It is a true honor to be recognized within your community, as two local women have come to find out. Levittown Superintendent Dr. Tonie McDonald and Levittown Board of Education vice president Peggy Marenghi, were both recently acknowledged by the 17th Assembly District as “Women of Distinction.”
McDonald and Marenghi, who will receive the awards this month, were chosen for their extraordinary efforts in making Levittown a better place to live.
“It’s very nice to be honored that way,” said McDonald, who has been serving as the superintendent in Levittown since 2014. “I was very surprised, very pleased and very flattered. I have great respect for Assemblyman McKevitt [who nominated me] and it’s really an honor that it’s coming from him.”
McDonald believes that it is important for everyone to be acknowledged in the community, not just women, and that she doesn’t think in terms of gender.
“People always ask me what it’s like to be the first woman superintendent and I never thought about it that way. I just think about being superintendent and I’m way more excited about receiving this nomination because it’s someone from Levittown, in my home district,” she said. “However, it is definitely important for young girls to see women in higher positions and just as important for boys to see women there as well.”
Like many residents, McDonald feels that Levittown is truly a great community.
“The fact that we have two people in our community getting involved at the same time, both of us involved in the schools is really exciting,” she said of her fellow honoree.
As for Marenghi, who has been a steady member on the board of education for a number of years, she too was truly honored.
“I was quite shocked and taken back a bit when I got the letter in the mail, but I think we do ordinary things that people should do, so I was surprised,” said Marenghi, who has been in education for 36 years. “It means that you succeeded in what you’ve been trying so hard for.”
Marenghi was president of the school board wh
en McDonald came along, and for the two of them, being able to work alongside a fellow honored colleague is quite special.
“For the two of us to be at the helm of Levittown schools is just amazing. Both of us are native Levittown girls in charge of a large school district, and being acknowledged was such an honor,” said Marenghi.
Marenghi spoke on how the roles in the field of education have changed among men and women, as it was predominantly always seen a s a man’s job.
“Prior to this, education was always a man’s field. When you rise to the top, whether it’s board president or superintendent, it speaks a lot for today’s times,” she said.
Both McDonald and Marenghi are excited for the upcoming school year, and are looking forward to a new start with a fresh-faced batch of great kids.
“I’m looking forward to really moving education ahead, and I look forward to that every year,” said McDonald. “You can always improve and what better way to put your efforts but to the lives of children. That’s my life’s work.”
It is evident that Levittown’s students possess incredible talent and continue to produce high quality levels of academics, artwork and music.
“They [the students] amaze me every year and I’m looking forward to see what they have to offer and helping them achieve their goals,” said McDonald.
Marenghi is looking forward to the continued growth of the environmental science program and to make sure both ends of the academic spectrum are truly serviced to the best they can be.
“Whether they be gifted students or special needs students, we need to make sure in Levittown that we keep raising the bar for all students and that every single one of them meets their full potential,” she said.
