It’s back to the Big House for Patti Trombetta. Not the one in Michigan where she went to school, but the one at 212 Smith Rd. in Lake Ronkonkoma where she attended high school. She is entering her first year as principal at Sachem North.
Trombetta, who graduated from Sachem in 1986 and walked the halls as Patti Farley, is a proud alum who grew up in the community, and still lives here today with her family.
Trombetta attended the University of Michigan where she played field hockey. She taught in Pennsylvania for seven years before returning to Long Island and teaching at Harborfields for another seven years. Nine years ago she came back to Sachem as an administrator and has spent time as an assistant principal at Sagamore Middle School and a principal at Grundy Avenue Elementary and Sagamore before taking her current role at Sachem North.
Her daughter Katie, who graduated from Sachem East, is a sophomore on the field hockey team at Michigan and her daughter Cara is a senior at Sachem East and headed to the University of Florida to play lacrosse.
Sachem Report recently caught up with Trombetta to talk about her new gig and what it means for her to run the building that means so much to her.
Sachem Report: What does it mean for you to be the principal at Sachem North?
Patti Trombetta: “It’s exciting. When I graduated Sachem we were so proud that we were from Sachem. We assumed everyone knew Sachem. I’m excited to bring some of that back. I take pride in being from here. My kids went to Sachem. I’m going to continue that tradition. Everyone should always be proud to say they’re from Sachem and they’re a part of this. I want kids to take pride in it and respect it. It’s not something they should take for granted.
SR: What are your favorite memories as a student at Sachem North?
Trombetta: “Risa Zander was my basketball coach. Back them we never missed anything. There were so many kids vying for spots. If you missed a practice or game someone was always there to jump in. One time myself and some others missed practice and I remember Risa putting chairs out and making us sit there while our teammates had to run suicides. I remember taking the ’86 picture [for the yearbook] out back. I remember going to football games and walking through past Samoset over to Burger King after games. It was a family. It was a part of what you did. My best memories were with sports and being part of teams.”
SR: How has everything you done in your career helped get you to this moment?
Trombetta: “Having the confidence to do it now. I’ve learned from some great people above me. No matter where I go and who I work with, it all comes down to people. This is just a bigger scale than what I’ve already done. It’s building a family within this building. I had a great experience here [as a student] and I want that for every kid. It’s all about learning and listening to see what we can improve upon.”
SR: What’s your initial plan on some adjustments you’d like to make in the building?
Trombetta: “I like a little old fashion. I don’t want hats or ear buds. I want to limit the phones. I was raised so that you don’t wear a hat in the classroom like you don’t wear it at the dinner table. Respect is only going to help you in life, not hurt you in life. There is no reason we can’t have high expectations like this. There are rules and guidelines for reasons in life.”
SR: You have the fortune of having gone to Sachem, currently living in Sachem, working in Sachem and your kids attending Sachem Schools. That’s pretty special. Talk about that.
Trombetta: “I’m vested in it. I wanted to give my kids the best opportunity and I feel like my parents gave me the best opportunity by coming here. I never knew anything differently. Everyone should think that where they go is the best place. I think I’m lucky. People get to see me as me. You’re going to see me in the food store. You’re going to see me on the sports field. I care. I’m a person. I’m a mother. I’m a person who cares about her own kids who also attend these schools.”
-As told to Chris R. Vaccaro