MANHASSET, N.Y. — A Q&A with Christine Raffo who is the new athletic director in the Manhasset school district.

Can you tell us a bit about your background?

Christine Raffo: I grew up in N. Massapequa and attended Holy Trinity HS. I had a wonderful high-school experience, which included winning back-to-back state championships in girls basketball. I went on to attend Boston University on a full athletic scholarship. Although I loved my time in Boston, I always planned to move back to NY after college. I am the youngest of three; my parents, my brother, and sister all live on Long Island. It’s been so enjoyable for me and my siblings to watch our children grow up together. I currently live in Seaford with my wife, Cheri, and our son, Jackson … you will see them at future Manhasset events! I am very fortunate to have a beautiful and supportive family.

Have sports always been a part of your life? 

Raffo: Yes, sports have always been a part of my life. My older brother is an athlete, and I was always trying to keep up with him. In Middle School and High School, I played soccer, basketball and softball.Towards the end of my HS career, it became all basketball for me, but I enjoy watching and playing a little bit of everything.

Did you play sports in college?

Raffo: Yes, I played basketball for Boston University. I was fortunate to be the team’s starting point guard for all four years, and honored to be our team captain my junior and senior year.

What did you study in college?

Raffo: I studied education in college. I took a course my freshman year that required volunteer hours. I decided to volunteer in an underserved school district outside of the city. The first day I arrived, I was tasked with organizing sports and games for a large group of elementary-age students. The experience definitely had its challenges, but I remember I always took the public bus back to BU campus with a huge smile on my face.

What were your plans post-graduation?

Raffo: After completing my undergraduate degree, I continued my education at Boston University and completed my master’s degree in Physical Education and Coaching. While attending graduate school, I served as the Director of Basketball Operations for the women’s basketball program. It was a valuable experience to be part of a Division 1 coaching staff. After my master’s degree, I was excited to move back to NY and apply for a position teaching Physical Education.

What are some of the positions you have held prior to coming to Manhasset?

Raffo: I taught Physical Education and Health for 10 years in the NYC school system. I loved my time as a teacher, and took pride in leading those departments. Last school year, I served as the Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics in the Hempstead School District. I feel the position of Director of PE, Health and Athletics fully aligns with my personal passion and my professional skill set.

What did you know about Manhasset’s athletics prior to interviewing for this job?

Raffo: I grew up on Long Island, so I was aware of the academic and athletic excellence that surrounds the Manhasset School District. The success of the Manhasset lacrosse programs definitely stands out; but what I find extra impressive is the success and competitiveness across all of our athletic programs and teams. We have the potential to win in every single sport; I find that motivating and exciting.

What would you consider to be your approach to school athletics and how do you plan to utilize that here?

Raffo: My approach to school athletics is for our student-athletes to have the best experience possible. It’s important for all stakeholders to feel connected to our athletic program, and it’s my job to create that inclusive and supportive environment. I identify as a very competitive person, so of course, I want to have winning programs, but more importantly, I want the student-athletes, the coaches, the parents and families, to have fun and to enjoy their experience.

What are some of the plans you have for helping to improve the school’s athletic programs?

Raffo: In my first year as the Athletic Director, it’s important that I prioritize meeting with our student-athletes, our coaches and our families to identify our areas of improvement. One thing that has come up in many of my initial conversations this summer, is the need to improve communication from the Athletic Office to our Manhasset families/community. I plan to improve our Manhasset Athletics website and to implement social media to highlight our athletic schedules, big wins, individual and team accomplishments and more.

How do you hope to inspire Manhasset Schools’ athletes?

Raffo: I hope to inspire our student-athletes to feel committed and passionate, not just about their specific sport, but to all of Manhasset Athletics. I want our teams to be rooting for one another, and to be a dominant district in the fall, winter and spring. I hope to see student-athletes from our soccer team cheering on our field hockey team, to attend a Saturday football game and to see a packed student section. I hope to inspire our athletes to feel like one united Manhasset team; the success of one team, is the success of all of our teams.

How important is it to you to engage with the community when it comes to the schools’ athletic programming?

Raffo: The Manhasset community is our athletics community. I have already felt the support from our administration and our families. It is a top priority to continue to engage the community, to listen to their needs, and to work together to provide our student-athletes with the best experience possible.

What are some of the characteristics you value most in teachers/coaches?

Raffo: Teachers and coaches have a wonderful opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of young people. Our teachers and coaches are role models to our student-athletes, and that is a significant role to hold. I value coaches that are students of the sport, and that prioritize creating a sense of community and building relationships with the student-athletes and families in their program. It is my hope that when our HS graduates look back on their playing career at Manhasset, they do so with pride.

As a woman in this field, you will undoubtedly be seen as an inspirational figure to our young female athletes; how does that make you feel? 

Raffo: I take great pride in being a female Athletic Director. I hope to inspire our female athletes to be unapologetically competitive, to set high expectations for themselves, and to truly believe that they can accomplish all that they want in the world of sports. There has been significant growth in high school, college and professional sports for female athletes, and I believe that those opportunities will continue to grow.

What do you see as some of the challenges facing you ahead and conversely, what are some of the things you are most excited about as the incoming AD?

Raffo: In any new job or position, there are always challenges to work through. One thing that comes to mind is our Middle School sports program. The pandemic was a difficult time for all school communities and the Middle School programs were especially impacted. There is a lack of officials and a shortage of bus drivers, and it has negatively impacted the quality and competitiveness of Middle-School sports in Nassau County. I hope to work with my colleagues in other districts to focus our efforts on our Middle-School sports programs. I am very excited and honored to be the AD of the Manhasset School District. It has been a busy summer preparing for the fall athletic season; and I can honestly say that I am most excited to meet our student-athletes, to learn about who they are, to get to know their friends and families, and to be on the sideline cheering them on. I look forward to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to provide our student-athletes with an inclusive and fun environment, and to put our teams in the best position to win.

This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.