001Good evening everyone. Uh welcome to tonight's festivities where we have our tenure can c candidates our uh top 10 our valictorian saludiatorum and our retirees. So it's a festive evening for the board of education tonight. This is something that we I think always look forward to, you know, working here all year long and then come June, we're able to celebrate with all our staff and students. So, congratulations. Uh we'll call the meeting to order. Can we rise for the pledge? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We have a quick um personnel issue to take care before we start uh the recognition tonight. So we have 10 tenure rec recommendations. Uh
002hopefully everyone had an opportunity to go through all those each individual. So I need a motion. Uh be it resolved that the board of education upon the recommendation of the superintendent approves the following tenure appointments as presented to the board at this meeting. Can I have a motion please? Motion by Tom, second by Janine. Those individuals are Richard Fiser, Courtney Cunningham, Melissa Ivans, Christina Marky, Kelly Roach, Richard Sbert, Lorie Wulmer, Kyle Welch, and Brian White. I have a motion on the floor. [applause] [applause] We have a motion on the floor by Tom Miller, second by Janine Gaml. All those in favor? >> I >> oppose. So carried. Congratulations to our new tenure [applause] candidates. [applause] Okay, we'll move into our special recognition under personnel. Um we're going to recognize uh the approval of our tenure
003candidates. We had some earlier on in the year and then the few that we had this evening. So, uh, I'll ask, uh, each building rep to come up and introduce those tenure candidates. We'll start with the elementary school. Good evening. Good evening. First up, Courtney Cunningham. >> [applause] >> Oh, yeah. You're definitely standing up here with me. >> Yeah. Don't even say that. Nope. >> All right. So, Courtney pours her heart into teaching each and every day, helping kids grow both academically and socially. Her classroom is a place where students feel safe, take risks, and a space where students can build real confidence, and stand on their own two feet. Courtney does a great job when it comes to working with families, she continues to work closely with parents and teams to make sure every
004kid gets exactly what they need. Although she is out on maternity leave, she has added one more thing to her plate and decided to go back to school recently for educational leadership. And I think this just shows how much she cares about promoting academic growth for all students. And we are very happy to have Courtney at HS. [applause] >> All right. Tracy Hazer. [applause] All right. So, Tracy's been with us a bunch of years and not just as a TA, but also as a PTA member. And over the years, she has shown so much heart, hard work, and care for our kids, staff, and school community. No matter what classroom she is in, she helps maintain a calm, safe space where kids can do their schoolwork and feel successful. She is great with details, loves
005our students, and knows how to connect with people, which makes her an important part of our team. You can always count on Tracy to step up and help out wherever she is needed. Whether that's filling in for a teacher, changing rooms, she is very flexible and always willing to help. And so, we are very proud to celebrate her tonight. [applause] Brian White >> [applause] >> All right. Brian has spent the last four years with us teaching special education. And in the in this past year, he moved into second grade ICT room to co-e with Miss Asa, who's here supporting him. uh he volunteered to do this. Um and even though he was apprehensive um I think the change is a good change and he has excelled at more than excelled um forming a phenomenal team.
006Brian is the kind of guy that always brings patience, steady structure and amazing care to all his students. Brian cares deeply about his peers and learning new skills. He is always around to help out at school events like the tall and small bowl, parents night out, and serving the direct. He helps our makes our He helps make our school better each and every day. And we're lucky to have him at Highland Elementary. [applause] Last but not least, Sam Zapone. [applause] All right. So, Sam earning tenure definitely not a shock. Not shocked at all. Each and every day, Sam gives 110% to our kids, families, and school. She brings so much heart and skill to helping kids handle their big feelings every single day. She truly has made our school better in so many ways, both
007during school hours and after school hours. For example, she has brought social emotional learning right into the classrooms, helping parents and staff and staying calm and kind during tough moments. She wants every child to do well, feel like they belong, and know that they are important. Sam always goes the extra mile for us, and we are so grateful she is here with us. Lastly, Sam is not does not only help our school, but she works very closely to me, and I cannot imagine not having her around to help me. [applause] >> All right. Uh, first up is Victoria Baron. [applause] All right. Uh, so Mrs. Barone was actually uh given tenure earlier this year, but she's here with us tonight because obviously this is our big night. So um, Mrs. Baron um has demonstrated an
008unwavering commitment to the social, emotional, and behavioral well-being of our students through her expertise, compassion, and professionalism. She is our school um social worker. She provides critical counseling support, assist students through challenging situations and has played a key role in maintaining our break uh break room which is our sensory space in the middle school. Um given giving students a safe environment to regain emotional balance and return to learning. Beyond her direct work with students, she contributes to DAS investigations, restorative practices, our PBIS initiatives, and this year the events committee, which has been a big hit, and collaborative efforts with families and staff to ensure that students receive the support that they need both in and out of school. Um, her calm demeanor, sound judgment, and genuine care for others has made her a trusted resource
009through our school community. Mrs. Baron's impact extends far beyond her daily responsibilities, and I am confident she'll continue to make a very lasting impact on our students for the rest of their lives. Thank you very much. Congratulations. [applause] [applause] Uh Meliss Melissa Ivans is next. >> Okay. So Melissa started her career at the high school and then wanted to join us. So we were like, "Yes, come on down. We want you here." So it is my privilege to introduce Melissa. She's a health teacher with us here at the Bill School. Um, as a health teacher, Miss Ivans consistently creates engaging and meaningful learning experience that help students develop critical life skills related to decision-making, emotional regulation, and personal wellness. Her dedication extends well beyond the classroom through her leadership um on our PBS and through
010also PBS team and also through her work in AI and technology which she's um kind of spearheaded this year with us. um her service on our building safety response team as well and her role in providing professional development um on the thoughtful use of AI in education which again is a new and a burgeoning thing. Uh she has also devoted significant extracurricular time extracurricular time to yearbook club, newspaper club, peer leadership club and when she was at the high school SAD uh helping students develop leadership skills and stronger connections to our community. Miss Ivan's enthusiasm, professionalism, and commitment to continuous growth make her an outstanding educator and role model. Um, and we are confident she's going to continue to do those things with us at the middle school. So, congratulations, Miss Ivans. [applause] >> Next
011up is Christina Marky. [applause] [cheering] >> I should I know she wants me to do the prices, right? Come on now. We're a middle school. What can we say? So, uh, Miss Marky is a teaching assistant with us. Um, so, uh, throughout her service in our district, Miss Marky has demonstrated exceptional dedication, flexibility, and a student- centered approach, um, that she's made made her an invaluable member of our school community at the at the middle school. Uh in her role, she continuously supports students with diverse academic and behavioral needs by providing testing uh accommodations, instructional support, and supervision of uh intervention programs, which she does a lot of. Her ability to build strong relationships with students to retach challenging concepts, uh to provide encouragement, uh has helped countless students gain confidence and achieve success, even
012especially those students who really have struggled. And that's her kind of her expertise. Beyond her daily responsibilities, she's also supported uh lots of different things in the school, including inter murals, school events, athletic contests, and family engagement efforts uh through her work with the HSA, and also the PTSA, which she had a very large role in in the past. Her professional growth from substitute teaching to becoming a teaching assistant reflects her strong work ethic, perseverance, and commitment to students. Uh Miss Marky exemplifies the qualities that we seek in educators at the Highland Middle School, and I want to congratulate you >> on tenure. >> Thank you so much. >> [applause] [applause] >> Uh, Kelly Roach is next. [applause] >> All right. Okay. It is my privilege Kelly and I started I think the same year,
013didn't we? >> Oh, yeah. >> Yes, we did. A few of us did. It is my privilege to recommend Kelly Roach uh for tenure as a special education student at the middle school. Miss Roach has distinguished herself through her strong instructional practices, commitment to student growth, and ability to build meaningful relationships with students. Holding certifications in both special ed and ELA, um she skillfully provides rigorous differentiated instruction that meets the diverse needs of learners across a variety of settings, including um special classes, ICT, and reading support programs. Her work with students over multiple years allows her to foster strong connections that promote academic achievement um confidence and independence and and and of and more importantly self- advocacy with her students. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, she contributes to programs such as sale. She in
014the past national junior honor society, newspaper club, and also science club, demonstrating her dedication to supporting students beyond academics. Miss Ro, Miss Roach, sorry, is a collaborative and highly professional educator who consistently places students at the center of their work. Uh, so I want to wish her a uh, congratulations and uh, good job tenure. [applause] >> Mr. Seabird, I saw you out there. [applause] >> Very snazzy. >> I trust myself. [laughter] All right, Mr. Sabert. Okay, so it is my pleasure to recommend Richard Sibert for tenure uh in in the area of special education. So since joining our district, Mr. Sbert has demonstrated strong instructional expertise, professionalism, and a deep commitment to supporting students with disabilities serving in variety of roles including 151 ICT, multiple ICTs, multiple uh different classes. He's kind of a do
015everything guy and our 1211 classroom as well. and instructional skills. He has consistently shown the versatility and the adaptability needed to meet the diverse needs academically and social emotionally of our students. He effectively use utilizes UDL principles, scaffolding strategies, and datadriven instruction to ensure that all learners can access rigorous curriculum and achieve success regardless of their level. His experience in special education has strengthened his uh skills in IP development and implementation, ensuring that students receive the sports necessary to reach their full potential. In addition to his classroom contributions, uh, Mr. Siver's background in music education, which we see a lot, um, and we have throughout the years, I lost my spot, has allowed him to foster student engagement through helping him build meaningful relationships with kids through music. Through his dedication to student success, collaborative
016approach, his collaborative approach, and commitment to continuous growth, um, Mr. Sret has proven himself to be a valuable member of our school team, and I want to congratulate him on his tenure. >> [applause] >> I think Mr. Sbert's also the only staff member who ever had students collectively decide they wanted to dress like him for a day, which was pretty cool. Sbert day was a cool day. Um, Lori Wulmer. [applause] All right. It is my privilege to recommend Miss Lorie Wulmer for tenure as a Spanish teacher at Highland Middle School. With nearly three decade three decades of experience across middle school, high school, and collegiate settings, Miss Wulmer brings exceptional expertise and dedication to her role. As our Spanish one teacher, she creates a rigorous rigorous yet supportive learning environment that encourages students to develop
017authentic communication skills while gaining an appreciation for Spanish culture or culture, sorry, of the Spanish speaking world. Her instruction helps students build confidence, take academic risks, and experience success in language learning. Beyond the classroom, Miss Wulmer supports students through the sale program, and serves as the adviser for the GSA club. And she also regularly volunteers for school activities and events. Her professionalism, compassion, and understanding of the unique needs of middle school students make her a valued colleague and educator, and I am confident that Miss Vulmer will continue to make those lasting and positive impacts on our students for many years to come. Congratulations, Miss Fulmer. [applause] >> [applause] >> Good evening everybody. Congratulations to all the tenure candidates tonight. Definitely welld deserved. Uh two for the high school. First off, I'm going to start with
018Thomas Moore, who was recognized for tenure earlier in the school year. Unfortunately, he's not able to make it tonight, but I will share a few words about Tom. It was my pleasure to recommend Tom earlier in the year for tenure as a mathematics teacher in the Highland Central School District. Mr. Moore currently teaches geometry, algebra, and also coach co-ees algebra. Mr. Moore holds initial certification mathematics grade through grades 7 through 12 and also is working on his master's degree at New England College. Since joining the high school faculty, Mr. Moore has consistently demonstrated strong content knowledge, engaging instruction, and dedication to student success. Beyond the classroom, Mr. Moore was a part of the football chain crew back in 2021, helped teach during our arch program stint, and currently co- coaching our science olympiad team. Mr.
019Moore is a valued member of our faculty who has proven to be dependable, hardworking, and committed to fostering both academic and personal growth in students. I am confident he will continue to make a positive impact on our school community for years to come. Congratulations to Mr. Moore. [applause] Up next, Kyle Welch. [applause] Congratulations. >> I am pleased to recommend Mr. Kyle Welch for tenure as a full-time French teacher in the Highland Central School District. Since joining our faculty, Mr. Dr. Welch has demonstrated an outstanding instructional practices, professionalism, and a very strong commitment to students. He builds positive relationships while maintaining high expectations and brings enthusiasm, cultural experiences, and student centered learning into his classroom every day while balancing a schedule between both the middle school and high school. And he does a very exceptional job
020doing that. Beyond the classroom, Mr. Welch has made meaningful contributions to our school community through his involvement with the French Honor Society, the Canada Trip, which he will be taking over uh starting this fall, the World Language Club, GSA, and as a co- coach for cross country here at the high school. He consistently goes above and beyond to support students and strengthen our language program across both schools. Based on his dedication, performance, and positive impact on our students and school community, I wholeheartedly recommend Mr. Welch for tenure without any reservation. Congratulations [applause] [applause] Okay, I'm going to start out with uh someone that we recognized earlier in the year, our elementary principal, Mr. Ian McCormack. [applause] >> It's the same speech that I gave already, so you're used to it. >> They heard you. >>
021I know. That's why I said it. So, uh, with me tonight I have Ian, who, uh, distinguished himself right away in our district as a dedicated and an innov in innovative leader whose commitment to our students and families and staff was evident from day one. Uh, he built commitment to our families with strong trusting relationships and with our students. He supported them and their families and made them active partners in the educational process. his approachable leadership style. I don't know what he has on tonight, but those crazy socks make him very easy to come up to and the students look forward to that when he gets off the bus each and every day. Something simple as crazy socks really does a lot for especially those students that um maybe are afraid of leadership of administration
022of the office. He breaks that by uh showing them his socks and they they want to wear the socks as well. So, it's it's quite interesting to see. Um, his problem solving skills are are topnotch. He addresses challenges and keeps our students safe and always keeps our students at the center of his conversations. Uh, he has focused tremendously on instructional growth. Uh, he has used data and PLC's within our schools to uh, advance the educational process. Early on, he introduced his staff to the book uh the anxious generation which encouraged his faculty and staff to think beyond the way we've thought uh of supporting students in the past. And I think the biggest thing is he's displayed humility. He is very open to feedback and he takes feedback from me very well. Seeing that he
023took over my building, I had a lot to say and Ian listened with uh his ears wide open and his heart ready to take on whatever I had to share with him. Um truly a great uh person for our district and I look forward to hearing where he takes the elementary school next. [applause] And the last uh candidate for this evening is Mr. Richard Fischer, our director of technology and data management. [applause] So, uh Rich came to us a few years ago and he's done a phenomenal job of studying the ship in our technology department. uh he comes to us with a wealth of knowledge including an associates degree in construction technology, a bachelor's of science and technology education and a master's of science and instructional te technology. He's also uh he honorably served in
024the United States Navy and has continued his service in the United States Army or excuse me the United States Navy Reserve. Cong thank you for that. uh in his role of director of technology, he has played a critical role in helping our instructional program uh become better and we become operationally more effective. This past year, he took on the role of data management and has done an incredible job of keeping sure that our data is clean and reported to the state in a timely manner. He works collaboratively with our administrators and our staff to implement the tools and systems that are needed to enhance uh instruction. I wholeheartedly uh recommend uh Rich for the tenure in director of technology and data management. That's a mouthful. Uh thank you so much. [applause] To all our tenure
025candidates, the board has made an investment grant granting you ten tenure this evening. Our hope is that you continue to do wonderful work for the students of our district and a rewarding and fulfilled career here in Highland. So, congratulations to all our tenure candidates. [applause] A bunch of years ago, the uh board of education established student representatives, and we've had quite a few student reps over the many years that we've established that. I think probably close to 15 years. Uh this evening, we're going to recognize our current student representative, Logan Carr. Logan has been instrumental in providing this board of education on a monthly basis all the information from elementary school to middle school to high school. He gives us a blowby-blow scenario of what's going on daily in the district for that month. So
026we congratulate you for that input. Logan Logan's got a career ahead of him. Currently he is a firefighter in the Highland Fire District. He's just been granted full-fledged firefighting duty. So, it's it's it's a rigorous rigorous course that he has to take to be granted a full-fledged firefighter. The hours that are put in are tremendous. The training is tremendous. So, a young individual like Logan who is a senior this year here at Highland High School, putting in all those hours to benefit the community and be able to give back in those that are at in in need. So, I want to congratulate Logan for his service here on the board of education and also his service to the community as a volunteer firefighter in the Highland Fire District. So, congratulations, Logan. [applause] [applause] >> Sure.
027>> [applause] [applause] >> Okay, we'll ask our high school principal to come up and introduce uce the top 10 Scholastic graduating students. [applause] >> All right. Good evening again, everybody. I'm honored here to be able to announce our top 10 of the class of 2026. We all know that a great deal of hard work goes into achieving a distinction such as this. Congratulations to each of the top 10 students and their families. Let's give everybody a round of applause. [applause] I'm going to start with number 10. Number 10 will attend Sunni new. He will major in mechanical engineering. Victor Dowski. [applause] Number nine plans to attend Bingmpington. She will major in computer science and chemistry. Allesia Wallen [applause] number eight will attend the University of Buffalo. He will major in civil engineering. Samuel Ellis. [applause]
028Number seven will major in architecture at RPI. Sonia Shahed. [applause] Number six will also attend RPI. He will major in aerospace engineering. Kyle Mendzes. >> [applause] >> Number five plans to attend Drexal University. She will major in biomed engineering and row at the division one level. Elizabeth Harris [applause] number four will attend UMass Amherst Honors College. She will major in environmental science and architecture. Riley Klene [applause] [snorts] number three plans to attend Clark University. She will double major in sociology and Spanish. May Melena [applause] number two, a saludiatoran will attend the Russell Sage College. She plans to major in exercise science and play division 3 softball. Abigail Pacerba [applause] And the number one student of the Highland High School class of 2026 will attend Bingmpington and major in premed. Keelani Angelo. [applause] Let's give one
029more round of applause for our top 10 students. >> [applause] >> What happened? Again, on behalf of the entire board of education, we congratulate our top 10 scholastic students of the Highland High School. Thank you. [applause] Okay, we're now going to recognize our retirees. I I do this pretty much every year. We have nine retirees this year. that worked for the district as a combined 255 years with the district. [applause] One individual, Maryanne Ingram, has worked 43 years with the Highland Central School District. [applause] >> [applause] >> I know our our high school principal is going to have a lot of sleepless nights this summer because three of his office staff, pretty much the backbone of the Highland High School, are retiring. So, with that said, um I wish him well this summer. I know
030he's going to find some talented replacements, but it's going to be hard to replace three individuals that work mainly in that office that put in 106 years. It's amazing. [applause] So, I'll ask uh our our building principles to come up and recognize those that are retiring in your building or any of our directors. Whoever wants to come up first. Thank you, Mr. Baron for those words of encouragement. [laughter] First off, I do have a teacher a teacher this evening that I would like to recognize. Uh unfortunately, she is not here this evening. Um tonight, we celebrate Stephanie Santagata Wells and thank her for her 30 years of dedicated service to our students and school community. Throughout her career, Stephanie has served as an English teacher, department chair, model UN adviser, chapron, and even a volleyball
031coach for a short stint. She brought passion, creativity, and humor to everything she did, making challenging topics like Shakespeare engaging and memorable for her students. Beyond the classroom, Stephanie's outgoing personality and unmistakable laugh brightened countless days for students and colleagues alike. She built strong relationships, supported those around her, and helped make Highland a better place. As she begins this well-earned retirement soon enough, Stephanie looks forward to spending more time in Italy, maintaining her dual citizenship, exploring new restaurants, and supporting her children as they embark on their own adult journeys. Stephanie, thank you for your dedication, leadership, friendship, and the lasting impact you've had on our school community. On behalf of the district and the board of education, congratulations on your retirement. You will be greatly missed. Congratulations. [applause] At this time, I would like to
032recognize the three secretaries at the high school, Maryanne Ingraham, Valerie Schmidt, and Denise Santangelo. If you wouldn't mind coming up. [applause and cheering] >> [applause] [applause] >> All right. Tonight we have the privilege of recognizing three incredible individuals who com whose combined service to this district spans more than a century. That alone is remarkable. But what makes tonight meaningful is not just the number of years. It's the impact that each of these women have had on our students, staff, families, and school community along the way. Each of these individuals have operated in so many different capacities such as a teachers aid, athletic secretary, and worked in different buildings throughout their career. Their years of experience and their combined knowledge is absolutely incredible and has made us a welloiled machine at the high school. I've been
033thinking about this day for a long time as it as much as it became unavoidable, unavoidable, and sad. I'm very happy for them and they deserve their next chapter. On our end, our welloiled machine is losing its drain pan, its plug, and its oil all at the same time. [laughter] First off, I want to recognize Denise Santangelo, who has dedicated 27 years as our guidance secretary uh here as she retires at the end. Denise has always been someone who could make the best out of difficult situations. Her easygoing and downto-earth personality, help students, parents, and staff feel comfortable the moment they walked into our off into her office or needed help with a problem. She has consistently been helpful, supportive, and someone people knew they can count on. Outside of work, Den Denise's greatest joy
034is clearly being a grandparent. And while we will miss her greatly, I think Colorado and Florida are about to see a whole lot more of you as she spends time with her grandchildren or maybe another Dave Matthews band concert with Joel. Congratulations, Dave. [applause] [clears throat] Next, I would like to recognize Valerie Schmidt, our high school attendant secretary. Val has dedicated 36 years to this district. Valerie has been many things to many people over the years. Honest, direct, hilarious, and incredibly knowledgeable. For so many new hires, myself included, Valerie was the person who gave you the real lay of the land and helped you understand how things truly work around here. Her historical knowledge of families and the community is honestly unmatched and her attention to detail, especially when reviewing letters and documents has saved
035us more than uh more than one time. Valerie has always brought humor into the office and was never afraid to say exactly what everyone else was thinking. We hit it off together once I told her my wife and her family are from Queens and she knew I had a basic level understanding of the city. I had her approval. We share many great memories. Especially as a young principal, I was constantly reminded of reminding her of the year I was born in. And I had never had any clue what movie, song, artist, or show she was talking to talking about. She is still in constant disbelief of the year I was born. In retirement, she plans to spend more time boating with her husband, Greg, trying new restaurants, and perhaps even taking up bird watching. Although
036some of us are still aren't convinced she knows there are such thing as a bird house, out box, and bat house. It's a running joke. Congrats, Val. [applause and cheering] [applause] Finally, we recognize Maryanne Ingraham, who has dedicated an incredible 43 years to this district, finishing her career as one of our main office secretaries. Marian has truly been the glue that has held this building together, held this building together for many years. She's the definition of dependable, the behind-the-scenes person who quietly quiet quietly makes sure everything gets done often before anyone even realizes it needs to be done. Her kindness, thoughtfulness, professionalism, and deep knowledge of the district have made her invaluable to generations of administrators, staff, students, and families. Maryannne has been a steady presence through countless changes over the years and her reliability
037simply cannot be replaced. She goes out of her way to help everyone and puts them above her own needs. She is a great colleague, a friend, and a great overall human who cares about our school. We know she plans to eventually escape this cold weather she very openly dislikes. We also know retirement will include supporting her grandchildren, trying new restaurants. Mayor likes her wings and hopefully a few more Lionel Heath trips along the way, which I'm sure she will send me pictures to rub it in my face. Thank you all for your help. Congratulations to Denise, Val, and Mayor. Thank you for your dedication, loyalty, humor, compassion, and years of service to this district. Schools do not function properly without people like you three, and your impact reaches far beyond the task listed in any
038job description. Thank you for embracing me. Thank you for looking out for my best interests, the school, and our community. On behalf of the district board of education, congratulations on your well- earned retirement. You will be missed. [applause] [cheering] [applause] >> [applause] [applause] >> Okay, that's gonna be hard to follow. Oh, God. Okay. Um, I have one tonight and I don't believe she's here. Cindy, you're not here, right? No, she told me she wasn't going to be here. Um, so I didn't know Cindy was going to retire until I don't know like a week or two ago. Um, she didn't she didn't want really anybody to know, but surprise, here we are. Um, so Cindy Shalles um is a teaching assistant with us. She has been with the district for 28 years. Um I have
039a couple notes for Cindy even though she's not here because she deserves it. Um so Cindy is one of those people who um makes an impact on kids every single day. She's been in every single classroom throughout her time in the middle school. She support every teacher here who I just talked about can probably all say amazing things about Cindy. She is um truly the best of the best when it comes to being a teaching assistant. Um when I first started in this district um she was one of the first names that was like, "Hey, she's the best. You want to learn from her." Uh and as an administrator, I appreciate that. Um it's going to be tough without her next year because I use her in so many ways. Um and I just want
040to tell a quick little story about Cindy that that she already knows. Um so this is kind of the impact that Cindy has. We had a student who uh is uh we'll say rambunctious uh who comes and checks in in the main office quite a bit to make sure he's on track doing his work, things like that. So sometimes Miss Sylvester and I will play a game with him where he has to kind of pull out cards and give a random thought. So the card read, "Who is your oldest friend?" And without a beat, he said, "Mrs. Chalace." Now, uh he misinterpreted oldest friend uh as oldest friend. Uh, and we joke about this daily. Um, but that's who Miss Shace is. She is um an amazing educator and she's tough, but she's also this
041student's oldest friend. Um, so I'm going to miss Cindy dearly. I don't know what we're going to do without her. And I know she's not here. We'll have our own little private moment because she she doesn't want to be upset or cry. Um, but thank you so much, Cindy, for all you've done. And uh, you're amazing. So, >> [applause] >> All right. Who's going first? >> All right, Breny, you're up. [cheering] [applause] All right. So, Mr. Breny with 28 years of Oh, no, sorry. 29 years of teaching with subbing, right? So, I'm sorry. So, 29 with subbing. I was corrected. Breny has made an extraordinary impact on generations of students and families. He is the kind of teacher students remember forever. And even years later, former students will still speak fondly of the difference he
042made in their lives. His positive attitude, warm personality, and everpresent smile [laughter] made him a beloved figure throughout the school and this community. Breny is the epitome of the golden rule. Treat others the way you would want to be treated. Whether it was at a school event, concert, after school activity, students were always excited when Breny shows up. Kind of a little annoyed myself because I got upstaged. Uh he had a special way of connecting with children that made every interaction meaningful. Mr. Breny brought a level of professionalism and pride to his work each and every day, arriving in a shirt and tie, reflecting the the respect he had for the profession and his students. His classroom was always a wonderful place to visit and watch learning come to life. Through his dedication, enthusiasm, and
043genuine care for children, Brenie has left a lasting legacy that will continue to be felt long after his retirement. Congrats. [applause] >> Karen Super [applause and cheering] All right. After 28 years of service, she has certainly left her mark on generations of Highland students, as well as countless teachers, TAs, aids, and administrators. Her influence extends far behind our classroom and the positive impact she has had on our school community, and it's impossible to measure. I know personally that I could not have been successful in my role without her support, her guidance, willingness to make things happen. Oh, and definitely her structure has certainly helped me out too. We know this. She has been the driving force behind so many of our beloved beloved fifth grade traditions and celebrations in helping to to ensure that Highland
044students have a truly epic final year of elementary school. From field day, kickball games, Tony Williams, splashdown, pizza party on moving up day and countless other events. She has created memories that students will carry with them long after they leave Highland. Her dedication, organization, and commitment to students has set an incredibly high standard. While we are happy for her retirement, I think many of us are wondering whether her replacement will be able to keep up with everything she has done for our students and our school community. Her legacy will live on through the traditions she built and the relationships she formed and the thousands of students Highland experience was better because of her. Congratulations, [applause] >> [applause] >> There's one um retirement that was not able to make it today was Mary Angelo. So again,
045same similar with her. She was she's been in so many different roles. Uh the last role she moved into was our math AIS position and she has she's going to be truly missed. I know Miss Terski is still trying to convince her not to retire, but I think it's a little bit too late. But anyways, MaryAngelo is my last retirement from the elementary school, but she couldn't make it tonight, unfortunately. So, congratulations. [applause] Last but not least, tonight I have the privilege of speaking about our superintendent, Mr. Joel Frier. For those of you who know Joel, you know that being the center of attention is probably the last place he wants to be. Throughout his career, he has consistently redirected praise and recognition to the people around him. Always quick to acknowledge the contributions of
046others. Yet, when challenges arose or things didn't go as planned, Joel never hesitated to accept responsibility. That quiet humility combined with a deep sense of accountability has defined his leadership and speaks volumes about the person he is. There are few people who can say they have devoted nearly their entire administrative career to one school district. Even fewer can say they have done so with the integrity, dedication, and unwavering commitment that Joel has demonstrated throughout his years of service. Joel's impact on Highland extends far beyond budgets, strategic plans, board meetings, or district initiatives. His legacy is found in the students whose lives have been enriched by the opportunities he helped create, the staff members he supported and empowered, and the countless families who benefited from his leadership, care, and kindness. Joel has always placed the needs
047of students first while balancing the many challenges that come with leading a school and a district. His thoughtful decision-making, attention to detail, and a genuine concern for others have earned him the respect of colleagues, staff, board members, and the Highland community. For many of us, Joel has been much more than a superintendent. He has been a mentor, a trusted adviser, and a steady sounding board. He has generously shared his knowledge and experience, helping others grow as leaders and professionals. He has been the person many turn to for guidance during difficult decisions, knowing that his advice would be thoughtful, honest, and rooted in what was best for students in the district. Joel's influence will continue to be felt in Highland for many years to come. The relationships he has built, the culture he has helped foster,
048and the example he has set will remain long after his final day in the superintendent's office. On behalf of all those who have had the privilege of working alongside you, Joel, we thank you. Thank you for your years of service. Thank you for your commitment to the Highland Central School District. Thank you for your leadership, your mentorship, but most importantly, your friendship. As you begin this next chapter, we hope you take great pride in all that you have accomplished. Your career has been one of purpose, impact, and service. You have left Highland stronger than you found it, and for that we thank you. We wish you happiness, good health, new adventures, and many opportunities to enjoy the rewards of a career. well spent, but most importantly, the time to relax. You have earned it, my
049friend. [applause] >> [applause] [applause] >> Thank you. >> [applause] [applause] >> Finally, on behalf of the entire board of education, we want to congratulate our retirees. Uh, a career well spent here in Highland, a future that's waiting you. Enjoy. and whatever's on your bucket list, make sure you obtain each and one of those items in your retirement days. And a special thank you to Joel. Uh Joel has served I've served under Joel or with Joel for the last five years. Um our friendship will continue hopefully. I know Joel's commitment to this district has been students first, staff second. That's his only commitment to this district is the good and well-being of our students and our staff. So, with that, I thank Joel for his 22 years of service here, starting out as a middle school
050assistant sup uh assistant principal to the principal at the elementary school and finally as our superintendent of schools. Congratulations. Welldeserved retirement. >> Thank you. [applause] But one note, Joel doesn't retire until August 31st. So he has three more months here with our district and our board of education. So thank you everyone. Now we're going to have a brief reception. You can mingle, congratulate each other and enjoy some