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013004 Maureen Zygmont plans to leave Bedford Hills Elementary School after seven years as principal.
BY ABBY LUBY
Principal and educator Maureen Zygmont has submitted her letter of resignation to the Bedford Central Board of Education, effective June 30.
Mrs. Zygmont said that the dedication of the teachers and the parent involvement in Bedford Hills Elementary School has been wonderful over the years.
"Bedford Hills is a truly wonderful school because of the parent commitment and the support and the dedication of the teachers and all the wonderful kids," said Mrs. Zygmont. "Bedford Hills' diversity is a special part of who Bedford Hills is - its truly a community school - a very homey school with a great feel."
Mrs. Zygmont, who lives in South Salem with her husband, Frank, has been teaching for 32 years, and the last seven as principal of Bedford Hills Elementary School. She taught in Chappaqua for 15 years at West Orchard. followed by an administration internship for two years at Roaring Brook Elementary School.
After that, she become principal of Strawtown Elementary School, in the Clarkstown School District for eight years before coming to the Bedford Central School district as principal for Bedford Hills for the last seven years.
Mrs. Zygmont has seen changes for the better in education. "I think the emphasis has changed over the years in education," said Mrs. Zygmont. "More and more teachers are teaching kids how to think and make connections and understand that there may be more than one way to solve a problem. It's much more 'hands-on' and more interactive, which I think is really an important aspect of teaching kids today."
Along with fellow educators, Mrs. Zygmont said she recognizes both the positive and negative impacts of state mandated tests. "We have a lot more state tests, and the pressures on children are a concern," said Mrs. Zygmont. "It's great that we have higher standards for children and that all children can learn and succeed. But with the higher standards, I do think that the state mandates have changed some of the things that we did with children before, and I worry if we are meeting the children's needs in a developmentally appropriate way." (?)
The teachers in Bedford Hills Elementary School are wonderful, according to Mrs. Zygmont. She has appreciated how the teachers interact with the students, giving them many opportunities for "hands-on" experiences.
"Now the emphasis is on helping children understand that there's more than one way to get an answer or to solve a problem," said Mrs. Zygmont. "In the past we worried about kids getting the correct answer, but now the emphasis has shifted to having children demonstrate how they get the answer, as opposed to being able to say the answer. They have to show how they got it. Also, the children have to be able to read, interpret and analyze - which is what we expect them to do for the ELA [English Language Arts state exam. ]"
Mrs. Zygmont commented on the district's respect for the professionalism for the staff and the positive opportunities they provide for teachers. "They
value people, and I think that is critical," said Mrs. Zygmont. "Dr. [district superintendent Bruce] Dennis has been a terrific leader and mentor. My administrative colleagues have been outstanding to work with, and I've really learned a lot from them over the years."
Mrs. Zygmont's is one of many retirements this year within the district, including superintendent Bruce Dennis, assistant superintendent James Alloy, Fox Lane Middle School principal Judith Schuldenfrei, and Bedford Village Elementary School principal Joanne Vale. Mount. Kisco Elementary School principal Susan Berry was to announce her retirement plans at the district's meeting Wednesday night, which was cancelled due to snow.
"People have asked me, `What's happening in the district?"' said Mrs. Zygmont. "There's nothing that's' really happening in the district other than people are at the age of retirement and are looking forward to new challenges. Whether Dr. Dennis left or didn't leave, it was up to me to decide what was best for me and my family. I think Bedford is only going to grow, and they still have many wonderful people working there, leading the district."
Mrs. Zygmont, who never had children of her own, has always considered the children in her school "very dear and wonderful.
"Kids arc just so curious and so wonderful and what they say is just very dear. I can say the children in any school I've been in have become my children. Every year people have always said to me, `How many children do you have this year?' and I would say `I have 328, 330."'
Mrs. Zygmont and her husband will be relocating to St. Augustine, Fla.
Whether in the classroom teaching or as a principal, Mrs. Zygmont has believed that making a difference in a child's life was the most important goal.
"There are ways that teachers and educators can touch children, not just academically, but being an ear that they can listen to them," said Mrs. Zygmont. "We can ask them how the soccer game went -just to know about them, not just in the school sense."