Staff Recognition
Staff Recognition for Achievement
Riverhead Central School District is proud of its outstanding administrators, teachers, coaches and staff. This link will try to keep up with the many awards, degrees and distinctions received by our faculty and staff throughout the year. Here's a few that have been identified so far this year.
Staff Recognition for Achievement 2011-2013
NATIONAL SCHOOL NURSE DAY
(May 13, 2013) On Wednesday, May 8, 2013, National School Nurse Day, we paused to honor the district's school nurses, who make a difference in the lives of children every day in our schols. In just 15 minutes, a camera can capture just a few of the many roles of a school nurse which help improve students’ health and well being. School nurses are called on to monitor the health of our children throughout the day, administering medications sent from home, keeping records, instructing teachers about allergies, administering EpiPens and asthma inhalers, conducting vision and hearing tests, and checking benchmarks in weight and height. They also act as a reassuring presence in the lives of youngsters, who have all kinds of emotional needs and concerns. In addition, school nurses are a communication link and a source of information to parents about their children. These are just a few of the many roles of our nurses.
Pictured above is Barbara Salmiery, the school nurse at the Phillips Avenue School. Barbara started her career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa, then worked at Winthrop Hospital and at other nursing jobs. She has been a school nurse in the district for about 13 years. Recently, she also became a "puppy raiser" for the CGuide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc. in Smithtown.
FOUR FACULTY MEMBERS AWARDED NSASA GRANTS
(March 7, 2013) Four teachers from Riverhead Central School District, Beth Menis (Riley Avenue), Jacqueline Andrejack (Aquebogue Elementary), Deborah Kula-MacLellan (RHS and Mercy) and Tim Paige (RHS) won grants from the Nassau Suffolk Autism Society of America’s (NSASA) 2012 Grant Program. This grant was open to all teachers on Long Island who work with students on the autism spectrum. Over 100 teachers applied by writing proposals explaining how they would use an iPad, which was one of the prizes for the grant recipients, in their classroom, or how they would use the grant to make over their classroom. Ms. Andrejack and Ms. Menis both chose to receive iPads to use in their classrooms.
Mr. Paige chose to receive a “classroom makeover” rather than an iPad. He used his “makeover” money from the grant to buy equipment for the recycling program that he and Ms. Tapper have implemented as part of the Occupational Education opportunities they provde for their students at Riverhead High School. The students now have new blue T-shirts with a recycling logo, recycling bins, brooms, hoes and rakes. The recycling team has been busy reminding people to recycle bottles at school events, in the cafeteria.
"We recycle all the plastic bottles and cans we can gather," notes Mr. Paige. "We now have nine bins around the building, and we are on track to collect 10,000 units this year. The money we earn is kept track of within the class for lessons in bookkeeping, acounting and simple math. This group is also in charge of operating the School Store and help maintain the Vincent Nasta Memorial Garden adjascent to the high school. They also have a small vegetable garden in the courtyard. This is the purpose for the brooms, rakes and hoe."
The NSASA is a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. All of the money they raise goes directly toward helping children on Long Island affected by Autism. The main sponsors for this year’s grant program were Jeff Abbate from the Merrick Outback Steakhouse and Mark Smitkin from Heineken with a Heart at Heineken USA in Court Wilton, NY. THANK YOU!
MICHAEL HUGELMEYER
RHS Assistant Principal
Bachelors/Masters: Villanova
Sec. Ed. - Social Studies / Admin.
Mr. Hugelmeyer, who is in his 10th year as an educator, came to RHS in 2008 as the Dean of Students. Within a year, he became an Assistant Principal. Prior to coming to Riverhead, he was social studies teacher and track coach at Glen Cove High School.
Mr. Hugelmeyer has published his first book, Big Skills for the Common Core: Literacy Strategies for the 6-12 Classroom. Big Skills is "packed with engaging strategies teachers can use immediately to improve their students' literacy skills with real teaching examples" from RHS classrooms. It was written in cooperation with Amy Benjamin. Amy Benjamin, a veteran English teacher, has been a consultant to our schools, training teachers in writing across the curriculum, strategic literacy, and differentiated instruction.
Mr. Hugelmeyer has been married to Dr. Alexis Hugelmeyer for 7 years. Dr. Hugelmeyer is a family practice physician in Riverhead, and has generously shared her time and knowledge in our schools. The Hugelmeyers live in Baiting Hollow and have two children.
Penelope Boerum
RHS AP SPANISH TEACHER
B.S. - Techologico de Monterey - Finance
M.S. - Dowling College - K-12 Spanish Education
(January 18, 2013) Penelope Boerum has been officially invited to serve at the College Board's 2013 AP® Reading of Advanced Placement Spanish Language Examinations (scoring). This is the second year in a row that Ms. Boerum has been offered this honor. As a “first round” invitee for the 2013 AP scoring conference, Ms. Boerum will have the opportunity to work with university faculty and AP teachers from around the world and participate in sessions related to the new Spanish language AP test which will be given next year. Her curriculum was chosen last fall as one of four model curricula for schools. Congratulations, Penelope!
(September 24, 2012) Ms. Boerum first finance job in the U.S. was as a sales liaison for Projinet, a software company in Garden City, NY. She returned to college and earned her MS degree in Spanish Education (K-12) from Dowling College. Ms. Boerum lives in Wading River with her husband, Tom, and her four-year-old son, Max. She began teaching at RHS in 2005.
Students in Ms. Boerum’s AP Spanish class used the following adjectives to describe her: “amazing, supportive, gentle, and determined to help her students”. Ms. Boerum had her AP syllabus chosen by the College Board to be used as an exemplar for the AP Spanish Language Course.
All AP Spanish Language teachers are required by the College Board to create and submit for review syllabi of their courses. Among all of the syllabi that were submitted, only four were selected to become samples to be shared with other teachers.
“Ms Boerum is an inspirational teacher and an integral part of our team of language teachers," states Liz Scaduto. "We are thrilled to have her efforts and talents recognized on a national and international level.” >MORE
RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE AT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S DAY
WELCOME BACK CEREMONY
(September 4, 2012 – Riverhead, NY) The Superintendent’s Conference Day Opening Ceremony for faculty and staff featured presentations by Ann Cotton-DeGrasse, the Board of Education President, and a presentation by Superintendent of Schools Nancy Carney about goals and priorities for the coming school year.
Another highlight of this event is a recognition ceremony led by Assistant Superintendent Lois Etzel, who recognizes the 2012 STAFF AND TEACHERS OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS. This year's winners in this category were . . . .
2012 STAFF AND TEACHERS OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
Dotty Grasso - Staff Person of the Year Award
Sonya Henderson - Elementary Staff Person of the Year Award
Joanne Niebergall - Elementary Teacher of the Year Award
Ann Priapi - Secondary Teacher of the Year Award
AND Assistant Superintendent Joe Ogeka, who recognizes . . .
STAFF AND TEACHERS WHO HAVE SERVED THE DISTRICT'S CHILDREN FOR 40 YEARS, 30 YEARS and 25 YEARS
OUR HONOREES IN THE CATEGORY OF 40 YEARS ARE . . .
Ms. Jennie Corbin Teacher Aide-Pulaski Street School
Ms. Gail Yeager Senior Administrative Assistant-District Office
OUR HONOREES IN THE CATEGORY OF 30 YEARS ARE . . .
Ms. Emily Chizever Teacher-Riley Ave. School
Ms. Karen Ivins Teacher-Pulaski Street School
Ms. Gail Kappenberg Teaching Assistant-Riley Ave. School
Mr. Salvatore Loverde Teacher-Middle School
Ms. Janet Luce Food Service-High School
Mr. David McKillop Teacher-High School
Ms. Carol Reichel School Bus Driver
Ms. Diane Sue Webster School Bus Driver
OUR HONOREEs IN THE CATEGORY OF 25 YEARS ARE . . .
Ms. Donna Antovel Teacher-Middle School
Ms. Pamela Argenti Teacher-Aquebogue School
Ms. Judith Arnone Guidance Counselor-High School
Mr. Frederick Bornemann III Maintenance Mechanic II-Middle School
Mr. Michael Butler Maintenance Mechanic III-Building & Grnds.
Ms. Theresa Carr Teacher-High School
Ms. Karen Cerino Speech Teacher-Pulaski Street School
Ms. Patricia Contino Account Clerk Typist-High School
Ms. Rosaleen D’Orsogna Librarian-Pulaski Street School
Ms. Margaret Eilers Teacher-Aquebogue School
Ms. Peggy Gaare Teacher-Riley Ave. School
Ms. Donna Gilroy Teacher–Pulaski Street School
Ms. Gail Jurgens Teaching Assistant-Pulaski Street School
Mr. Arthur Kennedy Maintenance Mechanic II-High School
Ms. Nancy King Teacher-Middle School
Ms. Marianne Krupski Food Service-Middle School
Ms. Alice Kubacki Administrative Assistant- PPS
Ms. Mary Beth Mack Clerk Typist-High School
Ms. Deborah Masterson Teaching Assistant-Riley Ave. School
Ms. Margaret McKinney Teacher-Aquebogue School
Ms. Linda Sadowski Teaching Assistant-Phillips Ave. School
Ms. Dawn Schneider Teacher-Pulaski Street School
Mr. Wayland Taylor Custodial Worker I-Pulaski Street School
Ms. Susan Trafford Teacher-Riley Ave. School
Ms. Donna Verbeck Teacher-Roanoke Ave. School
Ms. Marguerite Volonts Music Teacher-Aquebogue School
Ms. Cheryl Walsh-Edwards Teacher-Middle School
Mr. Charles Zukowski Maintenance Mechanic II-Phillips Ave. School
Staff Recognition for Achievement 2011-2012
COACHES OF THE YEAR
Vic Guadagnino - Boys' Lacrosse Coach of the Year (RiverheadLocal)
Coach Dave Spinella was the Suffolk Coach of the Year in Girls Basketball.
RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE
2012 SCOPE AWARD WINNERS
Andrzej Aleksandrowicz - Support Staff Service Award
Alison Conroy - Administrator Service Award
Lana Randall - Teacher Service Award
Gregory Meyer - School Board Service Award
(May 9, 2012) The Suffolk County Organization for the Promotion of Education (SCOPE) held its 12th Annual School District Awards Banquet on Monday, March18, 2012. Almost 70 honorees were presented with awards for School Board Service, Community Service, Support Staff Service, Administrator Service, and Teacher Services. During the ceremony four Riverhead School District officials, staff and community members, who exemplify the evening's theme of "Shining Above the Rest," joined the list of honorees from school districts island-wide. This year's recipients from Riverhead were Custodial Supervisor Andrzej Aleksandrowicz, Pulaski Street School Assistant Principal Alison Conroy, Phillips Avenue Elementary School Resource Teacher Lana Randall, and RCSD Board of Education Vice President Gregory Meyer.
WELCOME BACK - SUPERINTENDENT'S DAY / AWARDS
On September 3rd, teachers, staff, administrators and several Board of Education members gathered together in the high school auditorium for the annual Welcome Back Cerempny to kickoff the 2011-12 school year. Dr. Lois Etzel, the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, opened the ceremony. >More
BARBARA PELCZAR WINS Senator Patricia K. McGee Nursing Faculty Scholarship.
The District is proud to announce that one of our District's school nurses, Barbara PeIczar, has been awarded a very competitive scholarship by the NYS HESC. It will pay up to $20,000 per year for 3 years to enable her to complete her graduate Nursing program at Molloy College.
"I am so thrilled to say the least!" shares Barbara. "Secondly, because of my academic success at Molloy and dedication to Nursing, I have been invited to join the Epsilon Kappa Chapter of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International. When I read the email with this invitation, I had to hold back the tears. I feel so blessed that at my age, I have reached these outstanding achievements. I believe that I am living proof that it's never too late to pursue further education, and to succeed at it."
The Sigma Theta Tau International honor society is one of the largest and most prestigious nursing organizations in the world. The Induction Ceremony is November 6, 2011 at Molloy College.
LORENE CUSTER - RMS LATIN TEACHER
Lorene Custer received her BA in Classics from Ohio State University and her MA from SUNY Stony Brook. Prior to beginning her teaching job at RMS, Ms. Custer taught HS Latin in Asheville, Ohio and at the Earl L. Vandermeulen HS in Port Jefferson. She is married to "Doc" Jeff Greenberger (the Latin teacher at RHS). They have one beautiful daughter (Mirin) and live on a farm (of sorts) in Cutchogue.
"I began teaching at RMS in 1994,"she explains. "That year, Jeff and I saw an opportunity to fully integrate the Latin program offered to Riverhead students. We felt we could be the heirs of the Richard and Joanne Gascoyne husband and wife Latin team legacy that had preceded our tenure."
And continue the Latin legacy and statewide reputation of Riverhead Latininsts they did. Ms. Custer and Doc are infamous on the Latin competition circuit. The Latin Team, Latinists from RMS and RHS, systematically sweep the Declamatio Contest each year. This fall, three of Ms. Custer's Latinists tied for 1st place in the middle school competition. Her students also won second and third in Level I Latin. Thus, the five MS Level I competitors from Riverhead took all three places.
Ms. Custer has also continued and taken the ritual of the Annual Roman Banquet to new heights.
FOCUS ON FACULTY -- RHS ART TEACHERS
L-R: Jennifer Howlett, Caitlin Jablow, Tiffany Pelczar (.4), Christine Shay,
Selena Pagliarulo, and Jo-Ann Dellaposta (with Kathy Nasta and the K-12
Director of Fine Arts and Music, Sean O'Hara).
The 2012 TEEN ART SHOW was a unique opportunity to gather all the high school art teachers together for a photo.
They were at the Library to celebrate their students' work in an art show sponsored by the Riverhead Free Library's Teen Department and the Friends of the Library, who helped organize the event and provided and served refreshments. The TEEN ART SHOW was dedicated to the memory of RHS art teacher Vincent Nasta, who died in a plane crash during an air show at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in 2008.
These talented teachers are dedicated to both their students and their ability to inspire and inform through their teaching and their own abilities as artists. They cajole, encourage, demonstrate, and push their students to reach their potential. The fruits of their labor and the students' art is also on display on WRHSTV (check it out).
James MacLeod
H.S. - Mattituck Jr-Sr. High School
B.A. - St. Joseph's College - Early Childhood Ed.
M.A. - SUNY-Stony Brook - Liberal Studies
Third Grade Teacher at Aquebogue Elementary
Married to Cindey Moore (RHS '01) - has one child
James MacLeod is in his 9th year of teaching. He has taught all 9 years at Aquebogue Elmentary School. "I love Aquebogue," he shared. Two years ago Mr. MacLeod "looped" with his second grade class into third grade. (In other words he had the same class for two years.) "It just seemed like a good thing to do with that particular class," shared Mr. MacLeod. "They had to add another section anyway, and I felt like this class and I had more work to do together. It was a great experience, and I think it was a really good idea for both of us."
"Mr. MacLeod is a wonderful teacher," said Math and Science Director Angelica Diaz. "He's always open to trying new things. He helped pilot the new FOSS science program and really got his kids excited about it."
Mr. MacLeod lives in Riverhead and is just finishing a major rennovation on his home. "We included space for an office, and I'm really excited about having a place to start honing my DJ skills," he explained. "I went to Five Towns College for a short time, and I love music and mixing tracks. I'm a vinyl guy, but the new technology for mixing is very fascinating. I love teaching because it's all about the kids and not about me, but I'd love to do this in my spare time," he said.
Claire Yannacone
H.S. - Patchogue-Medford H. S.
B.S. - Bryn Mawr - Geology
Masters in Ed. - Dowling College
POSITION: Science Teacher at RHS
Claire Yannacone is a popular Earth Science teacher at RHS. She loves to get her students physically involved in the learning process--from measuring the length of shadows on the patio to teaching students about currents, land erosion and deposition by floating rice cakes down the Peconic River. She is also the adviser for the Science & Technology Entry Partnership (STEP) team, which won 2nd place in the NY STEP Robotics competition. While teaching at RMS, she helped initiate a popular unit entitled "Exploring Long Island".
Ms. Yannacone is a hands-on kind of person and is not afraid to tackle unique projects in her own right. She and her husband were recently featured in NEWSDAY in a story about the Tall Ships in Greenport.
In 1992 Ms. Yannacone took an oceanography class, learned how to fix large marine engines, and in 1996 served as a second engineer on the Picton Castle, a 179-foot, three-masted square rigger. This is where she met her husband, Neil Peers, who was the ship's engineer at the time. They sailed off on a 35,000-mile globe-circling journey. In 2001 they married; they have two children ages 7 and 4. > Pics
MORE Staff Recognition for Achievement 2010-2012
Chris Malanga Recognized by the American Society for Engineering Education
RMS teacher Chris Malanga began as an engineer and is currently a technology teacher at the Middle School. The district is proud to announce that Mr. Malanga recently won an award from the American Society for Engineering Education for a unit entitled “Bedroom Design: A Hybrid Modeling Project for Engineering and Technology Education”, which he teaches as part of the middle school’s technology curriculum. This award-winning and original curriculum was designed in conjunction with a National Science Foundation grant that yoked Riverhead Middle School’s math, science and technology teachers with Hofstra University. He shares this award with Michael Hacker from Hofstra University. They will travel to Vancouver, Canada to present a paper on this curriculum. More.
Judy Arnone Recognized as Outstanding Guidance Counselor
National School Counseling Week (February 7-11, 2011) - The Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools Nancy Carney recognized RMS Guidance Counselor Judy Arnone for Outstanding Service during the February 8, 2011 Board of Education Meeting.
From February 8th Board of Education Minutes: In celebration of National School Counseling Week (February 7-11, 2011), a Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Service for a Riverhead School District Guidance Counselor was presented to Ms. Judy Arnone. Ms. Arnone has served as a Guidance Counselor since 1986 at both the High School and Middle School. She continues to stay involved with students during and after school hours. She is Advisor of the National Junior Honor Society and does a great deal of volunteer work. She motivates students and represents the best of what a Guidance Counselor is. She is the consummate professional who demonstrates a passion for her work each and every day. Congratulations!
See one of her latest efforts.
Bill Groth Designated as Certified Athletic Administrator
(March 7, 2013) Bill Groth was recently elected Section XI / Conference II President. Mr. Groth will also be the Conference II representative to the Suffolk County Athletic Council (made up of representatives from Section XI schools).
(January 2012) Bill Groth received a certificate from the N.I.A.A.A “In recognition for 25 years of outstanding service in Athletic Administration”. It was actually awarded at their 2011 National conference in Indianapolis.
(Spring 2011) Bill Groth was awarded a "Certificate of Appreciation" by the NYSAAA at their annual conference in Saratoga, NY "for 25 years of outstanding service and contributions as an athletic administrator".
(January 31, 2011 – Riverhead, NY) The National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) has notified the Riverhead Central School District that William Groth, the district’s Director of Athletics, Physical Education & Health, has been recognized by this association as a Certified Athletic Administrator. Mr. Groth is now one of an elite group of interscholastic athletic administrators nationwide to attain this level of professionalism.
The voluntary certification process included a thorough evaluation of the candidate’s educational background, experience and professional contributions, as well as a rigorous, comprehensive written examination. According to the NIAAA, a national professional organization consisting of all 50 state athletic administrator associations and more than 7,600 individual members, “to earn this distinction, Mr. Groth has demonstrated the highest level of knowledge and expertise in the field of interscholastic athletic administration.”
This is just one of many awards that Mr. Groth has received during his tenure at Riverhead Central School District. In 2009 Mr. Groth was honored by the Stony Brook Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa International and was awarded the prestigious Phi Delta Kappa “Friends of Education” Award in recognition of “his outstanding contribution to the field of education through leadership, research and service.” In June of 2009, the Suffolk County Legislature also recognized Mr. Groth’s contribution in the field of education and athletics. In addition, under Mr. Groth’s guidance, the Athletic Department has twice been awarded the “Athletic Management Award of Excellence”.
“We are all very proud of Mr. Groth’s accomplishment,” stated RCSD Superintendent of Schools Nancy Carney at a recent Board of Education meeting. “Our students and staff certainly benefit from Mr. Groth’s breadth of knowledge as a result of his commitment to professional development.”
Stacey Tuohy Chosen as News Review Educator of the Year
Stacey Tuohy, a second-grade teacher at Roanoke Avenue Elementary School, was chosen as the News-Review 2010 Educator of the Year.
"Mrs. Tuohy not only engages her students and helps instill in them that eagerness to learn, she also helps make her fellow teachers better at their craft and so extends her magic to children who aren’t even in her classroom," said a colleague, Debra Spinelli.
Hired in 1991, Ms. Tuohy taught kindergarten for a decade before switching to second grade.
Teachers and Staff of the Year Honored at Welcome Back . . . 
Superintendent for Personnel and Community Services Joseph Ogeka introduced and celebrated the Teachers of the Year: Tim Page and Jill Tapper (Sec. Spec. Ed. Teachers); Maryann Haroon (6th Grade Teacher) Elwood Lamb (Neighborhoold Aide at Pulaski) and Bernice Brown (Computer Lab Assistant and Coach). (See Picture above.)