In the late 1990s, Eddie Shimkus found himself in a new place at a new school. As a seventh-grader, it was daunting and challenging, to say the least.
Luckily, he said, there was Melissa Rogge.
She was his social studies teacher at Southampton Intermediate School — and she was “what you hope for in a teacher, especially when you’re new,” Shimkus recalled, “kind, helpful, engaging, humorous and fair.”
He would eventually find his footing, but he never forgot the teacher who made his life better and left an impression — sparking an interest in government and journalism that led to a career working for members of Congress, as well as the Biden-Harris administration.
“I’m grateful to Ms. Rogge for all she did for me and for the countless others who have passed through Southampton Intermediate School,” the Class of 2002 graduate wrote in a letter to the Southampton Board of Education. “The students whose lives she touched, as well the community, are all better off because of her.”
Superintendent of Schools Nicholas Dyno read the note aloud during a recent retirement ceremony, which recognized 15 retirees — including himself — for over 300 years of combined service in the district.
Of those, Rogge’s career spanned 38 years and generations of Southampton students.
“We do have the areas of phys ed, science, ENL, math and social studies all accounted for in this team of expert teachers who are leaving us,” Dyno said. “So these are really big shoes to fill, and we’re hoping we can in the years to come.”
In his letter, Shimkus also thanked teaching assistant Stephen Gerli, technology teacher Julia Best, science teacher Ken German and Sherrilyne Blakey-Smith for their impact on his life — and the building principals spoke to each of their careers.
Over the last quarter century, Gerli has supported nearly every classroom, in almost every subject in almost every grade at some point in his career in the district, according to Southampton Intermediate School Principal Patrick Bentsen. He is flexible, approachable and “free of ego,” he said, and only wants to help.
“He wants students to learn. He wants teachers to be successful. He is there because he cares,” Bentsen said. “His heart is as big as the mark he leaves on SIS. Mr. Gerli’s career is a career we should all strive for. Be a beacon of positivity. Share your joy with as many as possible.”
German, who leaves the district after 29 years in the classroom, imparted not only his knowledge onto his students but also his love for science, Bentsen said. He is the “picture of consistency,” he said, “from his outfits to his car,” and the principal came to appreciate the steadiness he offered.
“Mr. German’s time in the classroom has seen curriculum shifts and demographic changes, yet there are some universals that have transcended — the sound of rockets shooting off in the back field, oftentimes landing on the high school roof; the sounds of kids laughing at a static electricity demo in the classroom; or the wonder of electrical currents whizzing as they’re being manipulated by students,” Bentsen said. “Those sounds and memories are just one of the aspects of the legacy that Mr. German leaves.”
In 1994, Best first came to Southampton as a high school technology teacher before moving to the elementary school in 2012, where she finishes her 28-year career, explained Principal Nicole Fernandez. She instilled in her students a desire to learn, she said, and took the time to help and believe in them as they faced any obstacle.
“It’s been a great place to work. I’ve been able to do great stuff here,” said Best, who has now opened a restaurant, 1901 Grill, on Shelter Island as her next chapter. “Keep it going.”
Looking ahead, Blakey-Smith said her wish is for Southampton to continue to grow. When she moved from a Native American community in Minnesota to the district— where she worked for 28 years as a community liaison, first solely with the Shinnecock Nation and then with the community at large — conversations about diversity were virtually nonexistent.
“They didn’t really know what bilingual, bicultural education was at that time,” she said. “They didn’t know how to even frame the issues to talk about with native students, African American students, Jewish students. Those conversations were not even able to be framed at that time, but having come from the community that I did and the education that I had, I could talk about those conversations because that’s what our history is.”
In Southampton, there was “a lot of work,” she said, and she praised Dyno and the Board of Education members for their leadership, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m so grateful for my friends, my colleagues,” she said. “I look forward to the day that education is decolonized. It won’t happen in my lifetime, but I know that each of us works in some way to continue to decolonize education and have an authentic representation of historical facts.”
High School Principal Brian Zahn also recognized family consumer science teacher Sarah Fitzsimmons for her 21 years with the district — noting that she led one of the most successful and highly enrolled electives in the district — and Saundra Dubin, who taught ASL and Holocaust Studies for the last 23 years.
During her retirement speech, Dubin spoke about the Israel - Hamas war and diversity, equity and inclusion programming.
“My suggestion to you is this: When you make decisions about the kind of programs we bring into our schools, including DEI initiatives, make certain that you look under the hood,” she said. “What is the goal of the program? What does it teach our students and teachers? How are you going to assess its success? Is the program rooted in accurate information, and perhaps most importantly, who does it leave out? In your analysis, I urge you to think about all of the children we serve, not only the children with whom you identify.”
Intermediate School teachers Anthony Dottin, who taught physical education and worked at the district for 21 years, and math teacher Laura Menelaws, who had 14 years of service, also retired. Bentsen described the latter as a calm, collected and prepared, and called the former a strong role model for his students and aspiring athletes.
“I know that there are many young men and women that have taken the coaching provided by Tony Dottin and applied it in their lives, personally and professionally,” he said. “I count myself as one of those lucky ones, actually. This year, Coach Dottin, in true coach form, has found multiple opportunities to coach me up. I won’t share the lessons specifically, but I’ll only say that it was always timely and it was just the right thing that I needed at the right time.”
Elementary school teacher Lisa Carew retired from the district after 22 years — “She wears her heart on her sleeve and deeply cares about all her students that she teaches and supports,” Fernandez said — and already has plans to travel to Brazil with her husband. Bus drivers Linda Pike and Teresa Horn also marked 20 years of service as they left the district, and food service worker Pinula Concepcion retired after six years.
And though it was a short time, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Patricia Desiderio left her mark on the district with just four years here, Dyno said, and called her time “nothing short of remarkable.”
“Her work wasn’t just a job for Tricia, it was her calling,” he said. “She saw potential where others of us saw challenges, and she nurtured abilities, where others of us saw disabilities. She understood that education is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor, and made it her mission to create an inclusive environment where every student could thrive.”
Dyno, who will retire next month after 19 years with the district, took a backseat to his 14 fellow retirees, until Board President SunHe Sherwood-Dudley briefly turned the spotlight on him.
“Now, Nick, I don’t want to let this evening go unnoticed that you’re also leaving us,” she said. “However, you have one more meeting with us in July.”
“I do, I do,” he said with a smile.
“So stay on your toes,” she said.
Michelle Trauring on Jul 1, 2024