A longtime Liberty Elementary School teacher and the Village of Liberty police chief will be among those honored by  the Sullivan County School Boards Association Annual Dinner and Meeting next month.

Jennifer Eisenberg will be honored as an Outstanding Educator, and Police Chief Steven D’Agata will be honored as an Outstanding Friend to Education.

LES teacher Jennifer Eisenberg

A teacher at LES for 25 years, Eisenberg has educated a range of learners, from students with a variety of learning needs to the highest performing students.

“There is no student Jen Eisenberg cannot reach and teach,” Principal Robert England said in his nominating letter.

“I never entered the teaching profession looking for accolades or recognition, but, when I opened the letter I was immediately humbled and felt an immense sense of pride,” Eisenberg said.

Eisenberg accepts all challenges. She adapts her methods as needed and holds high expectations for her students, ensuring they exceed their expectations, the nomination read.

For the past 10 years, Eisenberg has been the math department facilitator, an instructional coach and a leader in the school and districtwide. She has helped the district work toward its strategic plan goal of ensuring curriculum, instruction and assessments are aligned vertically and horizontally.

It was a childhood dream to become an educator, Eisenberg said. She credited the mentors and support team in her earlier years of teaching for her success and she looks forward to sharing her knowledge and expertise with the next generation of teachers, including her daughter, who is now a teacher at LES

“(Eisenberg’s) legacy to her family and community as an educator and a human being is imprinted on her students, her colleagues and anyone who has the good fortune to work with her,” England said in the nomination.

LPD Chief Steven D’Agata

D’Agata’s dedication, innovation and community spirit were among the qualities highlighted by Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan in the nomination letter.

“I’m deeply honored and humbled to receive this award, but any recognition truly belongs to the men and women of the Liberty Police Department,” D’Agata said. “Their tireless work and dedication are the foundation of everything we achieve.”

D’Agata’s forward-thinking approach and proactive measures have enhanced the safety and well-being of  students, staff and the broader community. They have become benchmarks for other districts, Sullivan wrote.

D’Agata has helped build relationships between the community, the district and the police department, by visiting schools, participating in community events and having open dialogue with students and families. This aligns with the culture pillar of the district’s strategic plan,

“Together, we’ve built something special for this community, and I’m proud to be a part of it,” D’Agata said.

Sullivan also praised D’Agata’s leadership in ensuring seamless collaboration and communication, crucial in times of crisis and for the ongoing safety.

“He has fostered a culture of mutual respect and understanding, creating a supportive environment where students feel safe and valued,” Sullivan wrote. “Chief D’Agata has established a presence that is both reassuring and inspiring.”

Each year, the SCSBA presents Outstanding Educator Awards and Outstanding Friend to Education Awards based on nominations from districts across the county during the organization’s annual meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, at The Villa Roma in Callicoon.

It may still be two days until students return, but Liberty Central School District faculty and staff had their first day of the 2024-25 school year on Tuesday. The year kicked off with the traditional Opening Day assembly, this year held in the high school gymnasium rather than the auditorium because of work underway on the stage.

“These first two days of school for our faculty and staff are a vital time to ensure we are all on the same page and working together to make Liberty a great place to learn,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said.

These two conference days help Liberty administration introduce or reintroduce and reinforce the mission, vision and beliefs of the district, inline with the district’s five-year strategic plan. It also allows time for faculty and staff to complete required trainings and to make final preparations before students return.

Following a brief welcome and remarks by Sullivan and various school union leaders, new administrators, faculty and staff were introduced.

Sullivan and building leaders also recognized staff who were celebrating milestone years of service, with special recognition given to two Liberty staff members who each have been with LCSD for 33 years — custodian Marilyn Doland and ICT first-grade teacher Karen Gorr.

The strategic plan was next on the agenda. Sullivan reviewed the plan, progress that has been made in the first two years, and where the district is heading in year three. He also briefly reviewed the annual District Comprehensive Improvement Plan.

The important topic of student mental health was next on the agenda, with behavioral specialist Sheila Wormuth presenting. She highlighted the importance of making a difference in students’ lives, from a small thing such as offering a smile to the big ones, such as truly listening and understanding when they are speaking.