Baxley honored with Hempstead Pathfinder Award

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Kathleen Baxley, a lifelong Rockville Centre resident and a teacher in the village, was one of 11 women who received the Town of Hempstead’s annual Pathfinder Award at a ceremony on March 7.

Over 100 people joined Supervisor Anthony J. Santino and members of the board to recognize the women who live or work in the town for their contributions to the community. The ceremony celebrates the victories and contributions of women in a variety of categories.

The honorees who were saluted at the ceremony are from the Oceanside, Merrick, Elmont, Rockville Centre and Malverne communities.

“Whether we look at our honorees’ efforts to feed the hungry, study cures for cancer, inspire through education or create jobs as an employer, the women whom we honor at this ceremony are developing opportunities for future pathfinders,” Santino said.

Baxley was nominated in the Community Affairs category by Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray and Deputy Mayor Nancy Howard. They credited her for her volunteer work with the school district’s PTAs, the Rockville Centre Sponsors of the Arts, the Education Foundation, the newly formed Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition — she is an eight-year cancer survivor — the Girl Scouts and as the Cub Scout leader.

“Helping others is nothing new to Kathleen, who has dedicated almost a decade to local PTAs and 12 years as a Girl Scout leader,” Murray and Howard wrote on their nomination. “The RVC Breast Cancer Coalition, the No Place for Hate committee at South Side High School, RVC Sponsor of the Arts, St. Agnes Parish Gala committee and the RVC Education Foundation are just a sampling of the other organizations that have benefitted from Kathleen’s community dedication.”

Baxley has always had a desire to pay it forward.

“I believe in Rockville Centre and in giving back, so that is why I volunteer my time to keep it such a great community,” she said.

She has worked with children for nearly 30 years, and is a teacher at the United Church Nursery School in the village. She previously taught fourth- and sixth- graders at Oceanside School No. 5.

That work inspired her to become the administrator of three Facebook groups with more than 2,400 members. She launched the RVC Moms and RVC Moms Business Group Facebook pages about five years ago. While residents used to have to wait until the next news broadcast to learn why helicopters were circling the neighborhood, now all they have to do is log on to those pages, and an answer can often be found in moments.

“I pride myself on keeping it always positive,” Baxley said. “I don’t allow any negative comments or criticism, unlike other Facebook groups, and that’s part of what makes it so successful.”