Nassau BOCES Unveils 2026 Education Partner Award Honorees
Sixteen individuals and two organizations recognized for contributions to public education in Nassau County.
This spring, Nassau BOCES will honor fifteen individuals and three organizations that have had an impact on public education in Nassau County. The Nassau BOCES Education Partner Awards program pays tribute to outstanding educational leaders, organizations, school administrators, staff, students, teachers, Nassau BOCES employees, volunteers and other champions of education.
Honorees will be recognized on April 22 at the nineteenth annual Nassau BOCES Education Partner Awards Gala, hosted by the Nassau BOCES Educational Foundation. The Foundation is an independent, non-profit, school community-based organization, dedicated to enriching the lives and learning opportunities of all Nassau BOCES students. Its goal is to secure and allocate funding that supports programs and staff, encourages creative ideas and enhances educational experiences.
During the past 19 years, over 240 individuals and organizations have been honored with the Nassau BOCES Education Partner Award. A strategic education partner with local school districts since 1967, Nassau BOCES created the award to pay tribute to those who share in its commitment to enabling students of all ages and abilities to achieve their maximum potential.
The 2026 Education Partner Awards honorees are:
Maisyn Cardinale
Student, Great Neck South High School, Great Neck UFSD
Angelina Castro-Boutin, Long Island High School for the Arts, (LIHSA), Westbury UFSD
Olivia Lawrence, GC Tech, Massapequa UFSD
Christian Maguire, Career Preparatory High School, (CPHS), Port Washington UFSD
Lidia Velasquez, Barry Tech, Hempstead UFSD
Nassau BOCES Ex-Officio Student Board of Education Members
Gina Marie DaRocha
Principal, Nassau BOCES Carman Road School/Nassau BOCES Pre-School-Programs
Dr. Gabriella Franza
Assistant Director of Instructional Programs, Baldwin UFSD
Dr. Marc Isseks
Assistant Principal, Sewanhaka High School, Sewanhaka CHSD
The Manhasset School Community Association (SCA)
Co-Presidents, Dr. Anita Gauld and Tania Kapoor
Matthew McElwee
Special Education Teacher, Nassau BOCES Rosemary Kennedy School
Rachel Morin M.S. Ed.
Curriculum Coordinator and Learning Center Teacher, Nassau BOCES Seaman Neck Middle School
Nassau BOCES Iris Wolfson High School (IWHS) Food Pantry
IWHS Principal, Lisa Paolucci
Dr. Susan Poser
President, Hofstra University
Ramona’s Gift to Music Foundation
Co-Founders, Micheal Cuellar and John Mangione
Elizabeth Roemer
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Island Trees UFSD
Patrick J. Ryder
Commissioner of Police, Nassau County Police Department
Meryl Waxman Ben-Levy
President, Roslyn UFSD Board of Education
Michael Weinick
Vice President, Nassau BOCES Board of Education
For additional information about the Nassau BOCES Education Partner awards, including profiles of prior year honorees and information about this year’s gala, please visit www.nassauboces.org/educationpartner.
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