Jennifer Scammel, Director of Instructional Technology and Innovation for the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park UFSD (left) congratulates Shirley Shing, Computer Aide on receiving the NASTAR award. Shirley is set to retire this month after 19 years of service.

Nassau BOCES and the Nassau Association of School Technologists (NASTECH) celebrated 27 dynamic educators who have advanced the use of technology in education, including three NASTECH retirees at a special ceremony recently. These pioneering individuals were honored at the fifth annual Nassau Association of School Technologists Award Recipient (NASTAR) awards, held at the Long Island Marriot.

The NASTAR awards were created by the Nassau BOCES NASTECH Service to honor educators for their innovation, leadership and support of technology initiatives in their school districts. Each recipient is selected by their district based on this criterion. This year, a total of 27 Nassau County educators were acknowledged for their achievements in a ceremony conducted by Nassau BOCES NASTECH and Data Privacy and Security Service Supervisor Laura Pollak and Program Specialist Barbara Deal.

“Ms. Deal and I feel so fortunate to have the privilege of recognizing the educators who work tirelessly to promote technology programs in our Nassau County districts,” said Ms. Pollak. “The NASTAR awards event highlights how brightly these educators shine, and we look forward to honoring even more NASTARs next year.”

The 2023 NASTECH NASTAR award recipients are:

Vincent Albrecht, Diocese of Rockville Centre

Roger Boucher, Locust Valley CSD

Gabriella Burgos, Hempstead - Evergreen Charter School

Patrick Clarke, East Williston UFSD

Matthew Colicino, Plainview-Old Bethpage CSD

Jean D’Aurio, Franklin Square UFSD

Michael Davola, Garden City UFSD

Andrew DelRosario, Bellmore-Merrick CHSD

Megan Falck, Syosset CSD

Elizabeth Fazio, Islip UFSD

Christina Ficarelli, Seaford UFSD

Jennifer Greenspoon, Great Neck UFSD

Stacy Gulisano, West Hempstead UFSD

Amanda Hocevar, Bellmore-Merrick CHSD (North Merrick)

Jennifer Levi, Mineola UFSD

Elizabeth McGee, Oyster Bay-East Norwich CSD

Jill Robinson,   Lynbrook UFSD

Jennifer Rosario, Copiague UFSD

Christine Ryan, Valley Stream UFSD #30

Marcia Santora, Nassau BOCES

Ashley Scotto, Bethpage UFSD

Dr. Richard Sevilla, Herricks UFSD

Shirley Shing, New Hyde Park-Garden City Park UFSD

Amanda Silverman, Glen Cove City SD

Additionally, retirees Dr. Sean Adcroft (Manhasset UFSD), Thomas Lynch (Seaford UFSD) and Jim Svendsen (New Hyde Park-Garden City Park UFSD) were honored with a special tribute by Nassau BOCES and Nassau County school districts for their dedicated years of service.

Below is a gallery from the ceremony