Charles 'Coach' Nanton, James Hunderfund to Be Honored

Correction: An earlier version of this story used the incorrect photo of Coach Nanton. Patch regrets the error.

Malverne Union Free School District’s Superintendent of Schools Dr. James H. Hunderfund and community leader Charles Nanton have both been chosen to receive awards at SCOPE Education Services’ 14th Annual School District Awards Dinner.

Hunderfund is being recognized for his administrative leadership and Nanton for his longstanding community service. Both were nominated by members of the Malverne Board of Education.

Charles Nanton, or “Coach Nanton” as he is known in the community, is one of the founding fathers of the Lakeview Youth Federation. An advocate for children and leader in the community since the 1970s, he is active in various fundraising efforts, including the Junior Olympics, track and field events, and basketballs leagues, as well as spearheading the annual Friendship Games and Derrick Adkins Track and Field Classic to raise money that benefits the Malverne school community. Coach Nanton is a volunteer counselor and football coach at the high school and serves on many school district committees.

In their nomination letter, the Board wrote: “Charlie Nanton is someone who truly deserves our admiration and gratitude for all he has accomplished.”

Nominated for his exemplary leadership in Malverne over the past eight years, Dr. Hunderfund was integral to the district’s reorganization, which sought to create a common learning experience for all children, K-12. During his tenure, the community experienced its first successful passage of a bond in decades, as well as an academic resurgence. Most notably, the district has seen a 500 percent increase in Advanced Placement enrollment, national recognition of the high school as an AP School of Excellence, national ranking among the top 10 percent of high schools by the Washington Post and Newsweek for “college readiness,” an increase in college acceptances for more than 90 percent of graduates, and the adoption of a districtwide character education program and SAT initiative, K-12.

In their nomination letter, the Board wrote: “Dr. Hunderfund’s professional insight and vision, complemented by his personal integrity and commitment to higher standards for all children, have proven to be invaluable to our school community. Under his leadership, our district has obtained improved facilities, higher academic achievement, greater financial stability and ‘success for all our children.”

Coach Nanton and Dr. Hunderfund will be honored at a celebration at Villa Lombardi’s on March 23.

Photo via Google Maps

More on Patch:

• Police: $6K Stolen from Hewlett Man’s Bank Account
• Suffolk, Nassau Counties Ranked ‘Most Expensive Place to Live in America’
• Emergency Department to Open in Long Beach in July
• Police: Man Wanted in Bloomingdale’s Theft
• Cops: Man Holds Up Valley Stream Candy Shop with Knife
• Long Beach Spring Fun Run Set for April
• Police: Men Rob Uniondale Store with Semi-Automatic Handgun
• Cops: Rash of Tire, Rim Thefts Hits Luxury Cars in Nassau
• Trio Charged in Cellphone Store Sledgehammer Burglaries
• Common Core Critics ‘Roll’ Message Across Long Island
• N. Bellmore Stop & Shop Sells Winning Lottery Ticket
• Second Arrest Made in Fatal Shooting Outside Deer Park Bar Last Year
• Police: Mastic Man Arrested for Riverhead, Jamesport Bank Robberies