Taconic Hills board grants tenure to five teachers amid classroom praise

The Taconic Hills Central School District Board of Education approved tenure for five teachers during its June meeting, voting separately on each recommendation from the superintendent.

The board read and approved resolutions granting tenure to Brianne (elementary grades), Victoria Zidell (elementary), Michelle Rocco (elementary), Cassandra Kerner (science, grades 7–12) and Mary Watkins (TESOL/ENL). The chair conducted separate voice votes on each tenure recommendation; all were approved.

Building administrators and colleagues spoke in support of the teachers. A building administrator said Brianne had been an asset to the fourth-grade team, ‘‘taking on math and science’’ and emerging as a leader. A colleague described Victoria Zidell as ‘‘a reflective educator’’ who increased student discourse through strategies such as ‘‘think, pair, share’’ and piloted writing strategies that informed other grade-level instruction. Michelle Rocco was praised for active, student-centered instruction and for differentiating lessons to meet varied learners’ needs. Cassandra Kerner was recognized for hard work earning certification and for contributions to the science program. Mary Watkins, who was unable to attend, was noted as a TESOL teacher who engages students with creative writing activities.

Board members congratulated the teachers and acknowledged the district’s retirees and long-serving staff in the same meeting. The board’s formal actions on tenure were recorded as approved by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript.

Next procedural steps: tenure resolutions were adopted at the meeting; personnel records and notifications will follow district practice.