Three Minisink Valley staff members have been named recipients of the Mid-Hudson School Study Council’s 2026 Awards for Excellence.
Each year, the Newburgh-based organization honors those in the education field who display excellence in their work. Awards were presented to them and other honorees at an Oct. 29 gathering at The Barn at Villa Venezia in Middletown.
Paul Dombal, Intermediate School Principal
MHSSC Award of Excellence in Administration
“Mr. Dombal is a thoughtful and collaborative leader who understands that meaningful progress is built on strong relationships,” wrote Superintendent Brian Monahan in his nomination letter. “He has earned the trust and respect of teachers, support staff, parents and colleagues through his accessibility, sound judgment and willingness to listen. Whether addressing the daily needs of a school building or helping to shape district-wide initiatives, he approaches every challenge with professionalism, fairness and a solutions-oriented mindset. Effective school leadership requires balancing high expectations with compassion, accountability with encouragement and a vision with practical action. Mr. Dombal demonstrates these qualities every day.”
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Christian Ranaudo echoed those comments in his nomination letter, adding: “Mr. Dombal has been an integral member of our administrative team for our Science of Literary initiative. Under Mr. Dombal’s leadership, this initiative has transformed literacy instruction throughout our elementary schools. We have seen meaningful growth among beginning readers, students who struggle with reading, English language learners, and, ultimately, all students as they continue to strengthen their literacy skills. His leadership has had a lasting positive impact on our district and he exemplifies the qualities this award is intended to recognize.”
Gabriella Renna, R.N. High School Registered Nurse and District Head Nurse
MHSSC Award for Excellence in Pupil Personnel Services
“To put it simply, everything Ms. Renna does comes down to one thing: Taking care of our kids,” wrote High School Principal Kenneth Hauck in his nomination letter. “This ‘kid-first’ mindset is just who she is, no matter what is thrown her way. When she helped lead our building through all the challenges of COVID, her steady attitude kept our students and staff from panicking. Operationally, she is the best in the business. She knows the health department rules inside and out, and she makes sure we do things the right way every time, but never loses her human touch. Ms. Renna is not the type to look for praise or the spotlight, but she is the backbone of our school health program.”
Director of Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Jeffrey Finton noted in his letter that PPS requires a delicate balance of strict compliance and deep empathy, adding Ms. Renna perfectly embodies these qualities.
“What truly sets her apart is her exceptional leadership style,” he wrote. “She is a remarkably calm, steady and quiet leader. In times of high stress, which are moments inherent to school nursing, Ms. Renna is the grounding force that our entire health staff relies upon. She provides seamless guidance, mentorship and support to all of our school nurses, fostering a collaborative culture of clinical excellence. Gabriella Renna represents the very best of what Pupil Personnel Service stands for: Systemic excellence, unwavering reliability and a quiet, profound dedication to student wellness.
Ryan Veety, Senior Network Security Analyst
MHSSC Award of Excellence in Staff Support
“I definitely appreciate not only Mr. Veety’s technical knowledge but also his unique ability to anticipate challenges that most of us would never recognize,” Superintendent Monahan wrote. “In many ways, his approach to cybersecurity and systems protections operates on a different level than the rest of us. Colleagues often joke that he must come from another universe because of the way he thinks about network security, risk and system architecture. While said with humor, it is truly a complement to the depth of his expertise. Mr. Veety sees vulnerabilities before they become problems, identifies solutions long before issues affect our schools and constantly works to strengthen systems that most people never realize are operating behind the scenes.”
In his nomination letter, Assistant Superintendent Ranaudo, who works closely with Mr. Veety as the district's Chief Security Officer on initiatives that extend beyond traditional information technology, added: “The importance of cybersecurity and network reliability in today’s educational environment can’t be overstated. A secure, stable technology infrastructure is essential not only for daily instruction but also for operational continuity and the safety and security of our school community. Mr. Veety’s expertise, attention to detail and proactive leadership have made him an indispensable member of our district, and his contributions are felt through every building, every day.”