The district had a lot to celebrate, as members of the board of education and administration honored retiree Doreen Johnson and Junior-Senior High School junior Madeleine Prucha during its March board of education meeting.

Mrs. Johnson has been a dedicated member of the East Rockaway family for 13 years and held the position of Junior-Senior High School principal secretary. Principal Richard Schaffer delivered a speech expressing the impact Mrs. Johnson has made on the district community. Following his speech, he showed a video of East Rockaway staff expressing how she will be sorely missed.

In addition to the night, the board also congratulated junior Madeleine Prucha for receiving four awards in the 2020 Northeast Regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. This included two Gold Keys, a Silver Key and an honorable mention. Her work will continue onto the national level. Members of the board and administration invited Madeleine to do a reading of one of her works, titled “I Still Cheat at Checkers.”

The district congratulates Mrs. Johnson on her retirement and wishes Madeleine the best of luck at the national level.