José Ernesto Ortiz, assistant principal at Uniondale High School, recently took his passion for running—and inspiring students—to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean by participating in the Berlin Marathon.
As a representative of his running club, “Dominican Runners,” Ortiz demonstrated his talent on the international sports stage in Germany.
“I am proud to represent the Uniondale community, Dominican Runners and my culture,” said Ortiz.
“I hope that experiences like this serve to remind our students that there are many ways to celebrate who we are, challenge ourselves, and represent our communities beyond the walls of our school.”
It should be noted that more than 40 members of “Dominican Runners” accompanied deputy director Ortiz; many of them traveled directly from the Dominican Republic.
“I deeply appreciate the encouragement and support of the Uniondale School District, which allowed me to be part of such a memorable experience,” Ortiz said.
After participating in the 2025 New York City Marathon, José Ernesto Ortiz helped organize the first edition of the Uniondale High School “Turkey Trot” last school year.
This meaningful community event, which has become an annual tradition, is free for participants and invites students and staff to run or walk on the school track, as well as donate canned and non-perishable foods to the school’s food pantry.
This year’s “Turkey Trot” will take place on November 23, at 3:30 pm, and Mr. Ortiz hopes it will be as memorable as the first edition.
For more information about the Uniondale School District, visit their website at https://district.uniondaleschools.org and follow their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/uniondalek12 .
