Honor Outstanding Educator Winner

Senate Resolution No. 2726 BY: Senator DEFRANCISCO HONORING William Davern upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Educator Award by the School Administrators Association of New York State WHEREAS, New York State's commitment to education is unparalleled; its history and stature are secured by the superlative caliber of its educational professionals and the students they inspire; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge individuals in the distinguished careers of those outstanding educational leaders, whose dedication and achievements have been instrumental in developing character and academic excellence in the young people of New York State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor William Davern upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the

2017, at the Century House in Latham, New York; and WHEREAS, This award is given annually to a member of the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS) who has set the pace, character, and quality of education for the students in his or her school; William Davern is truly deserving of this prestigious award; and WHEREAS, SAANYS represents nearly 7,200 school administrators, supervisors, and coordinators; as a professional association, it is committed to providing direction, service, and support to the membership in their efforts to improve the quality of education and leadership in New York State schools; and WHEREAS, William Davern earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Ithaca College, and his Master of Music Education degree from Syracuse University; he furthered his education by obtaining his Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from SUNY Oswego; and WHEREAS, William Davern, Director of Fine Arts for the West Genesee Central School District, is well-known as an energetic and passionate leader for the arts; as Director, he led the curriculum redesign and growth of the music, visual arts, and dance programs for West Genesee's

3,500 fine arts students; and WHEREAS, William Davern worked tirelessly to revitalize the West Genesee music program which had been experiencing declining enrollment; through his efforts, the program has since rebounded and now serves 30 percent more students within the district; and WHEREAS, As a testament to his dedication and passion, William Davern led a 630 member alumni marching band in the town's 2016 Annual Memorial Day Parade, for which many past students traveled from across the country to participate; hundreds of residents lined the streets to support this remarkable man, and all of the band's achievements; and WHEREAS, This monumental event commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the West Genesee Wildcat Marching Band's first competition in 1966; the marchers, ranging in age from 18-78 year-old, included CEOs, professors and professional musicians; they played The Battle Hymn of the Republic, and the length of the band stretched almost a quarter mile; and WHEREAS, A graduate of the class of 1978, William Davern served as a drum major in the alumni band; through his teaching and passion for music, each and every participant of the band is truly dedicated to their talent and focus on being the very best they can be; and WHEREAS, William Davern always considered his marching band to be an extension of his family; 40 pairs of parents and students participated in the band, including William and his two sons; and WHEREAS, Under William Davern's direction, the Wildcat Marching Band captured an unprecedented 12 consecutive New York State Field Band Conference National Class State Championship titles; they were also three-time Grand National Finalists, and the 1990 Class AA National Champions; and WHEREAS, In addition, many of the District's ensembles have received numerous Gold and Gold with Distinction ratings from the New York State School Music Association; and WHEREAS, Most recently, West Genesee was once again named one the Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation; the survey acknowledges schools and districts across the United States for their commitment and support of music education in schools; this is the ninth consecutive year, 12th time overall, that the school district has been recognized for this esteemed honor; and WHEREAS, This competitive award is proof positive that outstanding instruction, in concert with positive administrative, community and Board of Education support, produces recognized quality at a national level for all of the West Genesee School District's children; music education greatly improves student performance in every area at every age; and WHEREAS, Well-respected by the music education community, William Davern has taken numerous leadership roles within the West Genesee Administrators Association; he has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades for his exceptional service including the Citizen of the Year Award by the Camillus Chamber of Commerce, the Syracuse Area Music Award for Lifetime Achievement in Music Education, and was inducted into the New York Field Band Conference Hall of Fame; and WHEREAS, William Davern is a member of many music organizations such as the Cayuga County Music Educators Association, the New York State Band Directors Association, the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, the Onondaga County Music Educators Association, and the Bands of American National Contest Advisory Committee; and WHEREAS, Educators like William Davern provide a tremendous service to the future of our State and Nation, inspiring generations of young people in their educational journeys and ensuring their success in their future years; and WHEREAS, William Davern has clearly had an enduring impact on the youth of the West Genesee Central School District, as well as the community-at-large, and accordingly merits recognition and applause for his impressive dedication to others; and WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to commend the efforts of those individuals who work to support our proud tradition of public education by providing their skills and talents to our schools; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor William Davern upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Educator Award by the School Administrators Association of New York State; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to William Davern.