Rufus Shepard Honored As South Huntington U.F.S.D. Teacher Of The Year

Pictured Left to Right: South Huntington U.F.S.D. Superintendent Dr.David P. Bennardo; South Huntington School Board President James Kaden; Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci; Teacher of the Year Recipient Rufus Shepard; Silas Wood 6^th Grade Center Principal Stephen Toto; and Assistant Superintendent for Personnel and District Services Dr. Joseph Centamore.  (Photo by Steve Bartholomew).

Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,WF,I-Huntington Station) recently joined faculty, staff and students from the South Huntington Union Free School District (U.F.S.D.) to honor the school’s 2013 Teacher of the Year recipient Rufus Shepard. Lupinacci, who previously served as a member of the South Huntington School Board, presented Mr. Shepard with an Assembly Citation in his honor.

“The best educators are those whose impact is felt not only in their classrooms but also through the life lessons they pass along to their students,” said Lupinacci. “Mr. Shepard’s work in the classroom and beyond highlights the very best of what an educator can offer his students. I applaud Mr. Shepard for his hard work, dedication and willingness to go the extra mile for his students. He is not only a valuable asset to South Huntington U.F.S.D. but to the South Huntington community as a whole.”

Mr. Shepard is a teacher at Silas Wood 6^th Grade Center. In addition to his service in the classroom, he also serves as coach for the Walt Whitman girls’ varsity track team and is a mentor for students in the Project Excel program.

South Huntington U.F.S.D. is made up of seven school buildings. Winners for each school building include: Robert Graziano, Walt WhitmanHigh School; Vasken Kazandjian, Stimson Middle School; Lisa Crocco, Birchwood Intermediate Center; Dermot O’Conner, Maplewood Intermediate Center; Laura Van Tassell, Countrywood Primary Center; and Patrick Tighe, Oakwood Primary Center.

By Gregory Atherton