The Board of Education, district administrators, educators, supervisors and families gathered to celebrate the service of 23 Southern Westchester BOCES retirees at an annual reception in Valhalla on June 3.

Retirees from a half-dozen different BOCES divisions were honored at the Center for Career Services Campus in Valhalla. The Center's Culinary Arts program prepared a gourmet buffet and dessert for the occasion. Deputy Superintendent/COO Dr. Brendan Lyons read a personal biography before inviting each retiree to the podium to receive a certificate of thanks and be photographed along with District Superintendent Dr. Harold Coles and Board President John Filiberti.

"This year we acknowledge and celebrate the service of 23 of our colleagues from across our BOCES," Dr. Lyons said. "Together they account for an impressive 622 years of total service, an average of 27 years apiece. We are thankful to every one of them for their dedication to our students, our school communities and to the SWBOCES mission."

See our Facebook page for more photos from the event.

The 2026 retirees:

Deborah Maas
Teaching Assistant, Center for Special Services
43 years

Christine Jansen
Treasurer, Business Office
39 years

Clotude Merot
Teacher Aide, Center for Special Services
37 years

Catherine Fragoso
Senior Office Assistant, Center for Special Services
35 years

Nancy Henagan
Teaching Assistant, Center for Special Services
35 years

Jorge Garcia
Custodial Worker, Operations & Maintenance
35 years

Christopher O’Malley
Teaching Assistant, Center for Special Services
34 years

Julie Zinserling
Senior Help Desk Analyst, LHRIC
33 years

Lisa Culler
Teacher, Center for Special Services
32 years

Lydia Mercado
Teacher Aide, Center for Special Services
27 years

Sara Stave
School Psychologist, Center for Special Services
26 years

Samonie Cameron
Teacher Aide, Center for Special Services
26 year

Saintfort Emile
Teacher Aide, Center for Special Services
25 years

Mary Teeling
Control Operations Supervisor, LHRIC
24 years

Lisa Cerbone
Teacher, Center for Special Services
24 years

Alison Strauzer
Health Claims Processor, Human Resources
22 years

Billie Dolan
Teacher, Center for Special Services
22 years

Ariel Farber
Teacher, Center for Special Services
20 years

Joseph Cecere
Custodial Worker, Operations & Maintenance
20 years

Reginald Pierce
Security Aide, Center for Career Services
19 years

Eileen Yip
School Social Worker, Center for Career Services
17 years

Manfred Jean-Louis
Teaching Assistant, Center for Special Services
16 years

James Gratto Jr.
Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services
11 years