The Great Neck School Board of Education on Monday voted to grant tenure to 25 teachers in the Great Neck School District.
Great Neck Public School Superintendent Tom Dolan said he met with all the tenure candidates to ask them questions about themselves as they move forward with their careers.
“As I’m leaving things behind, I think of the 25 candidates, and I think of the phrase ‘we will be remembered by those we leave behind,’” Dolan said.
Dolan announced his retirement in November. He will be replaced this month by Teresa Prendergast, the current assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for Garden City Public Schools.
Board of Education President Barbara Berkowitz said tenure means a lot for the Great Neck school system.
“The fact that your families are here and your colleagues are here is a testament to the fact that tenure is a very important thing here in Great Neck,” Berkowitz said. “It is the reason we call it the awarding of tenure.”
From the Lakeville School, Jillian Magan, Robin Stein and Emily Zucal were granted tenure.
Lakeville School principal Phyllis Feldman said Zucal, Lakeville’s assistant principal, has organized many new initiatives during her short time at Lakeville.
“It didn’t take me long to recognize that the selection committee had delivered me a winner for assistant principal,” Feldman said.
From E.M. Baker School, Cristina Cummo, Angela Keller and Christopher Lynch were granted tenure.
E.M. Baker School principal Sharon Fougner said Cummo came to work in Great Neck schools after 13 years of teaching experience, most recently in the Half Hallow Hills School District for eight years.
“It was a very sad day for Dix Hills, and a celebratory one for Great Neck,” Fougner said of Cummo leaving her former employer.
From Great Neck North High School, Joanna Asvestas, Kathryn Duggan, Pamela Ostrover, Christopher Pipala and Katelyn Williams were granted tenure.
From Great Neck North Middle School, Joseph O’Conner was granted tenure.
Brendon Mitchell from Great Neck’s SEAL program was granted tenure.
From Great Neck South High School Catherine Campbell, Lori Cresci, Kelly Murphy, Lauren Peterson and Sepideh Roozdar were all granted tenure.
Great Neck South Middle School saw three teachers granted tenure — Brianne Marzigliano, Jonathan Ruvio and Han Zhao.
From the John F. Kennedy School, Korey Terranova was granted tenure.
Sarah Barbarotto, Lauren McIntyre and Anna Policastro, all from Saddle Rock School, were granted tenure as well.
