Bethpage-Tribune_2002-07-26

              ^rib une Elf t* t i n i
ting
OT
11 I
VOL 40 NO. 30 SERVING BETHPAGE, ISLAND TREES, OLD BETHPAGE, PLAINVIEW, SEAFORD AND PLAINEDGE FORTY CENTS
frmmimmm mm
Bethpage Schools Honor Mary Quinn
6;- KINDERGARTEN SC;
" K-PM TfeDDY B€Al<
& PTA; MECTI
19 :C0MW'CT' MEETlNb
21:.CRADE 5 PARTY
Bethpage Board of Education President Joel Dauman reminisces
with Mary Quinn about her days as Principal of the Charles Campagne
tlementary School underneath the plaque recently dedicated in her
honor. Miss Quinn retired last summer after 51 years of service to the
Bethpage School District.
For 51 years, Mary Quinn served
the Bethpage School District in
exemplary fashion as both an
educator and administrator. Before
announcing her retirement last
summer, Miss Quinn was the only
principal Charles Campagne
Elementary School had ever known.
She returned to the school last
month as the district and faculty
honored her by dedicating a plaque
in recognition of her service and
loyalty.
When the new school year
begins, students, parents, faculty
members, and other visitors entering
Charles Campagne School will be
reminded of Miss Quinn, whose
dedication to the children helped
build the school into an environment
of perennial academic success. Her
plaque is located in the main lobby at
the entrance of the building.
"Miss Quinn truly defines the
term 'Lifetime Achiever' as her
leadership has resulted in excellent
academic achievement," said
Bethpage Board of Education
President Joel Dauman, whose son
Chad is a member of the Bethpage
High School Class of 2002 and
graduated Campagne during Miss
Quinn's tenure. "Her style was
effective and she always had the
best interest of the children in her
mind and in her heart."
Mr. Dauman estimated that over
the course of nearly 9,500 school
days spanning her 51 years, Miss
Quinn has impacted the lives of more
than 11,000 Bethpage students. Miss
Quinn devoted her entire career to
serving the students of Bethpage.
Her sister Catherine, who began
teaching the same year, also retired
last summer from her position as
Principal at the Great Neck Road
Elementary School in the Copiague
School District, where she too had
worked all of her career. Catherine
Quinn stood by her sister's side as
Mr. Dauman and Superintendent of
Schools Harvey Hilburgh unveiled
the plaque with Board of Education
members, faculty members, and
Miss Quinn's closest friends in
attendance.
"Miss Quinn's dedicated service
to the children and parents of this
community is unparalleled," said
Superintendent of Schools Harvey
Hilburgh. "She has worked in several
of our schools, and her impact has
been felt by multiple generations."
In 1949, Miss Quinn was hired to,
teach the third grade at the Powell
Avenue School, which was located
on the site of the Bethpage Public
Library. She also taught the fifth
grade at Pine Avenue Elementary
School and was later appointed as
the school's Assistant Principal. Miss
Quinn also served as Principal at
Powell Avenue School and the
Broadway Elementary School (which
was located in JFK Middle School).
After establishing an outstanding
performance record over her first ten
years, Miss Quinn was chosen to
serve as the first principal of the new
Charles Campagne Elementary
School, which opened in 1959.
"I was ecstatic to open the doors
of Charles Campagne Elementary
School for the first time," said Miss
Quinn. "Every day following that was
a delight and a joy...right up to the
very last day I worked here."
Teacher Rene Wurst read a
heartwarming poem written by the
Campagne staff that described Miss
Quinn as a "groundbreaker" and a
"champion for women." Town of
Oyster Bay representative Kathy
Visconti awarded Miss Quinn a
citation on behalf of Councilwoman
Mary McCaffrey.
Two scholarships have been
created in Miss Quinn's honor to be
donated to Campagne alumni
graduates from Bethpage high
school.
Miss Quinn thanks Board of Education members, administrators,
and teachers for the ceremony held in her honor at the Charles
Campagne Elementary School, celebrating her 51 years of service to
the children of Bethpage.
Mary Quinn (left) with her sister Catherine Quinn. Both ladies
began their careers in education the same year and both retired the
same year. Both also worked for one school district for their entire
career, Mary in Bethpage and Catherine in Copiague.