Frank Tassone was among the most talented educational leaders I have ever known. He was a visionary, making Roslyn among the most creative, dynamic school districts in the country. As a parent of two Roslyn kids, I was proud and gratified because they were receiving a top flight education under Frank's stewardship. Frank spoke with great compassion and concern for the children under his care; he told me that he was only interested in hiring teachers who were engaging, gifted educators, and he was always seeking new, innovative programs to reach our children's hearts and minds. Not that the Roslyn schools were perfect, but I believed that in Frank we always had a sympathetic ear. He listened to us and tried his best to rectify whatever problems we raised.

Several years ago I approached Frank, along with Dr. Carolyn Harris of the East Williston schools, about the need for a communitywide response to drug and alcohol abuse among teenagers. Frank was not only receptive, but he enthusiastically embraced this cause. I was very impressed by his passion and his commitment. Frank made our new Coalition for Drug Free Youth a priority for his office, enabling it to grow into an important community institution.

Frank, as we now know, had a darker side that he hid from us, namely an insatiable greed, a weak conscience, no moral fiber. Frank used his enormous personal gifts to steal from us, from our children, and to violate the trust we placed in him.

As I write this, Frank Tassone, a man respected both locally and nationally as a gifted educator, this Dickens scholar is in a court room facing a judge who will sentence him to the incarceration he deserves. Justice will be served. He will endure a punishment that will be severe and exacting, as is appropriate given the crimes he committed against us.

Like many in our community, I feel betrayed by Frank Tassone. He personally lied to me about his involvement in this sordid ordeal. And yet, I also feel compassion for him. He made a series of terrible decisions, sinful decisions no doubt. Still, I will always be grateful for the many contributions Frank made to our community, just as I will lament his thievery and his dishonesty.

My great fear is that Frank Tassone's legacy will be a lingering vitriol and mistrust. That as the Roslyn School District continues to face challenges regarding budget, staffing and curriculum, our first impulse will continue to be to yell at each other instead of trusting each other's motives and sincerity. That we will remain paralyzed in our fury, instead of moving past it and healing.

Rav Judah teaches in the Talmud that God spends three hours each day sitting in judgment of the world. And when God sees that the world is so guilty as to deserve destruction, God moves from the Seat of Justice to the Seat of Mercy. I personally have moved beyond anger, to feelings of mercy. I pray that Frank will use his incarceration wisely, reflecting on his actions, perhaps teaching other inmates to read, coming to terms with the magnitude of his transgressions. I pray that he and his family will heal, just as I pray that we, as a community, will move beyond our communal anger. I pray that we will regain our ability to join as one community, joyfully enabling all the children in our care to realize their destinies, trusting our educational leadership, empowering them to lead us to even greater heights.

Rabbi Michael A. White

Temple Sinai of Roslyn