Retiring Superintendent Celebrates Relationships Cultivated with Students

When Jim Polansky assumed the position of Huntington’s superintendent of schools on July 1, 2011, the Class of 2023 had just finished kindergarten. He was with the group for a dozen years, sharing all the highs and lows of that time period, spurring a variety of enhancements to the academic and co-curricular programs and being a constant presence in hallways, classrooms and at games, concerts and special events.

Just like the newly minted graduates, Mr. Polansky is leaving Huntington, too. He is retiring on September 1. Similar to Class of 2023 members he will be opening a new chapter in his life.

So when he stepped to the microphone at the 162nd commencement, Mr. Polansky took the opportunity to speak from the heart one last time. The seniors listened to every word.

“As you know, this is my last chance to do this as Huntington superintendent,” Mr. Polansky told a crowd of 1,700. “I typically dig into my mind to find the right words to send off a class, but tonight, there is no question that it will come primarily from the heart.”

Despite Herculean efforts, Mr. Polansky was unable to get through his remarks without being interrupted more than once by his emotions.

“What I have found most joyful throughout my time here are the relationships I have cultivated; with students, colleagues, parents, community members and others,” Mr. Polansky said. “It is these relationships that have truly shaped my experience and have motivated me to do my best work. In this light, I implore you, Class of 2023 members, to maintain positive relationships and choose joy as you travel life’s roads. When you do so, you will feel good. When you feel good, you will do good. When you do good, it reminds others of what joy feels like and it might just inspire others to do the same. If someone comes into your life and has a

positive impact on you, remain thankful that your paths crossed. If they can’t stay in your life or if you drift apart over time, be thankful that they somehow brought joy into your life even if it was just for a short while.”

District photographer and Class of 1984 alum Darin Reed created a film commemorating Mr. Polansky’s long tenure. It captures many priceless moments from the past 12 years. To view the film, click here.

“Many of you have spent the last 13 years together; the majority of your lives to date,” Mr. Polansky told the commencement crowd. “You may not have thought about it much during the final days of your senior year, but today is the last time that you/we will be together in the same venue. The fact is, life is about change. People come and go. Situations change. Geographies shift. I promise you, however, the memories made during your years in Huntington will not fade. Even decades from now when you can’t recall what you did that morning, you’ll remember something a teacher did or said or how a friend helped shape your teenage years.”

Prior to coming to Huntington UFSD, Mr. Polansky had been serving as an assistant superintendent in South Huntington following a more than six year stretch as Walt Whitman High School principal. Since then, he has thoroughly been a Blue Devil.

“A wise person claimed that there are four things you can’t get back in life,” Mr. Polansky told the Class of 2023 at the commencement. “A word after it’s said. An opportunity after it’s missed. Time after it’s gone. Trust after it’s lost. When this life is all said and done, the only thing left is your legacy. You may not think much about it now, but understand the significance of how you choose to show up in this world. At the end of the day, don’t be remembered as that individual who had so much potential and did little with it. Don’t wake up tomorrow morning to impress anyone else. Wake up because there’s a chance that you could be the light in somebody’s darkness. Time is of the essence and don’t plan on wasting it. Mahatma Gandhi said it best … ‘Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.’”

The crowd gave Mr. Polansky nothing less than three separate standing ovations during his final Huntington commencement address.

“As an aside … please admit when you’re wrong,” the retiring superintendent advised the senior class. “Among the most significant problems in society today; very few people, including many of the world’s most prominent leaders, just won’t do it! Two very powerful words; I’m sorry. It is okay to be remorseful. It is okay to demonstrate humility.”

At 12 years of service, Mr. Polansky is one of the longest serving Huntington superintendents ever, behind only Robert K. Toaz and Raymond C. Burdick.

“As Huntington High School Class of 2023 members venture off into the next stages of their educational, professional and personal lives, it is my time to join them in doing the same,” said Mr. Polansky whimsically. “We are blessed to have been part of something very special and for me, that includes witnessing your incredible growth through primary, intermediate, middle and high schools. We have celebrated successes and worked through some crazy things together; reopening a school, a superstorm, a global pandemic and just last week, a seemingly apocalyptic haze caused by, of all things, wildfires in Ontario. And these events really just touch the surface.”

As he struggled to keep his emotions in check, the crowd got behind Mr. Polansky to let him know he had its full support.

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again … I would not want to have done my thing anywhere else but here,” Mr. Polansky said. “Scottish novelist and Peter Pan creator J.M. Barrie stated, ‘Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.’ In this respect, this is in no way a goodbye, as I know none of us will ever forget. And in the spirit of Dr. Seuss, don’t cry because it’s over but continue to smile and remain ever grateful for it happening and for it happening in Huntington. With much love, best wishes and Godspeed.”