Dr. Zaratin says his mother believed he was going to be a teacher from the time he was in fifth grade, but that was not apparent to him that early in his life. In high school, Dr. Zaratin started noticing the incredible role models his teachers were, especially a math teacher who recognized that he was falling behind in the class and tried to help him not only survive but thrive.
“He really took the time to make sure that I got it, and things really did start to click,” Dr. Zaratin said. “I think me wanting to be a teacher was because of him taking the extra time and the extra steps when I was struggling.”
Dr. Zaratin began his career in education, spending nine years as a first-grade special education teacher. To directly support his district’s expanding ENL (English as a New Language) community, he earned an Advanced Certificate in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) alongside a master’s degree in literacy from St. John’s University.
Dr. Zaratin also branched out to teach science and started an afterschool club called “Little Wizards,” which became extremely popular for students from grades K-5. After five years of the club, he was approached to build out the district’s STEAM program. For six months, Dr. Zaratin traveled from district to district on the east end of Long Island and attended conferences to learn best practices, then constructed a STEAM program that exists to this day. In 2020, Dr. Zaratin wrote his dissertation about the rigorous process.
“I felt fortunate enough that I was entrusted to do it, and I took a lot of pride in making sure that we were choosing and picking things that were well vetted,” Dr. Zaratin said. “I really wanted to ensure that we were investing in engaging and hands-on materials not only to excite, but to ensure academic success.”
In 2021, Dr. Zaratin jumped at the opportunity to fill the role of leave replacement for the assistant principal at Hampton Bays Middle School. What was expected to be a five-month stay, turned into four incredible years. The leap into administration was made easier because Dr. Zaratin was working with students he had taught in elementary school.
“I had a really strong connection with families and that’s so important to me,” Dr. Zaratin said. “I’m really looking forward to building that here, and I can tell how tight-knit Locust Valley is already.”
Recognized as the 2024 Administrator of the Year by the East End Counseling Association, Dr. Zaratin revolutionized academic scheduling with his innovative ten-day model. By centering the master schedule around student needs, he dismantled access barriers to ensure every student benefits from equitable, high-energy programming and electives.
After nearly a decade shaping young minds and growing with his student body, Locust Valley presented a great opportunity for Dr. Zaratin to advance his career as a full-time principal. He seeks to instill a student-centered approach in his principal-style, knowing that the needs of children are constantly evolving. He hopes to give students as many opportunities as possible to express themselves.
“I really love that Locust Valley has embraced the Leader in Me program,” he said. “I think it really helps to identify the passions that kids have, and it’s not just about being in class because you have to be there, it shows students that they have choice and voice and anything is possible.”
Working with local organizations for field trips and special events for students is a priority for Dr. Zaratin, as it was for him in his prior district, when he brought in experts to help students take part in activities such as rebuilding dunes to prevent erosion.
“Partnering with your local community to bring forth new learning and real-world opportunities for kids was my favorite part of the STEAM program,” Dr. Zaratin said.
Dr. Zaratin is excited to build relationships with the community at the fall fair and back to school night. While things are still quiet in the building for now, he is eager for the energy that the students and faculty will bring in September.
“As a first-year principal, I really want to just embrace Locust Valley and what traditions already exist,” Dr. Zaratin said. “I feel like coming in and being new, you have to be a steward to the tradition that exists already here, and I really want to take that on and learn from my colleagues and the community here what is important to them.”
“Everyone was so kind, and really welcoming,” Graham said. “It’s always nice to go into a school district that already has well-established protocols.”
Graham comes to Locust Valley by way of Lawrence, where she served as Assistant Principal of the Middle School, Principal of the Lawrence Early Childhood Center and Director of Special Programs.
“Coming to Locust Valley, I was just really impressed with how kind both the staff and students are,” Graham said. “They were really respectful, kind and welcoming of me.”
Graham highlighted the middle school social-emotional learning events as some of her favorite moments of her first year, especially P.S. I Love You Day, because of the hard work and enthusiasm from the counselors and students.
“You had the Falcon mascot come out and play music in the hallways in between periods, and they just did a lot to make it fun,” Graham said. “Looking at our mental health is an important part of school and beyond.”
An Adelphi University alumna, Graham had a love for history and took part in the STEP Accelerated Teaching Degree Program to start her on the path to becoming an educator. After completing her master's degree, she taught as a Middle School Social Studies teacher as part of the New York City Department of Education. During that time, Graham also excelled in the Teacher Leader Program, earning the Peer Collaborative Teacher designation.
Looking forward to 2026-2027, Graham is excited to build new relationships with the incoming sixth grade, continue to grow the ones she cultivated last year and support teachers’ individual needs. In the long term, Graham is ready to help implement the Leader in Me program into the middle school, as she did in Lawrence during her time there. Graham will also use her previous experience to help build the Branching Minds program at LVMS to identify students who need extra support and give them the tools to succeed.
https://www.locustvalleyschools.org/o/lvcsd/page/calendars
#FalconsFlyTogether
The course catalog is now available on the district website, and in-person registration will be at the middle school/high school building on Wednesday, Sept. 2. If you have any questions, please contact Wendy Pierno at 516-277-5541 or wpierno@locustvalleyschools.org.
https://www.locustvalleyschools.org/page/continuing-education
Images and renderings from the building projects at the middle/high school building will be available on the Summer Construction 2026 page on the district website. There, community members can see progress on the cafeteria, courtyard, library/research center and parking lot every Wednesday.
https://www.locustvalleyschools.org/page/summer-construction-2026
#FalconsFlyTogether
The school year may be over, but our administrative team is already hard at work preparing for when students return. Construction on our beautiful, new cafeteria library/research center and new parking lots is well underway, and we are very excited to see the evolution of our building and how students will take to these new spaces.
Due to the work on these capital projects, the middle/high school building and athletic facilities, including the tennis courts and Fred Smith Field, will be closed during the summer for the safety of our students, staff and community members.
Our athletic fields at Bayville Intermediate School and Ann MacArthur Primary School will remain open for recreational use by our community, as well as for off-season athletic practices and workouts. In addition, the gymnasium at Locust Valley Intermediate School will be available until 8 p.m. throughout the summer for our basketball coaching staff to conduct open gym sessions for any students entering grades 7-12 who are interested in participating.
Programs such as driver’s education, open basketball and volleyball, summer soccer, the Summer Academic Program, Summer College Boot Camp and Summer Recreation Program will be hosted at our primary and intermediate school buildings. Our middle and high school staff members will be moving over to Locust Valley Intermediate School for the summer.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as these important improvements are completed. These new projects will enhance our facilities and give our students more opportunities to grow and succeed socially and academically.
If you have any questions, you can contact our athletic office at (516) 277-5175 or our facilities team at (516) 277-5070.
With sincere appreciation,
Kristen Turnow, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
On the evening of June 25, years of hard work culminated with a beautiful graduation ceremony for the Locust Valley High School Class of 2026. The 125 graduates strode across the stage at the school’s Fred Smith Field, and enjoyed a night of reflection and celebration with their classmates, friends, family and teachers.
Dressed in their Locust Valley green and white gowns with pins and cords representing their accomplishments, the graduates beamed with excitement as they marched onto the field alongside the faculty members who helped them along their educational journeys in Bayville and Locust Valley.
After beautiful renditions of “Pomp and Circumstance” by the graduation ensemble and “The Star-Spangled Banner” by the chamber singers, principal Patrick DiClemente and Board of Education President George Vasiliou spoke to the class about the impact the Class of 2026 left on the school community and the exciting future that lies ahead for them.
“Your leadership and unity defined a high school experience marked by stellar academic achievement, impactful community service and meaningful mentorship with our elementary and middle school students,” DiClemente said. “You cultivated a positive culture.”
Referencing the poem "Ithaka" by Greek author Constantine Cavafy, Vasiliou urged the candidates to live in the moment even when working to their end goals. “Don’t let a check list become your horizon,” Vasiliou said. “Don’t let the image of a perfect Ithica blind you to the beauty of the journey that you are on.”
After accepting an Excellence medal from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kristen Turnow, class president Liam Baker stepped to the podium and addressed his classmates, urging them to treasure every moment they have with the people who helped them along their paths.
“Just remember that life’s too short and too precious to not take chances. Just do it,” Baker told his classmates. “But more importantly, tell your loved ones that you love them, say thank you and be kind each and every day.”
Following Baker’s speech, the chamber singers returned to continue the school tradition of performing “In My Life” by The Beatles. Subsequently, salutatorian Grant Creedon, student speaker Gianna Craft and valedictorian Justin Kwok received their own Excellence medals and took their turns speaking to their classmates and the audience.
“And now, for the first time, we have the opportunity to build something entirely new,” Creedon said. “The future is not already written. It will be shaped by the decisions we make, the risks we take and the people we choose to become.”
Gianna Craft likened the lessons she and her classmates learned during their high school years to those of the characters in “Toy Story.” Woody learns about change; Buzz Lightyear learns self-acceptance and the aliens learn about curiosity and taking control of their own destiny.
“Our time here at Locust Valley has allowed us to discover our true passions and strengths, whether those strengths be in the classroom, on the field, on stage or in the community,” Craft said. “It is these unique abilities that make us who we are and what made us so successful as a graduating class.”
Justin Kwok spoke about the new interests he found through encouragement by his teachers, such as joining the Jesters drama club out of the blue as a freshman, and the importance of taking a leap into the uncomfortable to discover hidden talents.
“In theater, we follow a rigid script where everything, our next line, interaction and acting choice is certain, but if you always stick to a rigid script, there’s no room for that little dash of exploration,” Kwok said. “When a scene goes wrong, a prop breaks or someone forgets their line, things are uncertain, and you’re forced to improvise. But it is during that very improvisation where the most important connections are formed – the connections where you save each other, learn and bring the performance back to life.”
Before the candidates received their diplomas, Dr. Turnow spoke about the way she and the Class of 2026 could find peace and joy in times of change. Inspired by Locust Valley Intermediate School fourth-grader Gia Adwar’s artwork called “Peace and Gratitude,” which depicts a peace sign with fourth quadrants filled with beautiful scenes from each season and holding hands around the edges, Dr. Turnow told the students, “Her message to all of us is simple, yet deeply wise: we can find true happiness simply by watching the leaves change color, watching a sunset, enjoying a snow day or seeing flowers bloom. Instead of focusing on the little things that upset us, we can be grateful for the people and the environment around us.”
After receiving their diplomas, turning their tassels and tossing their caps in the air, the graduates sought out their friends and took in the moment. While their time as students in these buildings may be over, they will always have a home here and be Falcons forever.
At the middle school moving-up ceremony, students received their diplomas and took in performances from the select chorus and band.
“During your middle school career, you’ve navigated challenges, celebrated successes and built a vibrant community within these walls,” middle school principal Michael Cestero said. “This milestone is a testament to your hard work, dedication and the positive energy you bring every day.”
Thank you to everyone who worked to make these days so special, and congratulations to our students for your successes this school year!
The 31 students spent the day at Stehli Beach in Bayville, where the group collected trash to help get the beach ready for the summer season. Assisted by their teacher, Donna Fredericks, and Friends of the Bay program coordinator Marianna Eades, the students also collected water data using chemical indicator tests and air quality data using a multipurpose digital sensor. They practiced ecology fieldwork techniques that are used to collect data about the distribution of species along the intertidal zone of a rocky beach.
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For more information, go to the Summer Recreation Program page on the district website.
https://www.locustvalleyschools.org/page/summer-recreation-program
