For over 25 years, Transportation Coordinator Mary Trotti has made sure that the children of Mineola Schools have gotten to school-and back home again-safely. She now enters into a well-earned retirement, after a major send-off by her colleagues. Known affectionately to her staff as "Mom," Ms. Trotti is well-loved and respected by her co-workers, as was evidenced by the standing-room-only attendance at her retirement party.

Retirement is bittersweet for Trotti. "I'll be very happy to spend more time with my family-especially my four grandchildren-and to simply relax," she enthuses. Yet, she will miss Mineola Schools. "It was a pleasure working for this district," she says. "They were very good to me. I live in Mineola," she adds, "so it was great to be able to contribute to the schools."