Sen. Flanagan Honored for Education Efforts

The New York State School Board Association named Sen. John Flanagan (R), whose district covers Half Hollow Hills, the 2011-2012 State Leader of the Year.

Flanagan, who serves as the Chairman of the New York State Senate Education Committee, was awarded the honor at the association’s annual State Issues Conference in Albany.

NYSSBA Executive Director Timothy G. Kremer said in a release that the senator distinguished himself above all state leaders by responding to, and promoting the association’s legislative agenda.  Kremer also credited Flanagan for traveling throughout New York to meet with school board members and local legislators to get a clear sense of the needs of the state.

“While he is firmly grounded in the political realities of the legislative process, he has gone to great lengths to approach public educational reform on a statewide basis,” Kremer said in the release.

David Little, NYSSBA’s director of governmental relations, noted that in a year when the tax cap and state aid cuts took the headlines, Senator Flanagan managed to draw attention to other school board priorities.

“He is insightful and articulate in his understanding of public education’s objectives and challenges, and he has worked tirelessly to educate himself on all aspects of the enterprise,” Little said.  “Senator Flanagan has been accessible and responsive to the issues and concerns of boards of education.  And in a year of loose rhetoric, he brought a truthful and collaborative approach to his efforts to address the challenges facing public education.”

Flanagan said he was honored by the award.

“…The simple truth is that this award represents the collaborative efforts of everyone who plays a role in our educational system in New York State and who I am privileged to work with on a daily basis. That includes those I work with in the Senate, the teachers who work hard every day in classrooms across our state and the administrators throughout New York who put the success of our students above all else. I share this honor with them,” he said.