From the School Board: Retirements and Tenure Announcements

The Board of Education took a reprieve from budget discussions to recognize the retirement of elementary school teachers and to grant tenure to seven members of the Scarsdale faculty. At their meeting on Monday May 21, the Board accepted the retirement of three teachers at Quaker Ridge and one at Heathcote Elementary School. Stepping down were Karen Cook and Jeanette Johnson who taught kindergarten at Quaker Ridge along with Zulmira Muzzio, a fifth grade teacher at the school. Also retiring was Pamela Sparks a third grade teacher at Heathcote Elementary School.

The three teachers from Quaker Ridge were lauded by Scarsdale Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Joan Weber with Principal Robyn Lane and Quaker Ridge PTA President Kimberly Goldban. They said, "Karen Cook has been taking care of Quaker Ridge for a long time." After several years of nursery school, she came to Scarsdale to teach kindergarten, and has been doing so at Quaker Ridge for the last twenty years. She has "touched the lives of over 600 students" in that time through her "kindness, creativity, sense of humor, hard work and professionalism." These qualities have made her a "highly respected, well-liked teacher" and she departs from her teaching career feeling "humbled and honored to have nurtured and taught the youngest students and their families."

Jeanette Johnson "made kindergarten her life's work." She has "passion for young children and an appreciation of how they develop. In fact, the kindergarten program has been greatly influenced by her belief that her young students must possess social skills and "appreciate the contribution of others. Jeanette was "creative, nurturing and sensitive" to the estimated 1,000 students she taught. Her "tireless, ever present smile" and "energetic nature" made her "a great asset" to the Quaker Ridge staff. After 40 years as an educator, just one of which was prior to her teaching at Scarsdale, Jeanette Johnson feels that "the time has come to bid farewell and to begin second career as retiree."

Fox Meadow parent Zulmira Muzzio came to the Scarsdale community with an international background, having taught kindergarten in Johannesburg, South Africa. She joined the Quaker Ridge staff with a devotion to "helping young learners grow as students and human beings." She is a dedicated teacher and is determined to "see her students reach their potential." She truly believes that "her students can accomplish anything. After being a part of Scarsdale Schools for 10 years, her "warmth and expertise" will be sorely missed by her students and coworkers, who have described her as a "delight to work with." She leaves with "a million reasons to be grateful, but Scarsdale remains on the top of the list." It has "inspired her to grow, give herself and change lives."

Joan Weber, Heathcote Principal Maria Stile and Heathcote PTA President Olga Eligulashvii offered remarks about retiring third grade teacher Pamela Sparks. They said "the announcement of her retirement is bitter news." She "was an exemplary teacher." She "understands developmental needs of children and designs classroom activities to involve problem solving, teamwork and lifelong positive implications." She "promotes love for learning and compels students to reach their personal best. She also helped foster "a strong feeling of community in small elementary schools" and she will be sorely missed.

Following the retirement announcements, Joan Weber announced the names of district personnel who will receive tenure this year. Here's the list:

• Lawrence Chatzenoff- Assistant Principal at Scarsdale Middle School
• Kristina Lance- Elementary (Pre K-6)
• Miriam Friedman Carmen- Art
• Travis Richards- Science Grades 7 - 12
• Loyda Bernardez- Foreign Language Spanish Grades 7-12
• Patrick Healy- Social Studies Grades 7 - 12
• Jennifer Weisholtz- School Counselor