There’s something special about seeing Spartan Country come back together.
After a summer away, teachers and staff from across Maine-Endwell gathered on Tuesday to officially kick off the 2026-27 school year during Opening Day - a morning filled with celebration, recognition, reflection and plenty of excitement for what lies ahead.
Superintendent Jason Van Fossen welcomed staff back and officially opened the new school year before Assistant Superintendent Mark Wilson unveiled a special surprise that would set the tone for the morning.
From the district’s brand-new music production studio, students representing all four buildings performed a live rendition of “Count on Me,” which was streamed directly to the auditorium. It marked the first official use of the new studio - a major addition to the district and a program we’re excited to see grow throughout the year. (We will have much more on the new music studio in the coming days) When the students eventually made their way into the auditorium, they were greeted with a well-deserved standing ovation.
Board President Melinda Spooner addressed the room, along with a number of fellow board members.
"We are a community, we are a school, we are a family. Let's move forward with purpose, let's give our students a year they'll never forget, all while continuing to deliver a premier educational opportunity to each student," said Spooner.
The morning continued with a welcome to new district leadership, including:
Lindsey Stanton and Kathy Baker
— Board of Education, beginning new terms
Mark Wilson
— Assistant Superintendent
Kristin Kashuba
— Maine Memorial Principal
Erica Staiger
— High School Principal
Maura Ingraham
— High School Associate Principal
Principals from Maine-Endwell High School, Maine-Endwell Middle School, Homer Brink Elementary and Maine Memorial then welcomed the district’s newest instructional and non-instructional staff, along with new members of the Transportation Department.
Opening Day also provided an opportunity to recognize the dedication of those who have spent years, and, in some cases, decades serving our students and community.
Glenn Hollenbeck, a member of the Transportation Department, received a standing ovation after being recognized for an incredible 55 years of service to Maine-Endwell.
Staff members recognized for 30 years of service included Jon Josey, Rachel Murat and Michelle Sherwood.
Those celebrating 25 years of service included Kristen Anastos, Carl Beebe, Shanon Chambers, Catherine DeLuca, Megan Fabrizi, Amanda Gardner, Toni Gaska, Melissa Geertgens, Dianne Gibson-Smith, Michelle Paccone, Carrie Rutkowski, Patricia Sergent, Bridget Sheahan, Henrietta Slottje and Lisa Wilson.
The district also recognized Distinguished Teachers, recipients of Faithful Service Awards for perfect or near-perfect attendance, and members of the Transportation Department receiving Safe Service Awards.
The Maine-Endwell Teachers Association’s Golden Apple Award, presented by Shanna Hughes, was next. This year’s recipient was Maria Fiori, a 20-year veteran whose dedication and commitment to her students and colleagues earned her this special recognition.
Staff then caught up on some personal milestones during the annual Welcome Back slideshow, celebrating some of the special moments that happened over the summer, including new babies, marriages and memorable trips.
With the celebrations complete, attention shifted toward the year ahead. Mr. Van Fossen shared the district’s vision, goals and core beliefs, along with the key areas of focus for the 2026-27 school year. Those priorities include continued work on Phases 3, 4 and 5 of the district’s capital project; increased utilization of the Marathon Health clinic; implementation of a new Board policy addressing artificial intelligence; continued work around PLC Questions 2, 3 and 4; and our continued focus on the Portrait of a Graduate.
High School Teacher Rachel Murat, who leads our M-EALS program, spoke about the growing need within our community when it comes to food insecurity. Along with students and staff, her organization helps pack meals weekly - delivering them to families in need.
Assistant Superintendent Mark Wilson and High School Principal Erica Staiger then provided staff with a deeper look at the district’s Portrait of a Graduate work and what it means for our students and their educational experience.
Staff also heard from Marathon Health about the services available to district employees, followed by a presentation from BOCES representatives Kyle Verspoor and Jessica Edwards, who shared their work with artificial intelligence and their role in assisting Maine-Endwell with the development of its new AI Board policy.
The morning concluded with staff heading back to their respective buildings for meetings, presentations and time with their building leadership teams.
And just like that, the 2026-27 school year is officially underway.
A new year brings new faces, new opportunities and new goals, but the same commitment to our students that makes Maine-Endwell such a special place to be.
Welcome back, Spartans. We can’t wait to see what this year brings!