustees. It is with great enthusiasm that I present Dr. Melissa Mitchell, Southampton High School assistant principal for [applause and cheering] Mr. Benson. And I'll tell you what, Mr. Benson, you have the little crew with you. You got to bring the little crew up with you. So, Mr. Benson, Dr. Mitchell, Mrs. McCoy, and Dr. Tuttle, please join me up here. >> [applause] >> She's trying to figure it out. Good job. >> Good job. Yay! [applause] Woo! All right. >> [clears throat] >> Thank you, Dr. Z. And once again, congratulations to our administrative tenure candidates. Thank you for all you do. >> All right, so we got to make it official now and uh vote on all the ten people perk up like uh oh, it's not done yet.
087Um, so we got to make it official here. So, um, may I have a motion to approve personnel items 14.02 43 through 59 as presented in the agenda? >> Motion. Motion. I got second Mon'nique. Um, will the clerk please call the role for a vote? >> Yes. Congratulations. [applause and cheering] >> You know, we're about to take a we we're going to take a quick 10-minute break here. Um I got some stuff in the back so we can congratulate you guys on this and then we're going to come back to the meeting. Um before they do that, I just want to say congratulations to everybody. Some of you guys have known a long time with Natasha and Shannon. We went to sixth grade together, right? So [laughter] this had to deal with my daughter the
088first year and now she's dealing with my nephew and sorry and Miss McCoy has to deal with my kids and you'll see one tomorrow in your office. Uh she got in trouble today. Um and Britney and your husband had to deal with me cuz he's pulled me over before the job. [laughter] So congratulations to you all. Um at this time can I have a um a brief uh a motion to take a recess from the meeting at 8:10? Motion route sing all in favor. All right.