Planning is complete for the Huntington Foundation for Excellence in Education’s Reach for the Stars gala on Wednesday, May 4 at The Water’s Edge in Centerport.
The affair will celebrate public education in Huntington UFSD and honor Superintendent James W. Polansky and Huntington High School alum Dr. James Paci with the organization’s coveted Spirit Award. The event will run from 6-10 p.m.
Tickets for the gala are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking on this link: BUY TICKETS HERE.
“I am beyond proud to be honored, but I am even more proud to share this honor with so many people in our school district community; students, staff members, colleagues, trustees and families,” Mr. Polansky said.
Huntington UFSD’s longtime superintendent obtained an undergraduate degree SUNY at Albany and a Master of Business Administration degree at Hofstra University. Mr. Polansky went on to complete an advanced graduate certificate in educational administration at Stony Brook University and has completed all but the dissertation in Hofstra’s Doctor of Education program. He holds permanent teaching certificates in biology/general science, chemistry, Earth science, mathematics and business/distributive education.
“Education was not my initial pursuit,” Mr. Polansky explained, “As I was completing my Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, I was given the opportunity to teach an undergraduate course and loved it. It made me realize that I would enjoy making a career out of teaching and, ultimately, I secured secondary teaching certifications in several disciplines as a result.”
Mr. Polansky has extensive professional experience and a proven track record of improving academic performance, student attendance and graduation rates in an ethnically and socio-economically diverse school setting. He is committed to developing Huntington into one of the state’s elite districts. Under his leadership, he has made many decisions that have improved the district in meaningful ways, including:
• Establishing the Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School in September 2013
• Reinstituting a full-day kindergarten program in September 2014, following a three-year absence.
• Adding a Universal Pre-K program to the district – which has been extended to all four primary schools.
• Leading initiatives to narrow the achievement gap between students and integrating technology into the classroom. Even before the pandemic, every student had a Chromebook to use for schoolwork – a progressive decision that proved essential during the remote learning sessions of 2020.
• Championing STEM initiatives at all levels including Maker Spaces, STEM curriculum and robotics teams.
Decisive and measured, Mr. Polansky’s leadership has been recognized throughout his career. He is the current president-elect of the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association, a member of the New York State Council of School Superintendents’ House of Delegates and sits on the executive board of Section XI.
The recipient of numerous professional awards and distinguished designations along the way, Mr. Polansky has won the hearts and minds of Huntington UFSD families. He’s thankful for his time leading the district and building strong relationships with the students, families and his many colleagues.
“Without its people, a school is just a building, and a school district is just a bunch of buildings spread over a given area,” Mr. Polansky said. “It is the people in our schools and community that make it the very special place that it is.”
Those who would like to send a congratulatory message to Mr. Polansky, you can do so through HFEE’s “30 for $30” fundraising campaign. For a $30 donation you can write a personal note of congratulations up to 30 words long. Your message will be shared on screen at the HFEE Gala on May 4 and then included in a hardcover memento book, which will be gifted to Mr. Polansky after the event. Click here for more details.
