The district celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of both students and staff during its first board of education meeting of the 2026-2027 school year on Sept. 22.
Superintendent Regina Agrusa formally introduced this year’s ex officio student board members: Hephzibah Awofeso, Floral Park Memorial High School; Jade Gomez, Sewanhaka High School; Ava Iskhakov, New Hyde Park Memorial High School; Menujan Nanthakumar, Elmont Memorial High School; and Shivani Pillai, H. Frank Carey High School. During the meeting, Gomez presented the student board report, highlighting activities from the opening weeks of the school year, as well as upcoming events across the district.
“I would like to extend a warm welcome on behalf of all our ex officio board members this year,” Gomez said. “We aim to contribute by offering voice to the 7,700 students of our schools, and we look forward to working to continue making our district a special place.”
Following the student and superintendent reports, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Richard Faccio announced the district’s students selected for the New York State School Music Association All-State Conference. Matthew Seo of New Hyde Park Memorial High School earned a place in the Wind Ensemble as a Bb clarinetist. In addition, seven students were recognized as NYSSMA All-State alternates: Yumee Chang, violin, Floral Park Memorial High School; Jake Dugan, Tenor I Voice, H. Frank Carey High School; Kevin Flores, Jazz Bass Voice, Elmont Memorial High School; Demari Francis, violin, Sewanhaka High School; Ethan Lin, violin, New Hyde Park Memorial High School; Keith Luu, tuba, New Hyde Park Memorial High School; and Axl Su, cello, New Hyde Park Memorial High School.
Elmont Memorial High School ninth grader Selene Ferdinand was recognized for earning the New York State School Boards Association’s Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Award. Ferdinand was honored for her dedication to serving others through numerous community initiatives, including collecting and donating iPads to a school in need, organizing toiletry drives for residents of Guyana and hosting a special holiday celebration for community members.
The student recognitions continued with New Hyde Park Memorial High School ninth grader Chloe Lee, who was selected to join the prestigious New York Youth Symphony Orchestra as a violist. As a member of the ensemble, she will perform in four concerts at Carnegie Hall.
Also recognized was New Hyde Park Memorial High School seventh grader Sofia Ignacio, a 3M Young Scientist Challenge State Merit Winner. Ignacio designed a cross-assist device that alerts pedestrians to potential dangers while crossing the street. She was the only student from New York State to receive this distinction in this year’s competition.
The evening concluded with a special recognition for Sewanhaka High School pre-engineering teacher Jack Chen, who was named a finalist for 2027 New York State Teacher of the Year. Chen advanced to the final round of the selection process, which included a site visit to Sewanhaka as well as an interview in Albany. According to New York State Commissioner of Education Betty A. Rosa, being nominated and advancing as a finalist for this prestigious award is an honor that recognizes the outstanding professional and personal impact the teacher has had on students and colleagues, reflecting both a dedication to education and the admiration earned from the school community.
