Good morning. As president of the Mineola Teachers Association it is always an honor for me to stand here before you on opening day representing the teachers. I have been asked to welcome you on behalf of Laura Adams, president of the Mineola Teacher Aides Association, Kathy Schwartz, president of the Mineola Secretarial Unit, John Bregy, and Tommy Hughes negotiators for the custodial unit and Sandy Graham and Joanne Rios who represent the transportation department. Laura, Kathy, John, Tommy, Sandy, Joanne and I not only welcome you to the opening of the 2009-2010 school year, we also want to thank you for creating the wonderfully supportive environment which nurtures the children of the Mineola community.
This year we are welcoming a new superintendent, Dr. Michael Nagler. Dr. Nagler has been with us in Mineola for several years now, serving first as the Middle School assistant principal and then as high school principal before becoming deputy superintendent and now Superintendent of the Mineola Union Free School District.
We also are welcoming a first time Board of Education President, Mr. Will Hornberger. Mr. Hornberger has two sons who attend Cross Street School; a school that holds a very special place in my heart because as most of you know, Cross Street is the elementary school I attended as a child.
Dr. Nagler and Mr. Hornberger, we welcome you to this new chapter in your lives. Mineola is a great place to be for several reasons. You will have the opportunity to work with a highly dedicated and accomplished staff committed to providing the best education to the children of this district. The parents in our community are very involved and supportive. Our community and business leaders are happy to join hands with us and frequently work along side us. In addition, the students in our schools here are wonderful.
This staff works hard to ensure that all students are valued and respected as individuals. When our students reach out, we are always there and when problems arise and a student doesn’t know where to turn, or is afraid to ask for help, the people in this room have the insight to recognize the individual’s struggle, make the initial contact, and take the appropriate steps so that student can get the help and guidance needed.
The Mineola teachers also have a long history of supporting and giving back to this community. The Mineola Teachers Association is a proud member of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce; we are a major sponsor of the Chamber’s November Mustang Run and the Chamber’s May Mineola Fun Fair. We are long time Friends of the Mineola Public Library.
Under the direction of Pat Parendo, The Mineola Teachers Association, a relatively small local raised over $16,000 towards the fight against breast cancer during last year’s Jones Beach Breast Cancer Walk. The Mineola Teachers Association also makes annual contributions to the Mineola Fire Department and the Mineola Rescue Squad. The Mineola Teachers Association participates in the annual Long Island ALS Golf Outing as well.
Last year alone the Mineola Teachers Association donated $4,500 to Mineola families in need and last June the Mineola Teachers Association awarded $10,000 in scholarships to our graduating seniors. The Mineola Teachers Association proudly participates in all school organizations and contributes to countless school fundraisers. As a matter of fact, four seats in this auditorium were donated by the Mineola Teachers Association. This room is filled with people who continuously reach out to those around them.
Dr. Nagler and Mr. Hornberger, I know, better than most that all the training and experience you have had in other positions, although invaluable and extremely worthwhile, never totally prepare any of us for the daunting reality of being the leader at the front. There will be very rewarding moments but there will be some very trying ones too.
The two of you must shoulder the burden of upholding sound educational programs for students whose education will be effected by the present economic climate. Your responsibility to those students is enormous. The staff assembled here joins me in wishing you good luck as you work to maintain our high levels of achievement. We are counting on you to find ways in which to continue to support outstanding education in Mineola for all of our students and their individual needs.
We here all know that each student is unique and each requires a program that allows him or her to reach his or her greatest potential. While the tax payers may think they have all the answers or may choose to see students as numbers on a page, those of us who value the individuality and needs of each student are relying on you, as fathers as well as educational leaders, to consider all aspects of students’ development as you make the important decisions that will have a direct impact on them and their futures. After all, decisions regarding children’s education alter an entire generation.
I know you will find yourselves faced with many difficult problems and agonizing decisions; situations which have no easy or immediate solution. Coming to an important decision is a process which requires each of us to step out of the situation in order to analyze the problem from all possible points of view. Only then will you be able to understand how your decisions impact, both positively and negatively, on each member of the entire community.
...This is where the people in this room can help you…
As the people who are in the buildings, on the buses and playgrounds with the students, we listen to your concerns and ideas and share with you what we know about how children and adolescents learn and develop. We are interested in telling you what we find crucial for the successful development of our best natural resource; our young children.
Dr. Nagler and Mr. Hornberger, I took this from the speech I gave in September 2001 when I welcomed Dr. Licopoli to the District. I told him “Dr. Licopoli, I’ll change that part to Dr. Nagler and Mr. Hornberger, I want to tell you what I tell every student, parent and employee of this district. I said it to the new teachers yesterday. You are never alone here. We all want to work together. This staff wants to work right along side of you with the common goal of making this the best possible learning environment for our students. When we work together we know we can accomplish more than when we work in isolation. We invite you to talk with us, to listen to us, to include us and even to lean on us. We want to be in it together.”
I wish each and every one of you a successful school year. Let’s work together and make it a great one!
Good morning. As president of the Mineola Teachers Association it is always an honor for me to stand here before you on opening day representing the teachers. I have been asked to welcome you on behalf of Laura Adams, president of the Mineola Teacher Aides Association, Kathy Schwartz, president of the Mineola Secretarial Unit, John Bregy, and Tommy Hughes negotiators for the custodial unit and Sandy Graham and Joanne Rios who represent the transportation department. Laura, Kathy, John, Tommy, Sandy, Joanne and I not only welcome you to the opening of the 2009-2010 school year, we also want to thank you for creating the wonderfully supportive environment which nurtures the children of the Mineola community.
This year we are welcoming a new superintendent, Dr. Michael Nagler. Dr. Nagler has been with us in Mineola for several years now, serving first as the Middle School assistant principal and then as high school principal before becoming deputy superintendent and now Superintendent of the Mineola Union Free School District.
We also are welcoming a first time Board of Education President, Mr. Will Hornberger. Mr. Hornberger has two sons who attend Cross Street School; a school that holds a very special place in my heart because as most of you know, Cross Street is the elementary school I attended as a child.
Dr. Nagler and Mr. Hornberger, we welcome you to this new chapter in your lives. Mineola is a great place to be for several reasons. You will have the opportunity to work with a highly dedicated and accomplished staff committed to providing the best education to the children of this district. The parents in our community are very involved and supportive. Our community and business leaders are happy to join hands with us and frequently work along side us. In addition, the students in our schools here are wonderful.
This staff works hard to ensure that all students are valued and respected as individuals. When our students reach out, we are always there and when problems arise and a student doesn’t know where to turn, or is afraid to ask for help, the people in this room have the insight to recognize the individual’s struggle, make the initial contact, and take the appropriate steps so that student can get the help and guidance needed.
The Mineola teachers also have a long history of supporting and giving back to this community. The Mineola Teachers Association is a proud member of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce; we are a major sponsor of the Chamber’s November Mustang Run and the Chamber’s May Mineola Fun Fair. We are long time Friends of the Mineola Public Library.
Under the direction of Pat Parendo, The Mineola Teachers Association, a relatively small local raised over $16,000 towards the fight against breast cancer during last year’s Jones Beach Breast Cancer Walk. The Mineola Teachers Association also makes annual contributions to the Mineola Fire Department and the Mineola Rescue Squad. The Mineola Teachers Association participates in the annual Long Island ALS Golf Outing as well.
Last year alone the Mineola Teachers Association donated $4,500 to Mineola families in need and last June the Mineola Teachers Association awarded $10,000 in scholarships to our graduating seniors. The Mineola Teachers Association proudly participates in all school organizations and contributes to countless school fundraisers. As a matter of fact, four seats in this auditorium were donated by the Mineola Teachers Association. This room is filled with people who continuously reach out to those around them.
Dr. Nagler and Mr. Hornberger, I know, better than most that all the training and experience you have had in other positions, although invaluable and extremely worthwhile, never totally prepare any of us for the daunting reality of being the leader at the front. There will be very rewarding moments but there will be some very trying ones too.
The two of you must shoulder the burden of upholding sound educational programs for students whose education will be effected by the present economic climate. Your responsibility to those students is enormous. The staff assembled here joins me in wishing you good luck as you work to maintain our high levels of achievement. We are counting on you to find ways in which to continue to support outstanding education in Mineola for all of our students and their individual needs.
We here all know that each student is unique and each requires a program that allows him or her to reach his or her greatest potential. While the tax payers may think they have all the answers or may choose to see students as numbers on a page, those of us who value the individuality and needs of each student are relying on you, as fathers as well as educational leaders, to consider all aspects of students’ development as you make the important decisions that will have a direct impact on them and their futures. After all, decisions regarding children’s education alter an entire generation.
I know you will find yourselves faced with many difficult problems and agonizing decisions; situations which have no easy or immediate solution. Coming to an important decision is a process which requires each of us to step out of the situation in order to analyze the problem from all possible points of view. Only then will you be able to understand how your decisions impact, both positively and negatively, on each member of the entire community.
...This is where the people in this room can help you…
As the people who are in the buildings, on the buses and playgrounds with the students, we listen to your concerns and ideas and share with you what we know about how children and adolescents learn and develop. We are interested in telling you what we find crucial for the successful development of our best natural resource; our young children.
Dr. Nagler and Mr. Hornberger, I took this from the speech I gave in September 2001 when I welcomed Dr. Licopoli to the District. I told him “Dr. Licopoli, I’ll change that part to Dr. Nagler and Mr. Hornberger, I want to tell you what I tell every student, parent and employee of this district. I said it to the new teachers yesterday. You are never alone here. We all want to work together. This staff wants to work right along side of you with the common goal of making this the best possible learning environment for our students. When we work together we know we can accomplish more than when we work in isolation. We invite you to talk with us, to listen to us, to include us and even to lean on us. We want to be in it together.”
I wish each and every one of you a successful school year. Let’s work together and make it a great one!
Opening Day!
Good morning. As president of the Mineola Teachers Association it is always an honor for me to stand here before you on opening day representing the teachers. I have been asked to welcome you on behalf of Laura Adams, president of the Mineola Teacher Aides Association, Kathy Schwartz, president of the Mineola Secretarial Unit, John Bregy, and Tommy Hughes negotiators for the custodial unit and Sandy Graham and Joanne Rios who represent the transportation department. Laura, Kathy, John, Tommy, Sandy, Joanne and I not only welcome you to the opening of the 2009-2010 school year, we also want to thank you for creating the wonderfully supportive environment which nurtures the children of the Mineola community.
This year we are welcoming a new superintendent, Dr. Michael Nagler. Dr. Nagler has been with us in Mineola for several years now, serving first as the Middle School assistant principal and then as high school principal before becoming deputy superintendent and now Superintendent of the Mineola Union Free School District.
We also are welcoming a first time Board of Education President, Mr. Will Hornberger. Mr. Hornberger has two sons who attend Cross Street School; a school that holds a very special place in my heart because as most of you know, Cross Street is the elementary school I attended as a child.
Dr. Nagler and Mr. Hornberger, we welcome you to this new chapter in your lives. Mineola is a great place to be for several reasons. You will have the opportunity to work with a highly dedicated and accomplished staff committed to providing the best education to the children of this district. The parents in our community are very involved and supportive. Our community and business leaders are happy to join hands with us and frequently work along side us. In addition, the students in our schools here are wonderful.
This staff works hard to ensure that all students are valued and respected as individuals. When our students reach out, we are always there and when problems arise and a student doesn’t know where to turn, or is afraid to ask for help, the people in this room have the insight to recognize the individual’s struggle, make the initial contact, and take the appropriate steps so that student can get the help and guidance needed.
The Mineola teachers also have a long history of supporting and giving back to this community. The Mineola Teachers Association is a proud member of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce; we are a major sponsor of the Chamber’s November Mustang Run and the Chamber’s May Mineola Fun Fair. We are long time Friends of the Mineola Public Library.
Under the direction of Pat Parendo, The Mineola Teachers Association, a relatively small local raised over $16,000 towards the fight against breast cancer during last year’s Jones Beach Breast Cancer Walk. The Mineola Teachers Association also makes annual contributions to the Mineola Fire Department and the Mineola Rescue Squad. The Mineola Teachers Association participates in the annual Long Island ALS Golf Outing as well.
Last year alone the Mineola Teachers Association donated $4,500 to Mineola families in need and last June the Mineola Teachers Association awarded $10,000 in scholarships to our graduating seniors. The Mineola Teachers Association proudly participates in all school organizations and contributes to countless school fundraisers. As a matter of fact, four seats in this auditorium were donated by the Mineola Teachers Association. This room is filled with people who continuously reach out to those around them.
Dr. Nagler and Mr. Hornberger, I know, better than most that all the training and experience you have had in other positions, although invaluable and extremely worthwhile, never totally prepare any of us for the daunting reality of being the leader at the front. There will be very rewarding moments but there will be some very trying ones too.
The two of you must shoulder the burden of upholding sound educational programs for students whose education will be effected by the present economic climate. Your responsibility to those students is enormous. The staff assembled here joins me in wishing you good luck as you work to maintain our high levels of achievement. We are counting on you to find ways in which to continue to support outstanding education in Mineola for all of our students and their individual needs.
We here all know that each student is unique and each requires a program that allows him or her to reach his or her greatest potential. While the tax payers may think they have all the answers or may choose to see students as numbers on a page, those of us who value the individuality and needs of each student are relying on you, as fathers as well as educational leaders, to consider all aspects of students’ development as you make the important decisions that will have a direct impact on them and their futures. After all, decisions regarding children’s education alter an entire generation.
I know you will find yourselves faced with many difficult problems and agonizing decisions; situations which have no easy or immediate solution. Coming to an important decision is a process which requires each of us to step out of the situation in order to analyze the problem from all possible points of view. Only then will you be able to understand how your decisions impact, both positively and negatively, on each member of the entire community.
...This is where the people in this room can help you…
As the people who are in the buildings, on the buses and playgrounds with the students, we listen to your concerns and ideas and share with you what we know about how children and adolescents learn and develop. We are interested in telling you what we find crucial for the successful development of our best natural resource; our young children.
Dr. Nagler and Mr. Hornberger, I took this from the speech I gave in September 2001 when I welcomed Dr. Licopoli to the District. I told him “Dr. Licopoli, I’ll change that part to Dr. Nagler and Mr. Hornberger, I want to tell you what I tell every student, parent and employee of this district. I said it to the new teachers yesterday. You are never alone here. We all want to work together. This staff wants to work right along side of you with the common goal of making this the best possible learning environment for our students. When we work together we know we can accomplish more than when we work in isolation. We invite you to talk with us, to listen to us, to include us and even to lean on us. We want to be in it together.”
I wish each and every one of you a successful school year. Let’s work together and make it a great one!
