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South Country board honors retirees and newly tenured teachers at annual recognition
Summary
The South Country Central School District recognized newly tenured teachers and dozens of retirees across its schools, highlighting long careers and milestones including one staffer with 52 years of service.
The South Country Central School District held its traditional annual tenure and retiree recognition during the board meeting, honoring newly tenured teachers and dozens of retiring faculty and staff from across the district.
Superintendent remarks framed the evening as a time to "celebrate and give hope for the future," and presenters invited retirees and tenure recipients to the podium. Tenure recipients from Belort High School named during the ceremony included Samantha Johnson, Lindsay Olsen and Alexa Ryder, among others.
Administrators and principals from buildings across the district called retirees by school and shared brief biographical notes. Highlights included Alina Romero, retiring after 19 years at Belort High School with a long record in special education; Ellen Hoffman (referred to as having worked at Felport High School) with about 30 years of service as an English teacher, coach and adviser; and Matthew Kennston, recognized for 30 years of service and work as an instructional coach and union representative.
Several principals — including Miss Erica Dela Rosa of Belort High School, Dr. Anthony Ielo of Belffort Middle School, Dr. Rebecca Raymond of Crook Haven Elementary School and Mr. Tracy Collins of Brook Haven — delivered tributes that stressed the retirees’ mentorship, extracurricular contributions and long ties to students and families. The meeting also acknowledged Miss Alice Milano for nearly 52 years of service to the district.
Board members and trustees offered personal reflections, thanking educators for long careers and for those beginning their tenure; the student representative for the year, Madison Aruda, was also recognized for her service.
What happened next: After the photo of retirees and tenure recipients, the board returned to routine agenda business, including the treasurer’s report and the public-comment segment on the budget.
Why it matters: The ceremony publicly acknowledged long-term service and institutional memory across the district’s schools. Trustees emphasized the role of educators in shaping students and community continuity, while administrators used the occasion to highlight mentorship and program leadership that extended beyond classroom instruction.
