Brentwood school 'legend' Ann Palmer is retiring after 32 years

Ann Palmer has walked the Brentwood school hallways for more than six decades — first as a student and then as an educator. But on Friday she will officially say goodbye to the district that has shaped much of her life.

Palmer, the district's assistant superintendent for elementary education, will retire after a 32-year career. The 58-year-old Smithtown resident, known for the signature sound of her high heels clacking down the hallways, will be remembered for her passion, work ethic and enthusiasm, colleagues said.

"For the district, Annie is really a legend," said Superintendent Wanda Ortiz-Rivera, who has worked alongside Palmer for nearly 20 years. "Her passion, her commitment, her devotion for the profession is something to really be admired."

Palmer is credited with introducing numerous initiatives to the district, including a Saturday academic enrichment program for children in grades three to five and a youth mentoring program.

Ortiz-Rivera, who at one time worked under Palmer's supervision, lauded her friend’s decision-making, noting that Palmer always considered the impact a new program or initiative would have on all students. Palmer actively sought funding for new programs and had a knack for bringing people together, the superintendent said.

"She wrote grants when no one else would write grants," Ortiz-Rivera said. And, she added, "The relationships that she built with all stakeholders has been amazing."

Ortiz-Rivera, who called Palmer her "sister," said she "led with love, fought for equity, moved with urgency, changed Brentwood and she also changed me."

'Brentwood’s Finest'

Palmer attended the East Kindergarten Center, now part of East Elementary School, in the mid-1970s. She graduated from Ross High School in 1985.

After college and a brief stint in the publishing industry, Palmer was hired in 1993 as a part-time evening teacher for Brentwood high schoolers, where she said she taught students just a few years younger than herself.

"Initially, it was nerve-wracking, but I got along with students," she said of the experience. "If you give students respect and show respect, and you show how much you care about them, they reciprocate it."

About three years later, Palmer said she was hired as a full-time high school English teacher alongside Trish Brockbank, who now serves as the district’s coordinator for English language arts and social studies.

"Her human resources document was stamped five minutes before mine," Brockbank joked.

Brockbank recalled almost not being hired, because the department head at the time had already promised the job to Palmer, who "blew her away in the interview."

Palmer rose through the ranks of the district, working as chair of the English Department and an assistant principal at the high school, as well as coordinator of language arts and social studies.

Brockbank said Palmer was a leader who wasn't scared to try new things and who loved to collaborate. 

"She’s always had great, high expectations for kids, for teachers," Brockbank said. 

The pair are among a group of about 10 teachers who started their careers around the same time and who dubbed themselves "Brentwood’s Finest," Brockbank said. Palmer will be the second in the group to retire; Brockbank is set to join her at the end of the school year.

"It does feel like the air will be sucked out of the hallways," Brockbank said of her friend’s departure. "It’s hard to imagine the place without her."

Palmer currently oversees the district’s 11 elementary schools and "supervises the academic programs at the district’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten institutions at Shepherd’s Gate, MDQ Academy and Family Service League," according to her district biography.

Palmer said she has "such a love for early child education" because that’s where the academic journey starts for the student.

She will be replaced by another Brentwood alumnus, Stacey Brdey, former principal of Southeast Elementary School.

Retirement plans

Dina DeJesus, now a reading consultant in the district, was Palmer's student nearly 30 years ago. While she can't recall any particular lesson, DeJesus said what has stuck with her is how Palmer made her feel as a teen. She described Palmer’s class as a "place where you could take risks."

"She has this enthusiastic energy that is just so contagious and it’s so positive," DeJesus said. "Now, as an administrator, she still radiates that. Her energy makes you want to do better, want to be better and try to do more."

Even though the veteran educator spent long days working, Palmer described teaching as a noble profession that gave her a lot of "fulfillment and gratitude."

As she prepares for retirement, Palmer said she plans to head to Clearwater, Florida, with her husband, Bobby, to spend time with her mother. She also wants to pursue a dream of following one of her favorite teams, the New York Jets, around the country during their season.

Years ago, her family gifted her a ring with a turtle on it to remind her to slow down.

Palmer said she might finally take their advice.