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= =a f Irene McLaughlin: view from 'the big chair' Northport High School principal reflects on her first two years on the job BY ELISE PEARLMAN As she welcomes more than 500 fresh- man students who will make up the grad- uaung Class of 2009, along with nearly 50 new staff members, Irene McLaughlin said that she is excited about beginning her third year as Northport High School principal. In the new academic year, McLaughlin said she hopes to continue the \exception- al programs and opportunities\ that have set Northport apart academically. She also recalled how, as a high school student, she found her niche by participating in track, basketball and softball. She had a \great high school experience,\ McLaughlin said, describing the school as a \good match\ not simply due to her involvement in sports, but because the teachers were \very carnng\ and that the rules were \applied consistently and fairly.\ McLaughlin, who received her bache- lor's degree in physical education and her master's degree in health education from wants students to SUNY Cortland, \feel that their began teaching in role is valued\ ; the Northport and to \feel part NOfihpgfl’S Mover § East Wagon of what we have © School District in here at Northport a Shakers 1984 at what was High School.\ then Northport expressing her Junior High. belief that being part of a supportive and caring environment \motivates students to work harder and excel academically.\ Northport High School prides itself on a course catalog that boasts nearly 400 courses and offers an assortment of extracurricular activities, including more than 50 sports teams and 50 club offer- ings, according to McLaughlin. Given the multitude of choices, she said, \Students are encouraged to find their passion and connect with the person or the people who are involved with that activity. I would like to think that there is something for everyone.\ The idea that finding one's niche is linked vitally to academic achievement comes from McLaughlin's experence at Berner High School in Massapequa. She Over the next 15 years, McLaughlin taught health education at three area ele- mentary schools (Norwood Avenue. Pulask: Road and Fifth Avenue). Northport Middle School and Northport High School. At the same ume. she coached junior vanity basketball for 13 years and softball for eight years. moving up the ranks in softball from assstant varvity coach to varsity coach. McLaughlin said she gained valuable experience as an advisor for Northport High School's SHARE (Students Helping and Relating to Each Other) program. SHARE is modeled on the Natural Helpers program launched by Seattle in 1979 to combat a growing incidence of teen suicide and substance abuse. Like Irene McLaughlin Natural Helpers. SHARE operates on the assumptuoan that students are more apt to seek advice from their peers than from mental health professionals and whool personnel Created with a grant from the Huntungton Youth Bureau. SHARE serves as a means of early intervention Durning retreats at Camp Alvernia in Centerport. student support systems are created as emotional and social barmen are broken down and students learn listening and helping skills for assisting troubled peers McLaughlin also advised SADD (Students Against Drunk Dnving> and served as the distnct's suminer camp assistant director and then director for eight years. McLaughlin's path to her principalship began in 1998 when the Northport -East Northport School District discovered that 50 percent of administrators on Long Island faced reurement within five years As part of an alliance recreated with Hofstra by Northport School Superintendent Bill Brosnan, McLaughlin 1 joined a cohort of teachers studying for administrative degrees. In 2000. McLaughlin was chomen to become an administrative intern in Northport High School's assistant princi- pal's office She began doing \most of what an asmstant principal does.\ and recalled the difficulty of taking on a class of juniors and semurs that were neanng the end of their high school expenience The academic year 2002-03 marked her first offictal one as assistant principal In June 2003. Theresa Oropallo. who had been principal for 12 vears. retired and McLaughlin stepped into what she called \the big chair\ The tranmtion was made easier because of the wondertul col legial relations and trendships that she had cultivated during her 20 years in the district. she said. She also achnow ledged the support she received from her hus band,. Jim. a district couner whom she met on the job in 1991 Having witnessed the wonderful \opportunities and expen ences\ provided by the Northport Schaol District. the McLaughtins and their two young | children.. Michael and Kelly moved to East Northport in September 2003 Michael is a student at fifth Avenue Contmued on page A~ With A Song In Her Heart, Singing Banker A Welcoming Voice In Northport Talk about singing for your supper! Teri L. George. Branch Manager of Bank of Smithtown's Northport office at 836 Fort Salonga Road, was caught moonlighting car- ter this year as a \Cabaret\ singer. It was all for a great cause. Teri George, banker by day, took the spotlight at night, as she sang \Cabaret\ andangmberofoflmrshownmeshthelobbyofthe Larkfield Manor in early April, welcoming more than 300 guests who turned out for the \A Taste of Long Island\ event sponsored by the East Northport Chamber of Commerce, the Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk, Inc. and the Rotary Club of East Northport. Ms. George and her microphone are always in demand. Later that month, Ms. George emceed the Carol M. Baidwin Breast Cancer Research Fund's \A Cause to Celebrate\ fashion show and dinner sponsored by Bill the Townhouse. As the crowds filed in to the \Taste of Longlsland event, Ms. George entertained the evening's guests with \Cabaret.\ followed by \Send in the Clowns,\ \I Got the Sun in the Moming,\ then \My Funny Valentine,\ and ended up with \All That Jazz,\ followed by an encore. Says Ms. George: \I like to sing things that people know, so that they are comfortable and welcomed with songs familiar to them.\ Comfortable and welcomed is how Ms. George wants her customers to feel at Bank of Smithtown in Northport. \Person to Person Banking\ at Bank of Smithtown The Northport office and all of Bank of Smithtown's offices pride themselves on offering \Person to Person Banking.\ The customer is welcomed from the moment he or she walks through the door. Says Teri: \My priority has always been to provide sound personable service to al of my customers. I instill come to our office, they are treated as if they ware quests at our homes.\ One of the reasons Bank of Smithtown wanted Teri George to manage its Northport office was her approach to customer care. Teri George: Taking the extra stop for her customers Teri remembers one such occurrence before she Anythmg You Can Do, I Can Do Better Ter L George, manager of Bank of Smithtown's Northport office, shares a duet with Jim Ryan. pres- ident of the Northport Rotary, at the Rotary installa- tion dinner earlier this summer. The tune was from Annie Get Your Gun. Ter George loves to sing, and she's very much in demand. She's delighted local audiences at a number of charitable and civic organization events. joined Bank of Smithtown. Remembers Teri: \One cus- tomer was unexpectedly hospitalized, trying to get her papers 'in order' in case anything should happen during her hospital stay. She needed her daughter to be added to her accounts. Additionally, hospital documents required the service of a notary public. The hospital, however, did not have a notary on duty, so the customer called me in a panic.\ \I wont to the hospital to notarize the documents and added her daughter onto her accounts. Her daughter could not believe that | took the extra step to assist them. That was very gratifying and even though I am no longer with that bank, now that I'm at Bank of Smithtown we stif maintainaurmlafimnhip This personal, \can-do\ approadwhasmddeen George to many people in the Northport community. People genumely like this commuruty banker and leader \We've been told Bank of Smithtown is 'the best not so tittle secret in Northport,\ Ten says proudly \I'm very active in the East Northport Chamber of Commerce and have served on a number of committees The Taste of Long iIstand. Golf Outing and the ENP! Weekend Festwal.\ Ten says \After completing my term as President of the Rotary Club of Patchogue. | was inducted into the very active Rotary Club of Northport Accompanied by fellow NT Rotarian. Ann Stevens. I performed at our major fundrais ing event on August 11 at the 9th Annual Wine in the Courtyard being held at the Vanderbitt Museum * \After emceeing the 1st Annual Carol M Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Foundation Fashion Show in April, I was asked to Co Chair the Ride/Walk \Weekend For A Cure\ being held on October 2 As a major spon sor of this event,. The Lighthouse Harley Davidson is anticipating 3000-5000 bikers who will nde from Jones Beach to Flowerfietd in St. James with Carol and Alec Baldwin leading the pack!\ Ter continues to serve on the Advisory Board of Patchogue's Lighthouse Mission which is dedicated to 'Feeding The Hungry On Long Island. . \Bank of Smithtown has been extremely generous in sponsoring and supporting many of my activities in the community For this I am truly grateful.\ Ten says. And so are the many people whom Ten George has touched with her generosity and gifts of time. enthusiasitn and involvement with the Northport community. At the end of the day, how would she like to be described? \As a hardworking wife and mother of three. a knowl- edgeabile real \people person\ who's caring, fun and with a song in her heart.\ Teri George, who became manager of Bank of Smithtown's Northport office last year, has over 20 years of experience in community banking. She may be reached at the branch (631) 262-1353. @ sank smit-romwn Dedicated. To You.
