Robin Conklin and Cara Robertson will receive Mid-Hudson School Study Council (MHSSC) Awards for Excellence this May.
Robin Conklin will receive the Teaching Excellence Award. Cara Robertson will receive the Excellence in School Board Service Award.
Superintendent Brian Dunn paid a surprise visit to Ms. Conklin in her fifth-grade class at Circleville Elementary School Wednesday morning, to give her the good news about the award. He was accompanied by CES Assistant Principal Joe Prestianni and Pine Bush High School music teacher Nicholas Ruggeri. Surrounded by some of her students, Ms. Conklin was stunned and speechless for a short time, something she said was not common!
Mr. Dunn hopped up on a chair to read the proclamation, much to the delight of the students in the classroom. Mr. Ruggeri spearheaded the nomination of Ms. Conklin.
“I am so surprised and speechless,” said Ms. Conklin. “Thank you so much!”
Her students hugged her immediately, congratulating her on the honor.
Ms. Robertson, who has dedicated 10 years to the Pine Bush community through her service on the school board, got the news at Thursday night’s board meeting from board president, Gretchen Meier. Ms. Meier explained that the MHSSC award for school board excellence was given back in the fall but they kept the secret all this time!
The MHSSC Annual Meeting and Award Celebration will be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 in the Fieldstone Auditorium, located in the North Rockland Central School District, 100 Fieldstone Drive, Theills. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with light refreshments available. The award ceremony will follow the business meeting which will begin at 6:30 p.m.