School Notebook: Manhasset team named Clean Tech finalists

A pair of students from Manhasset Secondary School were among 11 finalists worldwide in a competition that encouraged young people to fight global climate change and find ways to develop and leverage clean energy.

Ava Malysa and Samantha Palmadessa, both seniors, were named finalists last month in the International Spellman HV Clean Tech Competition for their project, “Electrocoagulation with Aluminum, Copper and Zinc for Aqueous Methylene Blue Remediation and Sustainable Energy Production.” They collectively received $1,000.

Malysa and Palmadessa’s project consisted of designing and printing perfectly fitting 3D beaker lids to assist in electrocoagulation, which they described as a process that can be used to simultaneously remediate water and produce green energy.

“Living on Long Island near numerous bodies of water, water pollution is a visible issue,” Palmadessa said in the team’s video submission. Of the project, she said: “Our electrocoagulation system’s efficiency, accessibility, minimal energy requirement, and low cost shows that there is great potential for real-world application.”

This year’s competition received submissions from nearly 400 teams internationally. As finalists, Malysa and Palmadessa delivered a virtual presentation to judges, but they were not named among the top three winners. The winning project, announced in August, was from a team in Taiwan.

“Our world is continuing to face growing challenges to which we must find solutions,” said Loren Skeist, who is president of the competition’s sponsor, Hauppauge-based Spellman High Voltage Electronics. “These young students will play a critical role in developing answers which will make an impact on our natural world.”

The competition is a program of the Rockville Centre-based nonprofit Center for Science Teaching and Learning.

BABYLON

Interim superintendent

Brian Conboy has been named interim superintendent of Babylon School District. He replaced Linda Rozzi, who retired.

Conboy served last school year as interim superintendent in the Massapequa School District; before that he was interim principal of Massapequa High School for two years. He began his education career in the Seaford School District, where he held positions ranging from elementary school teacher to superintendent until his retirement in 2017.

“My philosophy on education starts with a foundational statement: Every child can learn,” Conboy said. “There is always a way to meet a student where they are at on an individualized level.”

EAST WILLISTON

New superintendent

Danielle Gately has been appointed superintendent of the East Williston School District. She replaced Elaine Kanas, who retired.

Gately was most recently the district’s deputy superintendent and has held positions including the district’s assistant superintendent for instruction and personnel, chief information officer, and director of secondary curriculum and social studies. She began her teaching career as a social studies teacher and has also been an adjunct professor at Molloy College.

“I look forward to working together with my colleagues, students, parents and the community to build on our district’s reputation of excellence,” Gately said. “I bring to this role the firm and lifelong conviction that education is the most dynamic and impactful work there is.”

GARDEN CITY

Principal appointed

Keri Hand is the new principal of Stewart School. She replaced Linda Norton, who retired.

Hand most recently served three years as the school’s assistant principal and before that was a general education teacher in the building for 12 years.

“Stewart is a special place filled with hardworking and caring students, dedicated professionals and supportive parents,” Hand said. “I have been lucky to be a part of this community for many years and I look forward to continuing my journey here in this new capacity.”

ISLIP

New principal

Lara Gonzalez is the new principal of Islip High School. She replaced Jon LaRochester, now an assistant principal at Riverhead High School.

Gonzalez’s previous positions include being a high school director at Evergreen Charter School in Hempstead, principal of Woodhull Intermediate School in Huntington, and assistant principal of Oyster Bay High School.

“I am so grateful to the community for entrusting me with its most precious resource: its students,” Gonzalez said. “My goal is to provide our young people with the best possible educational experiences, along with the support that they need, so that all Islip High School students find joy, make lasting memories and reach their full potential.”

OLD WESTBURY

New principal

Joseph Wiener has been named principal of The Wheatley School in the East Williston School District. He replaced Sean Feeney, who had held the position since 2008.

Wiener had been principal of Robert E. Bell Middle School in Chappaqua, New York, since 2020. Before that, he was principal of Lynbrook South Middle School and an assistant principal at Jericho Middle School.

“I have always been impressed with the array of accolades achieved by The Wheatley School students in all areas,” Wiener said. “I look forward to working with the administration, staff, students and families to achieve our common goal of providing opportunities for all students to become successful, contributing members of the community and society.”

ST. JAMES

New principal

Adam Javidi has been named principal of St. James Elementary School. He replaced Mary Grace Lynch, who retired.

Javidi had been assistant principal at Locust Valley Intermediate School since 2019. Before that, he served five years as an assistant principal at PS 452 in Manhattan; he began his career as an elementary school teacher for New York City Public Schools system.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity to come back home to the district I grew up in,” Javidi said. “I want to . . . continue to make St. James an amazing place to learn and grow.”

 — MICHAEL R. EBERT

By Michael R. Ebert

michael.ebert@newsday.com

Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.