Teacher, Serviceman Gives Moving Award to Hauppauge BOE

Mark Kimes, a music teacher at Hauppauge High School, wears two hats: one as a teacher, the other as a captain in the U.S. National Guard.

After the first seven months of working at the high school, Kimes was deployed to serve military. Despite being away for about a year, he said he was welcomed back with open arms when he returned.

Since then, he has been pulled back into his military duties several times. Most recently, the choir teacher was assisting with recovery efforts after Hurricane Sandy.

For the board’s encouragement of his military career, he and LTC Christopher Daniels of the U.S. Army Reserve presented its members with the Employer Support for Guard and Reserve Award.

“I’ve been blessed to be employed here and have been very supported by the administration here during my military career,” he said.

During the meeting, he led the school’s chamber choir in their performance of two of its level six NYSSMA competition songs, as well as a grand finale of “God Bless America.”

Many of the board members were reduced to tears as he thanked them individually for their support.