Robert Sarli- BHS Teacher and English Chairperson, Retired

Robert Sarli started teaching English at BHS in 1967 and retired in 2003. He was a popular and active English teacher who became Chairperson of the Department in 1997.  His love of Greek culture was infectious and he received a grant in 1986 from the National Endowment of the Humanities to study Greek Culture and Drama.  During his career in Bethpage, he introduced numerous new courses for students- Greek Drama, Shakespeare, Rock as Lit as well as college credit courses through Adelphi and C.W. Post.  

He was very active in the life of the school community as an advisor to a large number of extracurricular clubs.  His first club was the Folk Club started in 1967 with students who wanted to use their musical talents to sing folk songs that were in vogue at the time.  He was Stage Crew Advisor for almost twenty years, working with the very successful Masquers Guild. He served as the Audio Visual Advisor and was a pioneer in the use of computers in education.  During the 1990's he served as Co-Advisor to Perspectives , the schools Art and Literary magazine.  In 2002 Mr. Sarli was chosen by Channel 55 as one of their Educator of the Week honorees.  The Class of 1974 dedicated their yearbook to him. He was also the Senior Class Advisor for many years and in charge of the Senior Prom and the annual Commencement Ceremony.

Mr. Sarli was a guiding force in the creation of the Bethpage Congress of Teachers in the early 1970's.  His wife Kathy, also an educator, was a fixture at all the events Mr. Sarli ran over the many years. Their son Andrew also spent a great deal of time among Golden Eagles.