Thank you to everyone who attended
our 32nd Annual Fundraising Gala
at Gatsby on the Ocean
Honoring:
Dr. Brian Zuar,
Director of the Arts,
RVC Schools
Dr. Brian Zuar served as Director of the Arts in Rockville Centre Schools for the last 20 years, 17 were spent on the RVC Education Foundation’s Board of Directors.
In Nassau County, he served as President of the local chapter of the NY State Council of Administrators of Music Education (2010-2012) and was NYSCAME’s Executive Director of Professional Development (2009-2022). Before his tenure in Rockville Centre, Dr. Zuar was the K-12 Music Coordinator for Pleasantville Schools in Westchester.
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Brian Zuar came to public education after more than 20 years in Catholic schools and leadership in church music. From 1981-1999, he taught Music at St. Francis Prep, in Fresh Meadows, NY.
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Concurrently he worked in church music programs, first in the Diocese of Brooklyn, then in the Archdiocese of New York. For both, he chaired the Commission on Church Music, served as seminary music professor and choir director. On two occasions, his choirs performed for the late Pope Saint John Paul II, once in Rome, and once during his 1995 visit to New York.
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Dr. Zuar earned his doctorate at Columbia University’s Teachers College in 2006. He earned his BA in Music at Queens College (now the Aaron Copland School of Music), where he also earned a master’s degree in Music Education. He earned a second master’s at Columbia University’s Teachers College and has also studied graduate-level musicology.
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Brian lives with his wife of 43 years, Joanne, in Brooklyn, where they raised two children, Gregory and Nicole.
Darren Raymar,
Principal, Covert Elementary School
Darren Raymar graduated from the University of Maryland-College Park with a BA in Political Science and a Minor in Health Education. He obtained a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Hofstra University in 1992, and taught 4th grade in the Lawrence School District from 1993-1997.
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In September 1997, Raymar became the youngest school administrator in New York State and was appointed as Assistant Principal at the Arrowhead Elementary School in the Three Village Central School District. He held that position until August 1999, when he was appointed Principal of Covert Elementary School.
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During his 25 years as Principal of Covert, Darren has integrated himself into the South Hempstead and RVC Communities. Raymar served as Co-Director of Community Education for many years. Darren has actively participated in many District-Wide Committees and Initiatives, including facilitating Compact for Learning Training and serving on the MTSS Committee, the Health and Wellness Committee, the Social Studies Committee, the Mathematics Committee and the Instructional Priorities Committee.
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After the RVC Education Foundation named Raymar the recipient of the Ruth Fins Memorial Award in 2008, Raymar joined the Board of Directors. He has been an active member of the Foundation for 15 years and served for one year as Secretary on the Executive Board.
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Raymar has strongly advocated for cultural arts, bringing Dancing Classrooms to Covert in Grades 4 and 5. In April 2016, he received the prestigious “Take the Lead Award” from Dancing Classrooms. Darren also introduced Enrichment Clusters for students at Covert School, which were funded by the Ed Foundation and then adopted in all elementary schools in the district.
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In 2015, Raymar was named “Person of the Year” by the RVC Herald due to his commitment to philanthropic endeavors. His pride and joy, the Raymar Children’s Fund, has supported needy families within the school and RVC community and donated to other charitable organizations. Raymar currently serves as vice President of the Fund, which supports many community, school, and district initiatives.
