The New Hyde Park/Garden City Park School District will lose a very valuable friend in its school line-up, after 10 years of dedication, when Superintendent Joseph Rudaitis retires at the end of June.

Superintendent Rudaitis is one of the most concerned and caring administrators to head the New Hyde Park/Garden City Park School District that this editor has ever had the pleasure working with. Is he a "worrywort?" Definitely, but for all the right reasons. His main aim has always been to improve the district, both academically and structurally and he did all of those things. And, it wasn't easy. He managed to hire the best teachers to help the children increase their scores and then he expanded each school to make the learning environment more palatable for both the students and the teachers. Through it all he worried and worried and then worried some more. He always wanted everything to be perfect and as far as his performance is concerned... it was.

The highlight of the year, from this editor's perspective, has always been his inspirational message to the students on "moving-up" day. Perhaps his best and most lasting message is the one he has expressed when he quotes from the song from Lee Ann Womack, I Hope You Dance. The words express so much about life and how it should be embraced and enjoyed. And so I say to you, Joe..."I hope you never lose your sense of wonder and if you have a choice to sit it out or dance...I hope YOU dance!"

-MDW