Tenure & Years of Service Celebration 2024

  • district administrators with honoree
  • director being honored for service
  • facilities director honored for service
  • administrators recognize athletics assistant director
  • principal with district leaders
  • teacher honored with tenure
  • teacher, superintendent and deputy superintendent
  • teacher flanked by administrators
  • teacher with an administrator on each side at reception
  • superintendent and COO honor teacher
  • teaching assistant honored for service
  • 20-year employee recognized
  • technology staffer's years of service honored
  • school counselors 20 years applauded
  • teaching assistant with district officials
  • accountant's 20 years celebrated
  • transportation official's tenure honored
  • tech worker celebrated for long service
  • husband wife toddler and baby
  • four technology colleagues celebrate honoree
  • athletics leaders celebrate tenure recipient
  • CTE colleagues celebrate coworker's honor
  • two teachers' families join party
  • CTE staff celebrate years of service honorees
  • office staff from special services at celebration
  • two teacher, principal and a spouse
  • tenure recipient and assistant superintendent shake hands
  • district education leaders smiling

31 employees feted at annual celebration 

The Board of Education and Administration, along with colleagues and family members, gathered Oct. 16 to celebrate Southern Westchester BOCES' 2024 tenure recipients as well as those employees who have reached milestones in their years of service to the district. 

Each honoree was presented with a certificate by District Superintendent Harold Coles, Psy.D., and Deputy Superintendent/COO Brendan Lyons, Ed.D., and had their picture taken to commemorate the event. A slideshow featured each of the honorees, and cake and cookies rounded out the festivities, to the delight especially of several children on hand for the event. 

The reception at SWBOCES' Harrison location preceded the school board's regular business meeting, and members were on hand for the celebration.

Tenure is an employment status educators earn following a period of probationary employment. It is a significant career milestone and accomplishment that reflects the commitment and trust extended by a school district. Tenure recipients have proven themselves as highly capable professionals who reflect the mission, vision and values of Southern Westchester BOCES. Teachers, building leaders and district leaders are eligible to receive tenure.

The years of service honorees combine for 400-plus years of service to SWBOCES. 

Dr. Coles and Dr. Lyons thanked each of the honorees for their contributions to schools and students and their dedication to the SWBOCES mission.

The 2024 Tenure recipients

Julia Dolan, Principal
Jesse Merchant, Assistant Director of Athletics
Karen Peters, Teacher
Andrew Ruoti, Teacher
Jane Shields, Teacher
Sarah Demetriadis, Teacher
Louis Milillo, Teaching Assistant
Shinea Smith-Elridge, Teaching Assistant
Nicholas Ceglio, Teacher

The 2024 Years of Service Honorees

10 Years

Justin Bartholomewbale, Network Administrator, Level 3
James A. Gratto Jr,  Assistant. Superintendent for Educational Services
Dahlia A. Jackson, Director of Career Services
Cristina Piccolo, Teaching Assistant
Kathleen Reynolds, Community Aide
Richard T. Ruszczyk, Senior Payroll Clerk

20 Years

Rosalie Consani, Teacher
Matthew Dymes, Network Administrator
Arshad Hussain, Network Specialist, Level 3
Robert Lehning,  Assistant Supervisor of Transportation
Lesly Martes, Teaching Assistant
Kevin McAllister, School Counselor
Emy Picon, Customer Service Rep I, Level 2
Tatyana Ratner, Senior Systems Analyst Programmer
Ann Robertson, Teaching Assistant
Mary Rossetti,  Accountant
Stephen Rutigliano, Purchasing Agent
Avi Verma, Network Technology Consultant, Level 2
Viju Vincent, Network Engineer I

30 Years

Anthony Ferrante, Manager-Information Technology Services
Dennis Hawkins, Teaching Assistant