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Rondout Valley honors new tenured teachers, retiring staff and Thomas King award recipients
Summary
At a May 20 ceremony the Rondout Valley Central School District recognized newly tenured teachers, dozens of retiring staff and recipients of the Thomas King Distinguished Service Award, with remarks from colleagues, the guest speaker and board members.
After routine business the Rondout Valley Central School District Board of Education moved into a recognition evening that celebrated newly tenured teachers, retirees and recipients of the Thomas King Distinguished Service Award.
Board president (speaker 1) and emcee Dean Rylowitz welcomed honorees, framed tenure as a professional milestone, and asked newly tenured teachers to join the stage. Speakers read nomination statements and colleagues offered brief testimonials for a long list of recipients.
Named newly tenured teachers included Jaden Broadhead, Rachel Conmance, Kevin O'Shea, Darlene Cummins and Guido Roberto Cruz, who were recognized by the board and invited to remain on stage. The program then shifted to honoring retiring faculty and staff; dozens of employees were cited for decades of service in roles ranging from classroom teacher to office and support positions. Presenters emphasized the retirees’ daily contributions to students’ safety, wellbeing and learning.
Cheryl Delano, introduced as a longtime district teacher and union leader, delivered the evening’s keynote remarks, reflecting on career milestones, union service and the value of community. Presenters across teams highlighted individual achievements: reductions in student suspensions attributed to leadership in trauma‑informed practice, significant fundraising and scholarship work through booster and foundation activities, grant successes, and long records of daily student support.
The board presented the Thomas King Distinguished Service Awards to multiple recipients. Speakers praised honorees for leadership, mentorship and program development — including a Board Choice recipient recognized for contributions to athletics and district technology and for supporting remote access and stadium video infrastructure during COVID restrictions.
What happens next: recipients were invited to photos and a short reception in the high school cafeteria. The recognition evening concluded with closing remarks from the board and an invitation to continue celebrating the honorees.
