May/June 2015 - The Hicksville Congress of Teachers

HCT
Volume 4, Issue 5
Mary Masterson, Editor
hIghlIghts
June2015
From the President’s Pen
Hicksville Congress of Teachers
Important Dates
to Remember:
APPR Committee Application 2015-2016
Name_______________________________________________ Number of Years in the HCT_____________
 August 26-27,
2015, New Teacher
Orientation
 August 31, 2015,
Orientation Day
Schools Closed/
Teachers Report
 September 1, 2015,
First Day of School
Home Telephone #____________________________________ Cell #____________________________________
Personal Email Address__________________________________________________________________________
School Building(s) 2014-15______________________________________________________________________
2015-16______________________________________________________________________
Grade(s)/Department(s)________________________________________________________________________
Home Telephone #____________________________________ Cell #____________________________________
******************************************************************************
The following terms and acronyms are frequently used and misused in the discussion of teacher evaluations and high stakes
testing. Please define each term and indicate if you are aware of any misuse or confusion these terms may have caused for
our members.
APPR:
SLO's:
VAM:
TIPS:
Growth Model:
Teacher Performance Rating:
Please answer the following questions to the best of your ability.
 How does the new APPR law section 3012-d of NYS Education Law differ from the previous 3012-c?
 What is the matrix referred to in the new regulations?
 What has been eliminated and is prohibited from use in Teacher Performance ratings under the new
regulations?
 Describe the required and optional subcomponents of the Student Performance Category in the new
APPR. What is the danger of using the optional subcomponent?
 How does the student performance category differ between two groups of teachers(Group 1: Grade 4-
Officers
President:
Joan Deem
1st VP:
Tom Glenn
2nd VP:
Mary Masterson
Treasurer:
Kathy Rieger
Secretary:
Amanda Mayr





8 Common Branch, ELA and Math Classroom Teachers. Group 2: All other Classroom Teachers)?
What concerns do you have regarding the new regulations on SLO Target setting?
What elements of APPR are we able to collectively bargain?
How is the scoring of teacher observations going to change under the new regulations?
What options are available in weighting the observations from Principals and Supervisors and Independent observers?
What is your opinion of using peer evaluators in teacher observations.
If given the opportunity to establish a completely different system of observations, what would you suggest?
Please return completed APPR committee applications to the HCT office by July 30, 2015.
CLICK HERE TO PRINT APPR APPLCATION
(mailed to : 183 Broadway, suite 302-Hicksivlle, NY 11801 or emailed to: hicksville_teachers@verizon.net)
A special thanks to the 28 active and retired HCT volunteers whose effort and participation in the phone
bank at the NYSUT office in Woodbury on Thursday, May 14, 2015, were instrumental in helping to pass
Hicksville’s 2015-2016 school budget. Our volunteers made a record-breaking 689 calls to residents in
the Hicksville community encouraging them to get out and vote in support of the Hicksville school
district’s budget.
As a special thank you for taking the time from their busy schedules to advocate for the passing of the
District’s budget, thereby ensuring that no teachers would be laid off and that no other hurtful
educational cuts would need to be made, each volunteer was given a letter for their personnel file
thanking them for their hard work.
Catherine Altobello
Allison LoGiudice
Lara Bodt
Linda Mandel
Christine Bohnemann
Carolyn Marschean
Jennifer Coady
Mary Masterson
Lauren Colletti
Amanda Mayr
Stella Drakos
Karen Pincus
Jessica Ficke
Corinne Pope
Crystal Fiteni
Kathy Rieger
Tom Glenn
Mary Shurley
Christine Janda
JoAnn Sommerhalter
Rachel Kalman
Kyrstin Stehle
Lindsey Karman
Betty Thoma
Justina Ketyer
Polly Trocchia
Margaret Lehmann
Grace Vangi Delise
Memorial Dedication
in Honor of Mary D’Andrea
By Tom Glenn
On Tuesday June 9th, 2015 during a touching tributary ceremony to an
amazing teacher, wonderful colleague, and friend to many, the PTA and
staff at Lee Avenue School dedicated two benches and planted a tree in
memory of the beloved Mary D'Andrea at the main entrance to the Lee
Avenue School. The tree includes a beautiful plaque in remembrance of
Mrs. D'Andrea to be viewed in posterity by those approaching the entrance
to the school where Mary worked for so many years.
Words of remembrance, anecdotes regaling her life, and stories of her
tireless dedication abounded from administrators, PTA members, teachers,
and Hicksville native and Nassau County Legislator Rose Walker. In
attendance were Mary's family, colleagues from throughout the district,
Hicksville Board of Education members, and students upon whose lives
Mary had a tremendous influence and impact. These tributes serve to
remind all throughout the Hicksville community how fortunate it was to
have been touched by the dedication, professionalism, and joy that Mary
shared with all whom she met and even those she had not.
Trees are the earth's endless effort to speak to the listening heaven.
~Rabindranath Tagore, Fireflies, 1928
Forever Remembered
Scholarships
for
Graduating Seniors
On Tuesday, June 16th, the HCT hosted a reception at Mio Posto restaurant, honoring our HCT
Scholarship recipients. A total of $4,250 was awarded. We welcomed the opportunity to present each
of the five Hicksville High School seniors, Kenneth Brown, Christy Chen, Danielle DeMarco, Anthony
Sorisi, and Nicole Triandafilos, with a small gift and our heartfelt congratulations.
Three scholarships were also awarded to the children of HCT members. Laura Capozzi, daughter of
HCT member Lynn Oliviero (East Street School) received a $1,500 scholarship for academic
excellence. In addition, Laura was awarded a $225 scholarship from the Long Island Teachers
Benevolent Fund. A $750 community service scholarship was awarded to Claire Drotman, daughter of
HCT member Michele Drotman (Hicksville Middle School). Dylan Hornik, son of HCT member Lori
Koerner (Fork Lane School), was recognized for receiving the Len Motisi Scholarship from the Long
Island Teachers Benevolent Fund in the amount of $225.
We wish these outstanding graduates much success throughout their college career.
HCT President Joan Deem and the scholarship recipients
END OF YEAR PARTY
On June 16, 2015, the HCT held its annual End-of-Year party honoring retiring
teachers, teachers completing twenty-years of service, and an HCT union
activist. The party took place at Mio Posto Restaurant and was attended by 65
active members as well as HCT retirees.
At the party, Hicksville High School Building Representative Artie Mediate was
honored for his ten years of union activism. Nineteen teachers were honored for
celebrating twenty years of service in Hicksville. Additionally, retiring teachers
were honored and received the gift of a personalized clock. All attendees
enjoyed food, drinks, and desserts, as well as the opportunity to celebrate the
end of another successful school year with their colleagues.
Congratulations to our HCT colleagues Tina Gimmi, Cynthia Appold, and Matthew Sullivan.
Enjoy your retirement!
HCT President Joan Deem presenting High School Building Representative,
Artie Mediate with his 10-year union activist plaque.
Congratulations to our members who have completed 20 years of service in
the Hicksville School District:.
Standing: John Bertuzzi III, Phil Moshoyannis, Patricia Tarsoly, Lara Richman
Seated: Lisa Combattente, Robin Zeller
Happy
Retirements
On Wednesday, June 17, 2015 the Superintendent and members of the Hicksville Board of Education honored
the District’s retirees, Cynthia Appold, Tina Gimmi, Filomena Cooper, and Diane Muscolino.
Years of Service
Silver Anniversary recipients Anne LaBarbera, Lori Simon, and Susan Tillwitz were thanked for their
25 years of dedicated service to the children of the Hicksville Public Schools.
Dutch Lane School

Congratulations to Susan Tillwitz on receiving her silver anniversary tray at the Board of
Education Recognition Ceremony.
East Street

Congratulations to Jack Fabrizio on 20 years of service in Hicksville.

Congratulations to Peggy and Steve Giuntini on the birth of their granddaughter Andi Gray,
born in April to her son Danny and his wife Regina.
Fork Lane

Congratulations to Lisa Combattente on 20 years of service in Hicksville.
Lee Avenue

Congratulations to Filomena Cooper on her retirement.

Congratulations to Edward Denaro, Anne Laddy, and Phillip Moshoyannis on their 20 years of
service in Hicksville.
Woodland

Congratulations to Megan Callahan on 20 years of service in Hicksville.
Middle School

Congratulations to Dina Ditrano, Thomas Stephens, and Patricia Tarsoly on their 20 years of
service in Hicksville.
High School

Congratulations to Cynthia Appold, Tina Gimmi, Diane Muscolini, Robert Purcell and Matthew
Sullivan on their retirements.

Congratulations to John Bertuzzi, Alice Hannon, Dianne Keller, Richard Marlborough, Robert
Purcell, Robert Trenkle, Lorraine Willet and Robin Zeller on their 20 years of service in
Hicksville.
Congratulations to the following HCT members who were granted tenure at the
June 17th, 2015 Board of Education Meeting
Rachel Bennett
Kevin Boyle
Fran Coiro
Lara D’Andrea
Stella Drakos
Michael Evans
Christine Janda
Staci Kolinsky
Margaret Lehmann
Jacqueline Lever
Shannon Murphy
Gayle Pinsky
Teresa Piazzola
Agnes Piwowar-Clark
Corinne Pope
Ashley Rau
David Vigneaux
Retirees’ Update
Thomas Smith (1997) - Condolences to the family of Thomas Smith on his passing this June.
Patricia Massa (1999) - Condolences to Patricia Massa on the passing of her husband William Massa (1980) .
Linda Sheil (2000) - Condolences to Linda Sheil on the passing of Vicki Vrona (2007).
Hilary Sperber (2013) - Your colleagues and friends continue to send you their get well wishes!
Members of the Hicksville Congress of Teachers joined together to produce their first Talent for
the Troops extravaganza to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. Teachers
throughout the district performed in this talent show, delighting their colleagues and their
students who filled the Hicksville High School auditorium to capacity. The program opened with
the national anthem sung by Nassau County Legislator Laura M. Schaefer. HCT members
displayed their talents with performances that included a classical music selection from four
orchestra teachers, a sign language rendition of “We Are the Champions”, and a lip syncing and
dance routine by the teachers of the Old Country Road School to the song “Soldier Boy.” Other
teachers displayed their remarkable vocal talents, and the band Rage & the Comets brought
down the house, inspiring members of the audience to get up and dance.
More than $10,000 was raised through the sale of admission tickets and raffle tickets. The
Hicksville Congress of Teachers, through their local action project, donated one of the grand
prizes, a PlayStation 4. The HCT also provided the funding for a professional sound engineer for
the concert. All proceeds were donated to the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit
organization offering programs, service and events for wounded military veterans.
The Hicksville Congress of Teachers — A Union of Dedicated Professionals
Hicksville Congress of Teachers
183 Broadway, Suite 302
Hicksville, NY 11801
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Visit our website at www.hickvilleteachers.org
If you have a name or address change please contact the HCT at (516) 937-1288
and the Hicksville School District Administration at (516) 733-2125.