Prendergast to retire from G.N. in July

Ed board says resignation letter came as a surprise

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

Great Neck School District Superintendent Teresa Prendergast submitted a letter of resignation to the Board of Education during Wednesday night’s public meeting.

Prendergast’s resignation, set to go into efect July 21, was unanimously accepted by board members, who said the letter came as a surprise to them. The resignation, board President Rebecca Sassouni said, was “for purposes of retirement.”

“I’m going to miss this community,” Prendergast said. “I’m going miss our students and faculty and our entire staf. But our work is not done and I’m not leaving yet.”

Sassouni and the other board members expressed their appreciation for Prendergast’s work in the district since she was appointed to superintendent in 2015. Sassouni said it has been “an honor” to work with Prendergast both as a member of the board and as an involved parent in the school district.

“Watching you work, the grace that you bring to the position the attention to detail and to students and to staf and to the board, you are the picture of grace and aplomb and it is very much appreciated by me,” Sassouni said.

“I just want to thank you peripherally at this point for shepherding our district through some very difcult times and difcult situations with grace and a smile and a caring for our students which has always been your number one priority,” Trustee Donna Peirez said.

“As a parent, that my daughters have benefted greatly from the schools and is a direct refection on your leadership,” Trustee Grant Toch said. “It’s been a privilege to send them to school here while you’ve been here.”

“You impact many lives of our students and we appreciate you and you’re part of our family forever,” Trustee Jef Shi said.

“This was startling to all of us, so we weren’t really prepared with anything for tonight,” former board President and Trustee Barbara Berkowitz

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Prendergast lauded the board’s work, saying how much of a pleasure it was to work with all of the trustees since arriving at Great Neck.

Having community members that will prioritize the education of Great Neck’s student body, she said, should always be of paramount concern with any district ofcial and said the board has exemplifed that throughout her tenure.

“Working in public education has certainly brought its share of challenges, but I am grateful that I’ve always had fve dedicated and committed trustees who always looked to make decisions in the best interests of children,” Prendergast said.

No ofcial word has been made public as to the district’s selection process for a new superintendent.

An educator since 1987, Prendergast served as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for the Garden City Public Schools District.

Before working in Garden City, Prendergast served at the Lynbrook Public Schools – frst as principal of the Lynbrook South Middle School from 2000 to 2004 and then as assistant superintendent for curriculum and personnel from 2004 to 2006.

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