Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Retirements topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Shoreham-Wading River Board honors dozens of retiring staff and volunteers
Summary
At its June meeting the Shoreham-Wading River Central School District recognized dozens of retirees and long-serving volunteers — from special-education teachers to custodial and athletics volunteers — celebrating multi‑decade service and program impacts across district schools.
The Shoreham‑Wading River Central School District Board of Education spent the bulk of its June meeting recognizing dozens of retiring staff and community volunteers for years of service to students and families across the district.
Administrators and colleagues presented outgoing teachers, specialists and support staff from the high school, Wading River, Miller Avenue and other buildings. High‑school principal Frank Pugliese described Ann Orsback, who led the district’s special‑education program for 19 years, as “the heart and soul” of the department and quoted her classroom refrain: “Challenge accepted.” Pugliese and others credited retiree Melissa Cosgrove with launching or sustaining programs such as Virtual Enterprise and DECA; they praised Christine Hansen for 31 years as the library media specialist and noted Mary Higham’s 29 years in English and theater instruction.
Several presenters emphasized longevity and program impact, citing decades of service, curriculum development and student supports. Speakers repeatedly framed retirees’ work as central to both classroom instruction and broader student‑life programs: one presenter said retirees had been core to the district’s Wildcat Wellness and MTSS efforts, while others noted roles in coaching, assemblies, technology training and inclusive education.
The board also recognized long‑time Wildcat Athletic Club president Gina Bettenhausen for more than a decade of volunteer leadership supporting athletics fundraising and operations; multiple coaches praised her swift responsiveness to team needs and called her a “tireless” partner for equipment and event logistics.
The recognition segment ran through tributes for dozens of employees across buildings and roles. The board then moved on to routine business, including minutes, policy adoptions and consent resolutions.
The Board did not take formal personnel actions tied to retirements at the meeting; retirements were presented as honors and recognitions.
