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Maidenbaum is : LI Choice Award W#1 r for Three Consecutivinene Years! 2023
Educator earns BoCES award
Scianablo goes for round 2
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Vol. 28 No. 7
FEBRUARY 12 - 18, 2026
2024 2025
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John Trotta named top A.P. in New York By HAIlEY FUlMER hfulmer@liherald.com
Courtesy Franklin Square Union Free School District
Trotta is an inspiring leader to students and educators at the Polk Street School.
Franklin Square has long been home to accomplished educators, and Polk Street School Assistant Principal John Trotta is among them, after being named the 2026 New York State Elementary School Assistant Principal of the Year. The award, presented annually by the School Administrators Association of New York State, in partnership with the National Association of Elementary School Principals, honors assistant principals who demonstrate excellence in leadership while fostering positive school environments. For Trotta, who has served in the Franklin Square School District for more than a decade, the recognition reflects years of dedication to education and a career path that did not initially seem likely. He originally entered college intending to pursue accounting before ultimately shifting course. ConTinued on Page 5
Two seniors credit friendship for academic honor By HAIlEY FUlMER hfulmer@liherald.com
Two best friends and top scholars at H. Frank Carey High School are finishing their academic careers at the top of their class — together. Fiona Lin was named the senior class valedictorian, while her best friend, Katherine Gilman, earned the honor of salutatorian. The two said their success stems from a healthy sense of competition, collaboration and mutual support that pushed them to excel throughout their high school years. Rather than allowing academic rankings to create a
rivalry, Lin and Gilman said they motivated each other to work harder while maintaining a strong friendship. Both immersed themselves in demanding academic prog rams and extracur ricular activities. Their shared passion for science, technology, engineering and math shaped their high school experience and influenced their future goals: Both now plan to pursue STEMrelated careers. Despite rigorous coursework, both students emphasized the importance of balance. Gilman said that studying with friends helped them avoid burnout, and made learning more
enjoyable. “It’s a way to have fun while also making progress academically,” she said. O n e o f L i n’s p r o u d e s t accomplishments came during an engineering class project in which students launched a payload into space. The project was a collaborative effort, with Lin focusing on the engineering design while Gilman worked on the hardware. The payload ultimately made it roughly 80,000 feet into the upper atmosphere. Carey High has a rich history of aerospace education, having produced a number of gradu a t e s w h o h ave p u r s u e d careers in engineering and space science. Among its nota-
ble alumni is NASA astronaut Michael J. Massimino, who graduated in 1980. Gilman said her fascination with space began early in her education. She recalled learning about astronomy in third grade, which sparked an interest in space exploration. Her mother later offered to take Katherine and her sister, Caro-
line, to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, which is run by NASA. Katherine attended the camp twice, at ages 9 and 10. “It was like the best camp ever,” she recalled. “I was like, ‘This is what I am doing with my life.’” Both Lin and Gilman are active in SkillsUSA, a national ConTinued on Page 10