The Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education bid farewell at its Tuesday night meeting to two long-time administrators in the district, New Hyde Park Memorial High School Principal Michael DeMartino from and Douglas Monaghan, district assistant superintendent for personnel and administration
“We have a bittersweet evening tonight and honor two or our administrators who are retiring Friday,” said Sewanhaka Central High School District Superintendent Ralph Ferrie.
Ferrie introduced two distinguished service resolutions for both men, recounting their years of service in the high school district.
“I can only imagine the number of students whose lives you’ve touched over the years,” Ferrie said.
DeMartino is retiring after working for 39 years at New Hyde Park Memorial, where he began his career as a social studies teacher. He spent 18 years as a guidance counselor and 14 years assistant principal at New Hyde Park Memorial before becoming principal of the high school four years ago.
“My heart has been here. I’m passionate about what I do, what I’ve done,” DeMartino said.
Monaghan worked at H. Frank Carey for more than 30 years. He started his career at H. Frank Carey High as an English teacher and eventually became chairperson of the English Department. He also worked as assistant principal and principal at H. Frank Carey before becoming assistant superintendent for personnel and instruction for the past four years.
“It is with a heavy heart that we accept your retirement,” Sewanhaka Trustee David Del Santo told DeMartino and Monaghan.
Jean Fichtl, president of the Sewanhaka Central High School District, added her words of praise, saying, “You’ve given freely of your time to your students.”
