The Newark Valley Central School District is pleased to share its first-ever alumni profile, featuring a very deserving graduate from the Class of 2002.

Brenda Yaeger serves our community as a road patrol deputy with the Tioga County Sheriff’s Office. She’s currently in her eighteenth year with the sheriff’s office, where she began her career as a Corrections Officer. In 2018, Brenda fulfilled a longtime goal, trading the jail for the road and becoming a deputy sheriff. It’s a dream that Yaeger said began during her time as a Newark Valley student, when she was part of a virtual criminal justice program through Broome-Tioga BOCES. She was also inspired by two local state troopers who were very influential in the Newark Valley community – Mike Simmons, and the late Robert “Bobby” Bleck. 

“Both Mr. Bleck and Mr. Simmons really took pride in making a difference in our community and strived to direct the young adults and children to make good decisions,” Yaeger recalled. “I can remember being able to sit with them while they were on patrol in the Village of Newark Valley, they would teach how the radar unit in the Patrol Car worked and would even allow me to estimate vehicle speeds. I remember Mr. Bleck asking what career I wanted to pursue, and I was insistent that I wanted to join the law enforcement field.”

Yaeger said she will forever be grateful for Mr. Bleck and Mr. Simmons and can only hope to impact and inspire the young people in our community the way that they did. We are certainly proud to call her a Cardinal. Thank you for your service, Deputy Yeager, and stay safe!