Good evening, beloved retirees, family, friends, and colleagues,
It is my honor to share this special moment with you. This evening not only marks the end of the 2024–2025 school year, but more importantly, it allows us to honor 32 remarkable educators. They are not just retirees. They are the pillars of strength and steady hands that have supported our students and the Hempstead Public School District. With love and purpose, they poured decades of their lives into teaching, mentoring, and shaping generations of scholars. Tonight, we celebrate their service with pride and gratitude.
To our retirees: Thank you for showing up every day, not just with lesson plans or paperwork, but with love, grit, and a purpose that ran deeper than your job description. You did not come to Hempstead for just a paycheck. You came to inspire, motivate, protect, and guide. Your classrooms and offices became sanctuaries for students and staff alike. In every space you touched, you planted seeds of hope and excellence that will continue to grow for generations to come.
On a personal note, thank you for standing with the union. Whether you wore your union shirt or shared your ideas, you helped strengthen our collective voice. I am truly grateful for your support throughout my presidency. Representing educators like you has been one of the greatest honors of my life.
Now, it is your time—time to wake up when you’re ready, sleep when you want, travel the world, or do absolutely nothing at all. You have earned every ounce of peace this next chapter of life brings. I pray that your retirement is filled with good health and everything that brings you happiness.
On behalf of the Executive Board and members of the Hempstead Classroom Teachers Association, thank you for being the heart of our schools. You are cherished, and your presence will be deeply missed.
With all my heart,
Nicole J. Brown, President
