Elmsford School District Staff Prepare for New School Year

The Elmsford Union Free School District’s facilities upgrades, revised strategic plan, continuing community outreach efforts and soaring high school graduation rate were among the many topics that Superintendent Dr. Marc Baiocco included in his presentation to staff attending the district’s Superintendent’s Conference Day Aug. 30.

The start-of-year meeting, which was held in the Alexander Hamilton Jr./Sr. High School auditorium, is a chance for staff to come together in preparation for the new school year.

It is also an opportunity for the superintendent to reiterate the district’s educational philosophy of educating the whole child, providing early intervention, when necessary, and encouraging continuous improvement throughout the grades.

“The work that we do is going to be strategic, which will lead us to greater efficiency in the classroom,” said Dr. Baiocco, referring to its newly revised strategic plan.

“We are going to work smarter, not harder,” he added.

The plan includes the development of a preK-12 strategy for introducing STEAM-related subjects into the curriculum; providing procedures and a toolbox of strategies to identify and address students’ social and emotional needs; upgrading the district’s facilities and technology infrastructure; and engaging parents and the community, with a particular emphasis on immigrants.

The plan also suggests developing broader partnerships with alumni, local businesses, the PTSA and colleges.

A new campaign called The Elmsford Basics was also highlighted. It will encourage district residents of newborns to adhere to five nurturing practices intended to stimulate brain growth in children from birth to age 3.

They include talking, singing and pointing to young children; counting, grouping and comparing; exploring through movement and play; and reading and discussing stories.

Encouraging teachers to maintain a mindset that will have a positive, life-changing effect on their students is important, Dr. Baiocco said.

“Please find ways to motivate your students, but more importantly, to engage them,” he added.

Staff in all three schools will be reading Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” throughout the year and implementing the philosophies that are central to Covey’s work.

The conference also included the names of last year’s Teacher of the Year recipients: Bill Dwyer, Drew Watson and Kerry Young. The following employees were recognized for their many years of service. They include: Stacy Benke, Tom Blondel, Anthony Carolini, Bill Dwyer, Stephanie Luccioni, Richie Saponara, Rob Segaloff, Allison Shapiro, Francine Thomas and Courtney Velardo, all celebrating 15 years of service; Kevin Budzynski, Joanne Leis and Jarvis Tilokee, celebrating 20 years of service; Ellen Nates, celebrating 25 years of service and James Volpe, celebrating 30 years of service.

Dr. Baiocco also congratulated the district’s new hires, including Ashley Caggiano, a teacher at the Carl L Dixson Primary School; Joseph Engelhardt, principal of AHHS; Hector Rodriguez; Filberto “Filli” Veras, a custodian at AHHS and Jaclyn Warren, a teacher at the Alice E. Grady School.