School Notebook: Wm. Floyd Business Academy wins state award
The Business Academy at William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach has been named the state’s 2021-22 Department of the Year by the Business Teachers Association of New York State and the New York State Education Department. Credit: William Floyd School District
The Business Academy at William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach has been named the 2021-22 Department of the Year by the Business Teachers Association of New York State and the New York State Education Department.
The academy, which consists of 12 teachers and has an enrollment of more than 1,000 students, offers courses that fall into one of three pathways: accounting, small business management and Microsoft Office Specialist. It also provides a variety of extracurricular activities, such as the Future Business Leaders of America, a career and technical student organization that helps students transition to the business world.
This is the sixth time that the academy has received the designation, which recognizes the “impact and contribution to students in business and marketing education,” district officials said.
“This award is an example of how hard our department works as a whole,” said Jacqueline Giacalone, the chairwoman of the school’s Business and Technology Department. “We have one of the largest business departments on Long Island and are fortunate to have support from our district that believes in our programs and sees our success rate each year.”
The school’s Business Academy also offers its students the opportunity to take the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute exam in the subjects of virtual enterprise and accounting, giving them a head start in preparing for future success.
“The Business Academy continues to challenge, educate and equip a financial- and business-literate generation of students, which is vitally important in our world today,” said William Floyd School District Superintendent Kevin M. Coster.
FIRE ISLAND
Nassau BOCES holds a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its George Farber Administrative Center in Garden City to celebrate a new collaboration with Special Sweets under their nonprofit, A Special Place For Me, which strives to educate and empower individuals with autism. Credit: Nassau BOCES
New superintendent
Travis Davey has been appointed superintendent of the Fire Island School District. He replaced Loretta Ferraro, who retired.
Davey previously served as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for the Babylon School District. Before that, he was the principal of Babylon Elementary School, Bellport Middle School and Brookhaven Elementary School.
“I am grateful to the Fire Island Board of Education for their confidence in me to serve the district as the next superintendent,” Davey said. “I am eager to learn more about the Fire Island community through conversations with our students and their families, school staff and community members as we look forward to an exciting new school year.”
In Merrick, students in Nicole Mauro's fifth-grade classes at Norman J. Levy Lakeside School make hypotheses recently about what objects might conduct electricity and then used electric circuits to discover if each material was a conductor or an insulator. Credit: Merrick School District
GLEN COVE
New principal
Allen Hudson III has been named principal of Glen Cove High School. He replaced Antonio Santana, who is now superintendent of the South Country Central School District.
Hudson had served as the high school’s assistant principal for the past 16 years. He has also been a social studies teacher in Queens, a student support adviser at Walt Whitman High School in South Huntington, and a dean at Baldwin High School.
“Glen Cove High School is known for the exceptional educational experience it provides to its students,” Hudson said. “I am looking forward to working with the district’s outstanding educators to build on that well-deserved reputation, continuing to enhance the overall academic and social-emotional experience of every student.”
Sixth-grader Austin Nam, seen here with guidance counselor and club adviser Keith Buehler, was among the members of Port Jefferson Middle School’s Little Savages Fishing Club who learned the basics of fishing and an appreciation for local waters during a boat trip into the Port Jefferson Harbor. Credit: Port Jefferson School District
LYNBROOK
Principal appointed
Matthew Sarosy has been appointed principal of Lynbrook High School. He replaced Joseph Rainis, who retired.
Sarosy, who has worked in the district for 16 years, started as an eighth grade history teacher at North Middle School in 2006. He became the high school’s assistant principal in 2012 and last year served as the interim principal of South Middle School.
“I’ll only be the 10th principal of Lynbrook High School,” Sarosy said. “For a building that’s been around for 100 years, there’s something unique and special about that.”
In Wyandanch, Lafrancis Hardiman Elementary School students dress in a variety of different themes – including superheroes – as part of the school’s Spirit Week. Credit: Wyandanch School District
MIDDLE ISLAND
Principal named
Sam Ahmed has been named principal of Longwood High School. He replaced Scott Schuster, who is now the district’s director of college and career pathways.
Ahmed was previously director of special programs and data reporting for the Longwood Central School District, and before that was the high school’s assistant principal.
“I look forward to cultivating a positive atmosphere where all children and adults can connect, understand, respect, learn and grow together,” Ahmed said. “My personal vision is to create a collaborative environment for learning and teaching that fosters the development of future leaders that will positively impact the Longwood community.”
Smithtown High School West’s boys soccer program raised more than $17,000 last month in the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 5k Walk/Run in Melville. Credit: Smithtown Central School District
SOUTHAMPTON
New principal
Nicole Fernandez has been appointed principal of Southampton Elementary School. She replaced Jaime Botcher, now the district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.
Fernandez was most recently the school’s assistant principal and before that worked as an English as a new language teacher at Frank J. Carasiti Elementary School in Rocky Point. She has also been the education director at the Sylvan Learning Center in Huntington.
“I have big shoes to fill, but I promise to support the students, teachers, staff, parents and community members as we head into the 2022-23 school year, Fernandez said.
Librarian Alyssa Sorensen announces the names of honored readers at Eastport Elementary School as the students walk down a red carpet decorated with their names on gold stars as a culminating event of the school’s summer reading program, which encouraged them to read daily; the students collectively surpassed 81,800 minutes of reading. Credit: Eastport-South Manor School District
UNIONDALE
New superintendent
Matthew Gaven has been appointed superintendent of the Rockville Centre School District. He replaced Robert Bartels, who held the position on an interim basis.
Gaven served the past three years as deputy superintendent for the Mineola School District and before that held positions in the district ranging from an elementary and middle school principal to assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction, assessment and technology.
“I have been privileged with a career path that I believe has fully prepared me for the position of superintendent, and it is an honor to begin this phase of my professional journey in the highly regarded Rockville Centre schools,” Gaven said.
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
