This September, Plainedge Schools will welcome three new faces to administrative positions within the district, and bid a fond farewell to two retirees.

Chris P'Simer, Mark Nocero, and Emily O'Brien, all of whom were once teachers in the district, are moving on to higher positions in the school system. Richard Staudt and Thomas Gibbons, two long-term members of the Plainedge Schools' administrative staff, retired this summer.

P'Simer, formerly principal of Sylvia Packard Middle School, was recently appointed by the Board of Education as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. She will replace Dr. Lee S. Wilson, who served for the past two years as Interim Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. Nocero, formerly principal of Eastplain Elementary School, will take over the reins as principal at the middle school, while O'Brien is appointed as principal of Eastplain. All appointments were effective July 1, 2001.

P'Simer has enjoyed a varied and distinguished career in Plainedge. She began as a math and computer science teacher. Shortly after joining the district, she was asked to head the newly formed Plainedge Teacher Center, where she served as director for over ten years. During that time, the program grew from a few computer courses for teachers to a comprehensive faculty development and parent education program.

While a teacher, P'Simer was elected secretary of the Plainedge Federation of Teachers. She took an active role in strategic planning, serving on Planning and Action Teams. In Jan. 1996, she was appointed Director of Staff Development and continued in that position until being named principal of the middle school in Sept. 1997.

Since her focus and area of specialty has always been curriculum and instruction, P'Simer said she sees her position as a "natural move," one she has been preparing for throughout her career. "I've thoroughly enjoyed my time at the middle school, where I've been fortunate to work with wonderful kids and a cooperative, dedicated and energetic staff, but I look forward with great anticipation to my new position," she said.

Not only has Nocero been a teacher in the district, but he also grew up in the community and graduated from Plainedge High School. He began his teaching career in 1980 and has taught speech at each of the district schools. For four years, he was also Administrative Assistant at Plainedge High School. In 1992, he trained as a Strategic Planning facilitator and spent several years coordinating the district's efforts in district and site planning. He also developed and served as principal for four year of the PATHS alternative high school program. For two years, Nocero headed the elementary summer school program, and in 1999 was named principal at Eastplain School.

A parent of three children, two of whom are middle school age, Nocero said he is well aware of the challenges he faces. "I'm very excited to work with this age group. At this stage, youngsters need a lot of direction, guidance and support. The staff at Packard is superbly qualified and do a great job, and I fully intend to continue that fine tradition."

Until her appointment as principal of Eastplain, O'Brien taught sixth grade and headed the Project Challenge Program for Gifted Students in the Plainview/Old Bethpage District. O'Brien is a recognized expert in integrating the teaching of math, science and technology in the elementary classroom and has participated in two federally funded projects sponsored by the National Science Foundation. One focused on developing leadership in middle school mathematics, and the second on integrating the teaching of math, science and technology in elementary schools.

O'Brien said she considers herself a teacher of teachers. She has been a lead teacher in middle school mathematics and taught numerous staff training workshops on math and science education in elementary schools. She is also an adjunct professor at C.W. Post College where she teaches courses in the methods and materials for teaching science in elementary schools. O'Brien was recently named one of three State finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching.

A graduate of SUNY Cortland, where she received her degree in elementary education and mathematics, O'Brien received her master's degree from Long Island University and her administrative certification from the College of New Rochelle. She and her husband, residents of Babylon, are parents of four children.

"I've received a very warm welcome from the Eastplain family," she said. "I look forward to being principal and becoming part of this wonderful community."

Retiree Richard Staudt joined the Plainedge Schools as supervisor of the science department in 1985, after teaching science in Kings Park for 15 years. In 1989, he was named Director of Science, Health and Mathematics. His responsibilities included the elementary and secondary science programs, and the district's planetarium. He also supervised the Northedge Building for several years.

In 1995, Staudt was named Director of Science and Technology, and was largely responsible for implementing the district's multi-year technology project. Staudt took the lead in forging a partnership with Cablevision Corporation, who provided Internet access free of charge for all district computers, a savings of thousands of dollars. As part of the partnership, Cablevision also works closely with Plainedge teachers in effectively utilizing Power to Learn instructional programs.

Thomas Gibbons came to Plainedge in Sept. 1978, after having worked in New Jersey for several years. During his long career in the Plainedge Schools, he held a number of different positions within the organization. He joined the district as Director of Physical Education, Athletics and Health, and a year later, was named Acting Principal at the High School. Since then, his responsibilities have centered on the areas of personnel and operations management. Gibbons was named Director of Personnel and Operations in 1986, then Administrative Assistant for Personnel and Operations, Administrative Assistant for General Services, and most recently, Assistant Superintendent.

Gibbons' responsibilities have included managing the interviewing and hiring of new teachers, administrators and support staff. He has supervised the clerical, custodial and security staffs, and has been involved in negotiating employment contracts. Gibbons also worked with the district's architects in designing and coordinating district construction and renovation projects, a part of his job that has grown immensely during the last two years of planning and now implementation of the district's recently approved bond referendum.