A Night of Honors at the Nyack Board of Education Meeting

Nyack school board members honored students, teachers and administrators from around the district Tuesday night for all of their hard and dedicated work.

First to be honored were those who received special mention for their achievements.

An honorable mention was presented to the Nyack mock trial team, who became county champions for the sixth consecutive time this year. Team advisor Tom DeLeo presented the award.

“The team has a long history of being one of the great mock trial teams of New York State,” DeLeo said. Last year, the team became state champions after months of tireless work.

Eden Sullivan was also among the honored. This past school year, as a fifth grade student at Liberty Elementary School, Sullivan participated in the Uncle Ben’s Beginner’s Cooking Contest. Sullivan made a video of her mother and herself making a meal with rice entitled, “Family Fun in the Kitchen with Eden.” Sullivan became one of the top four finalists in the national competition, and therefore, Liberty Elementary was awarded $10,000.

“I’m very proud of her, that she did this on her own,” said Ellen Rechenberger, principal of Liberty Elementary School. “She’s a wonderful student.”

Another award was given to Food Director of the District Judy Marsico. Due to Marsico’s efforts to have quality, healthy food and proper awareness of nutrition,

three elementary schools in Nyack School won the Healthy US Bronze School Award. Part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign, the award is given to schools who make health and wellness a priority. Only four percent of schools in the country have received this distinction.

Of Marsico’s efforts, second superintendent Carleen Millsaps said, “She works tirelessly behind the scenes to make the lives of our students better everyday.”

Among the other award winners were music teacher Michael Smith who was recognized as a Grammy Educator quarter finalist nominee, and two film students, Lucas Ruderman and Jason Pointek, who won top prizes at Rockland Community College’s film festival.

The Nyack Board of Education also honored teachers and school staff who had served for 25, 30 or more years in the district, as well as those who are retiring. The honorees included teachers, teaching assistants, custodial staff members, and secretaries. Of all those revered, Charlene Weaver, a science teacher at Nyack High School has been a part of the district for the longest amount of time, 40 years.

Angela Challacombe has been a teaching assistant in the Nyack schools for 25  years.

“I was born in Nyack, went through the schools, my children went through the schools. I’ve really come full circle,” said Challacombe. “It feels good that I started here, and in two years I will end here.”

Carol Finn, a guidance secretary who also was honored for 25 years of service said, “It seems like a blink, I can’t believe it’s been that long.”

Finn added that she is so glad to dedicate her life to the Nyack schools, saying: “I love working for the district, helping students parents and the community.”

In addition to honoring many staff members for their longevity, eight retirees were also applauded at the meeting.

Colette Tiktin, who retired this year, was a teacher at Liberty Elementary for 33 years. When she received her plaque, she teasingly presented the school board with a gift. She took out a thin math curriculum booklet for grades kindergarten through fifth grade. Next, she pulled out an enormous, overflowing three ring binder that was marked “Third Grade Math.”

“You all should have this,” she said as she handed over both curriculums.

Of the meeting, Board Director Jim Montesano called the honoring “bittersweet.”

“It’s always the highlight of the Board’s year to recognize the achievements of our students, as well as our administrators,” said Montesano.  “With that group though [those retiring] is walking out a great body of wisdom. But we wish happiness for them in the new chapter of their lives.”