Mineola board honors 20 teachers with tenure; students deliver video tributes

The Mineola Union Free School District Board of Education on June 4 celebrated and approved tenure for 20 educators, with the interim superintendent calling tenure “a statement of confidence” in teachers’ growth and practice.

Interim Superintendent Katherine Fishman opened the ceremony and framed tenure as more than passage of time: “Tenure is earned. Our teachers do more than simply complete a probationary period. They are coached, they attend workshops, they try new instructional strategies — they stretch themselves,” Fishman said. She asked the newly tenured staff to “pause and really take this moment in.”

Board members then highlighted individual candidates’ work, citing classroom examples, portfolio evidence and student letters. Trustees praised teachers for building relationships, supporting multilingual learners, expanding arts and music programs and creating hands‑on science and life‑skills opportunities. The program included tributes to ENL, dual‑language, special education and arts staff and named educators such as Miss Bravo, Miss Nikolai, Miss Little, Miss Haynes, Kenneth Camping and Tatiana Osa.

A short video of student messages followed; multiple students offered one‑sentence thanks to specific teachers and coaches. Jasine Malik, one of the student representatives, later thanked board members and staff for support during the school year and recapped recent student honors, including NHS and arts recognitions.

When the board called the tenure recommendation (consensus agenda item F) to a vote, a board member moved the recommendation and Patrick Talty seconded it; the board approved the appointments by voice vote. Board members invited the honorees to gather for photographs and refreshments before the meeting resumed.

The board’s public recognition underscored the district’s stated mission and its emphasis on ongoing professional development; Fishman encouraged educators to use the district as a resource, saying "my door is always open to you." The meeting then continued with student representative reports and routine business.