Posted:
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
A Message from Linda Waldbaum, Newsletter Editor
The PFT would like to recognize fourteen amazing educators who have worked tirelessly for the past few years here in Plainedge. In May, the Plainedge BOE granted tenure to these teachers. This is a significant moment in an educator’s career and involves a rigorous evaluation process by administrators over a four-year period. Although tenure is thought of as a lifelong appointment, nothing could be further from the truth. Tenure is simply the right to due process before being disciplined or terminated from a teaching position. It is hard to imagine this is not a right for all employees everywhere. Thankfully, being part of a union, tenure is a protected right for all our members who work hard to be granted this honor. Please join the PFT leadership in congratulating the fourteen fellow PFT members who received tenure this school year!
Megan Bender - Schwarting Elementary
Megan Bender spent her first three years in Plainedge teaching third grade ICT at Schwarting Elementary School. Now in her fourth year, she continues to support the Schwarting community as a fifth grade ICT teacher. Before joining the Plainedge family, Megan gained valuable experience as a leave replacement and substitute teacher in East Meadow and as an itinerant teacher supporting K-12 students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Achieving tenure is more than a milestone in Megan’s professional career; it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Megan recently stumbled upon a childhood notebook from second grade where she had written down that her dream job was to be a special education teacher. She credits her own childhood teachers, her current students, coworkers, and administration for fueling her love of teaching. Megan sends a huge thank you to her husband, family, and friends for their endless love and support. She looks forward to celebrating this incredible career milestone over the summer when she and her husband head to Italy for their honeymoon.
Janine DePaul - Middle School Special Education Teacher
Janine DePaul teaches eighth grade ICT Algebra and Earth and Space Science at Plainedge Middle School. Janine’s path to tenure is the ultimate story of coming home. Her very first job out of college was right here at PMS as a teaching assistant and leave replacement. She then took a position at Lawrence Middle School, working with students in an 8-1-2 classroom. Subsequently, she dedicated fourteen years teaching 3rd-5th grade for the NYC Department of Education at P.S. 165 in Flushing, Queens. Now, with multiple certifications under her belt and a wealth of experience, Janine has returned to PMS for the second half of her career. Janine is grateful to her husband Phil for his unwavering support and both of their parents for their invaluable help raising their son Theo. Janine also extends her thanks to her middle school team and administrators for their mentorship, daily collaboration, and kindness. The celebrations kick off with a lively dinner alongside family, friends, and fellow honoree Jennifer Pesale, followed by a summer filled with travel and her son’s first ever Mets game.
Danielle Ferrentino - West Elementary Teaching Assistant
Danielle Ferrentino is a Teaching Assistant at John H. West elementary. Danielle first joined the West family in 2020 as a teacher’s aide before transitioning into her current role in 2022. She feels blessed to call West her home. Danielle credits her students as her daily inspiration, noting that seeing them succeed both inside and outside the classroom is what makes all the hard work worth it. She extends her heartfelt thanks to Joseph Maisano, Denise Pisano and Sara Azizollahoff for giving her the opportunities, tools, and mentorship needed to thrive as an educator. To mark this momentous occasion, she will be celebrating with her family to toast this exciting new chapter.
Michael Giovanniello - High School Teaching Assistant
Michael Giovanniello is a Teaching Assistant at Plainedge High School. His educational journey began right here in Plainedge, completing his student teaching at Schwarting Elementary School. After graduating, he accepted a leave replacement Teaching Assistant role at Plainedge Middle School and eventually transitioned to Plainedge High School where he has worked for the last four years. Michael supports special education students in their academic coursework along with vocational training classes. He attributes his smooth journey here in Plainedge to the incredible people around him. Michael is grateful to his colleagues and the entire special education staff for always offering guidance, kindness, and a supportive team environment.
Ageliki Heliotis - Schwarting Elementary Fourth Grade Teacher
Ageliki Heliotis is a Fourth Grade Teacher at Schwarting Elementary, bringing a wealth of experience to Plainedge. Ageliki has dedicated 21 years to teaching first, second and third graders within the New York City Department of Education. She came to Plainedge as a Math AIS leave replacement at Eastplain before transitioning to her current role at Schwarting. From day one, Ageliki felt the exceptional kindness and community spirit that defines Plainedge. She extends her deepest thanks to her family for their endless love and encouragement. Ageliki is incredibly grateful to her Eastplain and Schwarting families, her administrators and especially her fourth grade team for their daily collaboration, mentorship, and kindness.
Kirsten Higgins - Middle School Special Education Teacher
Kirsten Higgins is a Special Education Teacher at Plainedge Middle School. Her educational journey began with her training as an elementary teacher. However, her experience teaching at Oceanside Middle School inspired her to head back to school to get certified for secondary education. Today, she is a remarkably versatile educator, teaching everything from ICT ELA and reading to self-contained social studies and resource room. Kirsten marks this career milestone with immense gratitude for her fiancé and parents, who have always been her rock. She celebrated this accomplishment with a celebratory family dinner alongside her future in-laws. Kirsten would like to give a big thank you to her amazing PMS colleagues - Christina Nullet, Jeanine Zappia, Lauren King, and Shannon Wood - for their unwavering workplace support and making the building feel like home.
Karen Innes - West Elementary Second Grade Teacher
Karen Innes is Plainedge through and through, both as a proud district mom and now as a tenured educator. Karen began her teaching career as a teaching assistant in Commack, and then went on to teach sixth grade at I.S. 10 in Queens. After taking a career hiatus to be home with her kids (Plainedge Class of ‘25 and ‘27), Karen launched her teaching comeback right here in Plainedge. She built her path step-by-step as a resident sub and a leave replacement before accepting a permanent position as a second grade teacher at John H. West. Karen extends her deep appreciation to the second grade team, Sara Azizollahoff, Joe Maisano, and Carol Muscarella for their constant encouragement and support. She looks forward to celebrating the milestone with a quiet, happy evening surrounded by her family.
Samantha McHugh - Schwarting Elementary STEAM Teacher
Samantha McHugh has spent her first four years in Plainedge learning from the best and teaching across multiple levels. She originally got her start in the district teaching sixth grade math and science at the Middle School before stepping into her current role as the STREAM teacher at Charles E. Schwarting. Bringing a unique background that includes teaching in the ABA program at Western Suffolk BOCES, Samantha loves the collaborative spirit of her current building. She sends a huge thank you to the STREAM team and her Schwarting co-workers for their mentorship. She is also grateful for the love and support of her husband and parents who always have her back. For Samantha, this milestone caps off a chapter of incredible personal milestones, having gone from newly engaged to a new mom during her time here. She looks forward to relaxing this summer with her husband and son Brady.
Michael Mongiovi - High School Science Teacher
For Plainedge High School science teacher Michael Mongiovi, working with children has always been a primary passion. He discovered his love of teaching through coaching and working at summer camps during his own high school days. After an undergraduate pivot from biology to chemistry, Michael realized he could turn those combined interests into a fulfilling career. Following a year at East Hampton High School, Michael joined Plainedge High School where he now teaches a diverse lineup of courses such as Honors and Regents Chemistry, AP Research, Forensics, and Applied Science. Michael attributes his smooth transition into the district to the immense kindness of Maureen Chiolo and Erin Lehane, along with the rest of the PHS science department. He looks forward to supporting future new hires the exact same way. He is equally grateful to his family for their unwavering support. Michael celebrated this major milestone which coincided with his birthday with a great dinner and a comedy show.
Concita Ottaviano - West Elementary Teaching Assistant
For Concita Ottaviano, achieving tenure at John H. West marks an incredibly meaningful chapter in her life and career. Before taking a hiatus to raise her boys, Concita worked as an early childhood special education teacher. When she was ready to return to the workforce, she brought her talents and heart to West, where she currently serves as a teaching assistant in a 9:1:3 special class. Navigating the shift from stay-at-home mom to working mom is no small feat. Concita shares immense gratitude for her family, whose constant love, encouragement, and willingness to step in whenever needed made this transition possible. Concita is equally thankful to the amazing staff at West for welcoming her with open arms from day one. Their collective kindness, patience, and support have made her feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful people both at home and at school.
Jennifer Pesale - Middle School Special Education
Jennifer Pesale brings an impressive wealth of experience to Plainedge Middle School. She began her career subbing in Jericho and taking a leave replacement in Bethpage. She dedicated thirteen years of her career to the NYC DOE, where she taught grades 3-8 across self-contained and ICT settings. Leaving a place she called home for over a decade was scary, but Jennifer’s leap of faith paid off perfectly. Today, she is a vital part of the PMS community, co-teaching 7th grade ELA and Social Studies. Jennifer extends her heartfelt appreciation to her administrative team, her Special Education directors, and her phenomenal co-teachers for helping her find her place and grow as an educator. She is equally thankful to her family, friends, and the students who make coming to work every morning a joy. Jennifer will be toasting this milestone over dinner with her family and is especially excited to keep the celebrations going with her good friend Janine DePaul, as they mark this career achievement together.
Susan Pilock - High School Teaching Assistant
Susan PIlock brings a unique blend of expertise to Plainedge High School. While many in the building know her as a dedicated teaching assistant in the library, Susan actually spent the core of her career teaching middle school Spanish. Her extensive educational background includes teaching in Massapequa, taking a rewarding hiatus to raise her kids, and later serving as a part time Language and ESL educator in Wantagh. When she found her way to Plainedge, she discovered a workplace that immediately felt like home. Susan attributes much of the joy in her job to the incredible people surrounding her. She would like to send a special thank you to her library colleagues for their unmatched camaraderie and to her family for always standing by her side. Susan was excited to be able to celebrate this milestone with her daughter who recently finished her final exams and her son returned home from college.
Brittany Repetti - West Elementary Teaching Assistant
Brittany Repetti brings a remarkable level of dedication and specialized background to her classroom at John H. West. Her extensive background includes five years of ACDS in early childhood special education and six years at the Mill Neck School for the Deaf. Upon arriving in Plainedge, Brittany first lent her talents to the Middle School Life Skills program before transitioning to her current role in a 9:1:3 special education classroom at West. She credits the incredible collaboration of the Plainedge special education team for helping her reach this milestone. She would like to thank her colleagues for their constant support and shared passion for student success. Her tenure celebration will be a quiet and joyful one this year, as she is out on maternity leave. She looks forward to kicking back, relaxing and soaking in every single moment of this time with her newborn son and her family.
Jennifer Vasaturo - Elementary Social Worker
As the Elementary District School Social Worker, Jennifer Vasaturo has the unique privilege of impacting students across all three elementary school buildings. Before coming to Plainedge, Jennifer previously worked at Nassau BOCES, East Williston High School, and Harbor Hill Elementary in Roslyn. She took a ten year hiatus to focus on raising her children. While she cherished that time at home, she missed the vibrant energy of a school community. Jennifer finds her work at Plainedge incredibly rewarding as she supports children, builds strong family connections, and works alongside caring educators. Jennifer would like to thank her family, colleagues, building principals, and supervisors for all of their support, guidance and encouragement. Most of all, she is grateful to her amazing students who inspire her daily and teach her the true meaning of patience and empathy. To celebrate this proud achievement, Jennifer plans to relax surrounded by her family while enjoying some fantastic food.
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