Ed Paquette's Retirement Brings End to an Era

As June 24 quickly approaches so does the final day Ed Paquette works in the Sachem Central School District.

The dean of students and business teacher at Sachem High School North has left an indelible mark on the students and faculty of the school.

For years students have had a pleasurable time sorting through his half comedy act, half classroom lessons and almost always left the school year appreciating his humbling and often all inspiring outlook on life, education and any other subject area he tackled in lectures that always ended in a smile and a laugh.

“Ed Paquette is Sachem,” said district Superintendent James Nolan, formerly the principal of Sachem North where he worked with Paquette. “He is an excellent teacher and role model. He spent his entire career giving tirelessly and selflessly of his time and talents to our students both in the classroom as well as in various arenas of co-curricular activities. He has taught our students a great deal in his business classes, but more importantly he has taught thousands of Sachem students how to use their talents to be quality people and make our world a better place.”

One of those former students is , who heads , which Paquette serves on the education committee for. He’s known Paquette as a mentor, friend and colleague.

“As an educator, Ed delivered business lessons with a welcomed sense of fun in the classroom,” recalled Barbis, who mentioned Paquette’s compassion and knack for the classroom. “I learned many important aspects of the business world that are still applicable today, some twenty years later. Ed Paquette has been, and continues to be, very instrumental in my journey as a successful student, professional and most importantly, my continual goal to constantly become a better person.”

Mark Wojciechowski, the other dean at Sachem North and Paquette’s partner in crime, likens him to other Sachem legends and meaningful mentors like , , , and Steve Hackett.

“He has been there with sound advice and an ear to listen when I needed it,” Wojciechowski said. “I do not have the words to express what he has done for me and how much he means to me.”

Paquette, a William Floyd alum and Medford resident, has traveled the educational scene of Long Island getting an associate’s degree from Suffolk County Community College, his bachelor’s from Dowling, MBA from Hofstra, and a master’s in guidance from C.W. Post. Teachers were the most influential people in his life, and he wanted to pass on the same feeling to others.

“The moment I get a student to believe in themselves,” said, “that‘s what I enjoy most about my job.”

Paquette tries his best to beat down the macho-ness in his male students, and surface their self-depth to make them realize they don’t need to follow the crowd. In his female students, he has worked to cure low self-esteem. He is awed by empowering women, and has taught his female students to be confident and aggressive individuals. Although he won Sachem’s “Teacher of the Year” in 2003, learning that he was the first runner-up for being New York’s “Teacher of the Year” was humbling.

He is married with three children and one grandson, and will look to take a car ride across the country with his wife to “fill in the missing states,” and to just “drive and pig out," upon retirement. He plays the guitar – modestly well, although he’ll never admit it – and plans on finishing his home recording studio sometime in the near future. 

Besides traveling and jamming with his guitar, he does “whatever my wife tells me to do.” Perhaps the largest disappointment upon retirement is losing his audience in the classroom. It’s up to new teachers to take the reigns, both in sports and entertainment marketing, and the DECA club, which he certainly left his mark on for years.

“Be passionate about what you teach,” he said as advice for future educators, “be compassionate about who you teach. If you are truly passionate about teaching, never give up the dream. Want to be remembered. It’ll help you get through.” 

Undoubtedly, Paquette will always be remembered as someone who made a difference in Sachem.