Nassau BOCES Education Partner Awards
Fifteen honored for outstanding contributions to education
This spring, Nassau BOCES will honor 12 individuals and three organizations that have had profound effects on public education in Nassau County. The Nassau BOCES Education Partner Awards program pays tribute to outstanding educational leaders, organizations, school administrators and staff, students, teachers, Nassau BOCES employees, and other champions of education.
Following are the 2025 Education Partner Award honorees, by category:
EDUCATION PARTNERS
- Renee J. Blumstein, Ph.D., President, Informed Decision Services, LLC
- Thomas P. Dolan, Ed.D., Retired Superintendent, Great Neck UFSD
- Diane Provvido, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Technology, Oceanside UFSD
NASSAU BOCES EMPLOYEES
- Mindy Davidson, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Nassau BOCES Rosemary Kennedy School
- John Fretz, Virtual Teacher, Nassau BOCES Center for Online Learning
- Christine Kavanagh, Teacher Aide, Nassau BOCES Jerusalem Avenue School
- Robert MacKay, Instructor, Nassau BOCES GC Tech
- Joanna Malament, Associate Director, Nassau BOCES Department of Special Education
- William Monahan, Program Developer, Nassau BOCES Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Technology
ORGANIZATIONS
- The Joel Foundation, Billy and Alexis Joel, Founders
- Hangout One Happy Place, Angela Lucas, Founder and President
- Long Island Association (LIA), Matthew Cohen, President and CEO
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
- Charmise P. Desiré, School Board Trustee, Uniondale UFSD
- Lawrence F. Zaino Jr., School Board President, Carle Place UFSD
STUDENTS
- Ashlee Fucarino, Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts; Wantagh UFSD
Date: | Wednesday, April 30, 2025 |
Time: | 6 p.m. |
Place: | Crest Hollow Country Club |
|
Honorees will be recognized on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at the eighteenth Nassau BOCES Education Partner Awards Gala, hosted by the Nassau BOCES Educational Foundation. The Foundation is an independent, non-profit, school community-based organization, dedicated to enriching the lives and learning opportunities of all Nassau BOCES students. Its goal is to secure and allocate funding that supports programs and staff, encourages creative ideas and enhances educational experiences.
During the past 18 years, over 225 individuals and organizations have been honored with the Nassau BOCES Education Partner Award. A strategic education partner with local school districts since 1967, Nassau BOCES created the award to pay tribute to those who share in its commitment to enabling students of all ages and abilities to achieve their maximum potential.
Learn how to order tickets at www.nbeducationalfoundation.org/gala.
Past Honorees
2024
(click to learn more about each honoree)
Hofstra University Professor and Chair
Department of Geology, Environment and Sustainability
Richard Toda
Artistic Manager, ABT Engagement
Director of Bilingual Education & World Languages
Hempstead UFSD
Former High School Band Director
Farmingdale UFSD
Student Support Services/Admissions/Educator
Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts
Gary Lewi
Board Member
Erika Duncan
Founder, Executive Artistic Director
Curriculum Coordinator
Nassau BOCES Vision Program
Beth Escobar, Claudia Brunie, Co-Founders
Nic Escobar, Chief Financial Officer
Director, Pediatric Emergency Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Urgent Care, Cohen Children’s Medical Center; Associate Vice President, School Mental Health, Behavioral Health Service Line
Commanding Officer of Homeland Security
Nassau County Police Department
Dance Teacher
Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts
School Counselor, H.B. Mattlin Middle School
Plainview-Old Behpage CSD
Student
Nassau BOCES Twilight Program, Bellmore-Merrick CHSD
District Director of Alternative Programs
Valley Stream CHSD
Student
Elmont Memorial High School, Sewanhaka CHSD
2023
(click to learn more about each honoree)
Associate Director
Nassau BOCES Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Technology
Andrew Parton, President
Teacher
Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts
President, Board of Education
West Hempstead UFSD
Former Supervisor of World Languages and English as a Second Language
Hicksville UFSD
Student
Nassau BOCES Adult Education
Student
Mineola High School, Mineola UFSD
Trustee, Past President
Board of Education, Farmingdale UFSD
Michael K. Pappas, Trustee
Board of Education, Levittown UFSD
Trustee, Nassau BOCES
Diana Martin, Managing Director
Delia Patricia Castrogiovanni, Co-Founder
Suzanne Hershkowitz, President
2022
(click to learn more about each honoree)
Executive Director, Department of Facilities Services
Nassau BOCES
Retired
Assistant Director, Nassau BOCES Special Education Department
Retired, Superintendent,
College Professor, Dean and President
Editor in Chief, Journal for Leadership and Instruction
SCOPE
District Superintendent
Nassau BOCES
Butch Yamali, President
Founder, President
College Quest Inc.
Teacher, Advanced Placement U.S. History
Farmingdale High School, Farmingdale UFSD
Jacob Dixon, Center Coordinator and CEO, Choice for All
President, Freeport Board of Education, Freeport UFSD
Michael Mazzola, President
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech Alumus
Technical Director, MSG Network
President, CEO
Health and Welfare Council of Long Island
Secretary, Hicksville Board of Education
Deputy Commissioner, Nassau County Department of Social Services
Dr. Corinthia Price
Founder, CEO, Workforce Career Readiness
2020
(click to learn more about each honoree)
Board Member
Nassau BOCES Educational Foundation
Professor of Specialized Programs in Education
Hofstra University
Special Education Teacher
Wisdom Lane Middle School, Levittown UFSD
Retired Art Educator, Bellmore-Merrick CHSD
Professor of Fine Arts, Long Island University
Principal
Nassau BOCES Center for Community Adjustment
Superintendent
Merrick UFSD
Superintendent
Bellmore UFSD
Supervisor of Guidance
Hicksville UFSD
Immediate Past President
Nassau BOCES
Associate Superintendent for Business Services
Nassau BOCES
Student
Lindenhurst UFSD
President
East Rockaway Board of Education
Suzanne LeBlanc
President
Assistant Principal
Nassau BOCES Adult Learning Center
Superintendent
Farmingdale UFSD
Vice President
Freeport Board of Education
2019
(click to learn more about each honoree)
Internal Auditor
Nassau BOCES
Retired Superintendent
Hicksville UFSD
Superintendent
Mineola UFSD
Retired Superintendent
Merrick UFSD
Retired Superintendent, Merrick UFSD
Psychologist, Nassau County Psychological Association
Superintendent
Baldwin UFSD
Principal
Nassau BOCES Career Preparatory High School
Nassau County Legislator
District 18
R.N., Manager, Workforce Readiness
Northwell Health
Business Teacher/DECA Advisor JFK Plainview-Old Bethpage High School
Plainview-Old Bethpage CSD
Laurence Dresner
Executive Director
Certification Specialist
Nassau BOCES
Principal
Meadowbrook Alternative Program
Bellmore-Merrick CHSD
2018
(click to learn more about each honoree)
Deputy Superintendent
Bellmore-Merrick CHSD
Executive Director
Littig House Community Center
Superintendent
Sewanhaka CHSD
Superintendent
Levittown UFSD
Automotive Teacher
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech
New York State Senate
District 8
Principal, Elmont Memorial High School
Sewanhaka CHSD
Superintendent
East Rockaway UFSD
Executive Director (Retired)
Nassau BOCES
Department of Strategic Initiatives
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
Hicksville UFSD
President
Freeport Board of Education
Freeport UFSD
President
Levittown Board of Education
Levittown UFSD
Project Lead Maintainer
Nassau BOCES Department of Facilities Services
Cliff Skudin
Co-founder
Surf for All Corp.
Executive Assistant and
Board Secretary, Nassau BOCES
Board Member, Nassau BOCES Educational Foundation
2017
(click to learn more about each honoree)
Principal, Nassau BOCES Specialized Schools
President Emerita and Founder The Ed. Foundation (Port Washington)
President, Friends of Port Washington Library
Hicksville High School, Hicksville UFSD
Charity Board Member, Children’s Hope India 3 (CH3)
Superintendent, Malverne UFSD
Social Worker, Archer Street School, Freeport UFSD
Alumni, Nassau BOCES Barry Tech Project Manager
Telecommunication: Emergent Wireless Solutions
Special Education Teacher, Career Preparatory High School
Cameron Engineering & Associates, LLP
Executive Director
Littig House Community Center
Parts and Service Director, Honda City
Shannon Boyle, Executive Director
Evol Sweeney, Associate Program Director
Principal, Willet Avenue Middle School
Hicksville High School, Hicksville UFSD
Legislator, Nassau County
2016
(click to learn more about each honoree)
Senior, John F. Kennedy High School
Bellmore-Merrick CHSD
Lead Social Studies Teacher
Lawrence Road Middle School
Uniondale UFSD
Retired Teacher
Nassau BOCES Adult Education
Host
CBS Sunday Morning News and The Osgood Files
Superintendent
North Merrick UFSD
District Clerk
Nassau BOCES
Director of Youth Services and Community Relations
Family & Children's Association
Founder
Nassau BOCES Educational Foundation
Superintendent
Oceanside UFSD
Groundskeeper
Hewlett-Woodmere UFSD
Chairperson
Nassau BOCES Educational Foundation
Kevin Harrington
President/Producer
Chief of Department
Nassau County Police Department
2015
(click to learn more about each honoree)
Senior
Nassau BOCES Rosemary Kennedy School
Hempstead UFSD
Principal
Nassau BOCES Children's Readiness Center
Academy Coordinator/Physics Teacher
Baldwin Senior High School, Baldwin UFSD
Senior, Island Trees High School
Island Trees UFSD
Principal
South Side High School, Rockville Centre UFSD
Superintendent
Plainview-Old Bethpage UFSD
Assistant Principal
Nassau BOCES Center for Community Adjustment
Hicksville High School, Hicksville UFSD
Charity Board Member, Children’s Hope India 3 (CH3)
Senior, H. Frank Carey High School
Sewanhaka CHSD
Executive Director
Harbor Child Care Inc.
TASC Preparation Instructor
Hempstead Adult and Community Education
Joseph W. Brown, President
Sandy Chapin, Chairperson
Paule Pachter, Executive Director
Superintendent
Bethpage UFSD
2014
(click to learn more about each honoree)
Coordinator, Family Support LI
Molloy College
Coordinator, National Outreach Adaptive Technology Training
Helen Keller National Center
Adapted Physical Education Teacher
Nassau BOCES Carman Road School
Senior
Sanford H. Calhoun High School
Bellmore-Merrick CHSD
Professor and Director
Center for Educational Leadership and Accountability
St. John's University, Oakdale Campus
Mathematics Teacher
Nassau BOCES Barry Tech and the Doshi STEM Program
Philip M. Mickulas
President and Chief Executive Officer
Retired, Chief Operating Officer
Eastern Suffolk BOCES
President
Plainview-Old Bethpage
Board of Education
Assistant Superintendent for Business
Roslyn Public Schools
Linda Leonard
Executive Director
Executive Board Member
Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association
School-to-Career Consultant
Baldwin UFSD
Senior Class President
Carle Place High School
Carle Place UFSD
Diane Berger, Ed.D.
Principal
Joseph Lentini
Director
2013
(click to learn more about each honoree)
Long Island Market President,
Capital One Bank
Senior
Island Trees High School
Island Trees UFSD
Social Studies Teacher
Floral Park Memorial High School
Sewanhaka CHSD
Superintendent
Freeport Public Schools
Principal
Garden City Middle School
Garden City UFSD
Director, Science and Technology Entry Program
State University of New York College at Old Westbury
Madeline Sgueglia, President
Angie Halamandaris, President and Co-Founder
Principal
Elmont Memorial High School
Sewanhaka CHSD
Vice President, Banking Division
Astoria Federal Savings
Trustee
Baldwin Board of Education
Baldwin UFSD
Laura A. Triandafilos, President
Special Education Teacher
Nassau BOCES Career Preparatory High School
Nassau County District Attorney
2012
(click to learn more about each honoree)
Teacher and Technology Staff Developer
Great Neck South Middle School
Great Neck UFSD
Board Trustee
East Meadow UFSD
President
The Early Years Institute
Chairman Emeritus, Nassau Educators Federal Credit Union (NEFCU),
Retired Mathematics Department Chairman, Valley Stream Central High School, and
Retired Assistant Professor, CUNY
Trustee/Author
Susan Satriano Foundation/"In Sickness and in Health: A Memoir of Love"
John Theissen Children's Foundation
Executive Director
Teacher, Seaford Manor School
Seaford UFSD
Vice-Chairperson
Chinese Center on Long Island Inc.
Teacher Aide
George W. Hewlett High School
Hewlett-Woodmere UFSD
Principal
H. Frank Carey High School
Sewanhaka CHSD
Manager, Corporate Citizenship
Northrop-Grumman Corporation,
Military Aircraft Systems
2011
(click to learn more about each honoree)
Principal
Carman Road School
Nassau BOCES
Senior Work Environment Manager
Marriott International
Math, Science and Technology Specialist
Roosevelt UFSD
Principal
Robert M. Finley Middle School
Glen Cove City SD
Former Executive Director
Curriculum, Instruction and Technology, Nassau BOCES
Superintendent
Jericho UFSD
Teacher
Great Neck UFSD
Founder, Comp4Kids
Supervisor
Programs for Youth and Family Literacy, Nassau BOCES
Educational Consultant
District Director
Fine and Performing Arts
Island Trees UFSD
President and CEO
Teachers Federal Credit Union
Board Trustee
Freeport UFSD and Nassau BOCES
Youth Co-Founders and Co-Chairmen
Ascent Youth Alliance to Battle Autism and 4Boyz Autographs to Battle Autism
Board Trustee and District Clerk
Nassau BOCES
2010
(click to learn more about each honoree)
Creator and Director
Increase the Peace
Executive Director
Long Island Works Coalition
Volunteer
Plainedge UFSD
Secretary
Fine and Performing Arts Department, Island Trees UFSD
Superintendent
Oceanside UFSD
Superintendent
Plainview-Old Bethpage CSD
Executive Director
The INN (Interfaith Nutrition Network)
Principal
Floral Park Memorial High School
Sewanhaka CHSD
Psychologist
Nassau BOCES
Founder and Executive Director
Pal-O-Mine Equestrian Inc.
Executive Director
Gateway Youth Outreach Inc.
Principal
Archer Street School
Freeport UFSD
Press Secretary
Nassau County Legislature
2009
(click to learn more about each honoree)
President
AJK Diversified
Superintendent
Herricks Public Schools
Professor
Center for Leadership and Accountability, St. John’s University
Superintendent
Bethpage Public Schools
Founder, Owner
The Healthy Kitchen, Inc., Life Skills for Healthy Eating and Cooking
Superintendent
Great Neck Public Schools
Volunteer
Fulton Avenue School #8, Oceanside Public Schools
Orientation and Mobility Instructor
Nassau BOCES
Deputy Commissioner
Nassau County Office of Consumer Affairs
Executive Director
Mentoring Partnerships of Long Island and New York
Principal
California Avenue School, Uniondale Public Schools
Executive Director and Founder
Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York
Member
New York State Board of Regents
Board Member
Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools
Superintendent
Rockville Centre Public Schools
2008
(click to learn more about each honoree)
Superintendent
Glen Cove School District
Former Executive Director
Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association
Executive Director, retired Literacy Nassau
Principal
Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts
Regional Certification Officer,
Nassau BOCES
Anchor
News 12 Long Island
Associate Professor Hofstra University
Executive Vice President for External Affairs
Institute for Student Achievement
Board Member
Glen Cove School District and Nassau BOCES
Managing Director Gassman, Baiamonte, Betts & Tannenbaum, P.C.
Project Coordinator
The Achilles Project Nassau Community College
2007
(click to learn more about each honoree)
Founder, The Josephine Foundation
Distinguished Service Professor
State University of New York-College at Old Westbury
Executive Director
What Color Is Love Inc.
Executive Vice President for External Affairs
Institute for Student Achievement
Superintendent
Westbury Union Free School District
Superintendent, Malverne Union Free School District
Founder and President
School-Business Partnerships of Long Island
President, Board of Cooperative Educational Services of Nassau County
Vice president, business development, Covanta Energy Corporation
Vice President, Business Development
Covanta Energy Corporation
Executive Director
Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Assocation
Founder and Board Member
New Ground
Co-founder and Director
Long Island School Leadership Center
New York State Assembyman
21st District
Executive Administrator retired, Nassau BOCES