The East Rockaway Board of Education meeting on Sept. 16 marked the official embrace of the new school year with a dual focus: recognizing new instructional staff and revisiting the inspiration that launched the year at Superintendent’s Conference Day.

Superintendent James DeTommaso opened the evening by introducing the district’s new teachers. While only instructional staff were introduced at the meeting, he shared that every new hire—including administrators and support staff—had been recognized during Conference Day. He emphasized that each role, no matter the title, is essential to the success of East Rockaway students.

After a brief intermission for refreshments, the meeting reconvened with a presentation on Superintendent’s Conference Day. Mr. DeTommaso shared a highlight reel of the 2024-25 school year, along with video testimonials from students and alumni celebrating their experiences in the district. He revisited the conference theme, “If I could change the world,” telling staff, “You don’t need a superhero cape. You don’t need a magic wand. All you need is the belief that the time you spend with students, the words you choose, the patience you demonstrate and the enthusiasm that you bring—that is the change.”

He described a districtwide exercise where every staff member contributed to “star boards” for each school, pledging specific ways they would change a student’s world this year. Themes that emerged across the boards included:

• Kindness and compassion
• Smiles and positivity
• Listening and connections
• Confidence and belief
• Safety and support
• Inspiration and growth

Mr. DeTommaso expressed pride in the East Rockaway school community and excitement for the year ahead.

The meeting then transitioned into regular business, highlighted by a milestone moment: the first report delivered by student board member Sofia Ferkov, the inaugural student voice to formally join the board.