RVC Athletic Director Roseto named Director of the Year

Posted

The work of Carol Roseto, athletic director of the Rockville Centre School District, has been recognized at the state’s highest level. Roseto was named Director of the Year by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and was presented with the award on Nov. 22.

“I am so honored and humbled,” Roseto said. “It’s great to be recognized, and knowing that someone took the time to nominate me is super special.”

The award is given annually to someone who has contributed significantly to the improvement of health or phys. ed. by servicing the youth in a school district or across the state. The potential recipients are nominated anonymously, and the winner is chosen by a committee comprising the president of the state Council of Administrators, the president-elect, the past president and the last two award recipients.

“Carol was paramount in pursuing and executing a $1.37 million Carol M. White Grant to improve programs and facilities throughout the district,” said Colleen Corsi, executive director of NYS AHPERD. “To her credit, high-tech sound systems were installed in all gymnasiums [and] physical educators are using heart rate monitors throughout the K-12 curriculum, enabling teachers to be data-driven and adapt their lessons accordingly.”

Roseto has been the district’s athletic director since 2009. She spent 11 years in the Lawrence Public School District as a phys. ed., adapted phys. ed. and health teacher and coach before coming to Rockville Centre. Her work to improve the district’s athletic department and programs began soon after she took the job.

In 2011, Roseto obtained and implemented a $1.37 million grant for the phys. ed. program, which funded new fitness centers at South Side Middle and High Schools, high-tech sound systems in gymnasiums throughout the district, heart rate monitoring systems for phys. ed. classes throughout the district and a cardio theater in the high school. The grant included a 26-foot projection screen and laptops for all gyms. It also expanded and upgraded the phys. ed. and health curriculum and equipment, and gave all department teachers the opportunity to participate in professional development workshops.

Roseto is currently the secretary of the state Council of Administrators, serves in numerous Section VIII Council of Administrators leadership positions and is the Section VIII representative on the New York State Transgender Committee. She has received the Council of Administrators Section VIII Administrator of the Year Award and the Section VIII and Nassau County Physical Education Director of the Year awards. The National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association also recognized her as a Certified Master Athletic Administrator earlier this year.

Roseto started her career in business before becoming a phys. ed. teacher and administrator. She received her first master’s degree in business administration from Hofstra University in 1987, and was the director of advertising for Seaman’s Furniture Company for nine years, followed by a six-year run as director of advertising for North Shore Animal League International before returning to school to become a certified phys. ed. teacher. She earned a master’s in K-12 physical education from Adelphi University in 1998.

“Being physically active has always kept me sane and happy, and I’ve been through a lot in this crazy life,” Roseto said. “I found that I could handle stress better and find more balance by going to the gym, and thought I could help students learn the importance of being physically active as a way to de-stress.”

Former Rockville Centre phys. ed. and health teacher Shannon McEntee, the assistant athletic director for Sachem Public Schools since 2017, wrote a letter of recommendation for Roseto, and attributed her own career advancement to Roseto’s guidance. McEntee said that Roseto’s energy and enthusiasm “inspires her staff to go above and beyond to improve the educational process for students.”

“She leads by example, and continues to drive the physical education and health curriculum forward,” McEntee said. “She is very flexible and eager to take on new challenges. She is instrumental in having others continue to grow in their field.”

“Her colleagues have said that Carol has laid the groundwork and changed the landscape of the district’s physical education, health education and athletics programs that will be felt well into the future,” Corsi said. “Her incredible love for her students, teams and athletes, her concern for their safety and her enthusiasm are what set her apart. Carol is philanthropic with her time, and is a master in the art of providing equity and a well-rounded education for all students.”

Roseto was presented with the award at the J.B. Nash dinner, on the final day of the NYS AHPERD’s annual state conference at the Turning Stone Convention Center in Verona.

“There are so many great directors in New York state,” she said, “so the fact that I was chosen out of all the nominees is very special.”