Ossining Honors Educators, Trustees during Black History Month

To celebrate Black History Month, the Ossining Board of Education created an annual award in memory of the district’s first Black teacher – Hester Bateman Spencer Hines – and presented it to Francine Vernon, a former board member and beloved community leader.

The board also thanked past and present African-American board members for their service, including current trustees Diana Lemon and Melissa Banta, and past members Kadoza Worthy (1971-74), Marilyn Thornton Tribble (1988-94), Thomas Knight (1996-2005), Shandi Speller (1998-2004), and Charles Cooks (2008-11).

“We’re thankful for the time and dedication that they’ve provided, and the leadership that they’ve provided, over many years,” Superintendent Raymond Sanchez said.

Ms. Spencer Hines, whom the award is named for, worked in the Ossining School District for 29 years, starting as a first-grade teacher in 1949 and teaching every grade before being appointed assistant superintendent. She helped implement the Title I pre-kindergarten program in Ossining. She was a founding member of the Community Action Program, served as president of the Ossining chapter of the NAACP, and was a board member of the Cooperative Scholarship Fund, among other achievements.

“She was an absolutely phenomenal individual whose impact still reverberates to this day,” Trustee Banta told Ms. Spencer Hines’ family during a Feb. 24 virtual school board meeting.

“Having graduated high school at the age of 15, it’s clear she was a uniquely determined individual and, in my opinion, Ossining is blessed to have had her choose this community in which to channel that determination,” she added.

Beverly Spencer, Ms. Spencer Hines’ daughter, said her mother was an “educator extraordinaire” who inspired her to become an educator. “My mother was an amazing woman,” she said.

The Board of Education gave Ms. Vernon the inaugural Hester Bateman Spencer Hines Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication to advocacy and equity on behalf of Ossining children and families; her leadership and public service in the community; and her work as an educator and school board member. She “embodies the true spirit of servant leadership,” the board’s proclamation said.

Trustee Lemon, who presented the award during Black History Month, said she was moved by hearing all the stories about the tremendous impact Ms. Vernon has had on the community and so many lives. “She has been a complete blessing to our community,” Ms. Lemon said.

“I can’t think of anyone that is more deserving for this moment in the sun right now,” she added.

Former trustees Cooks and Knight said Ms. Vernon, who served on the Ossining Board of Education from 1974-77, motivated them to serve. “We got involved with different groups, but she said, ‘If you guys want to have impact and if you’re interested and focused on education, get on the board, have a voice,” Mr. Cooks said.

Ms. Vernon was a New York City Board of Education employee from 1968-81 as a teacher, and an administrator for adult and career education. She was an instructor at the City University of New York from 1972-81. She was Youth Connection coordinator at the Ossining Open Door Health Center from 1986-91; Ossining Community Action Program area director from 1991-2001; and Westchester Community Opportunity Program education supervisor from 2001-06. She has been the program coordinator for Library Youth Connections at the Westchester Library System since 2006. She also worked as an education and human resources consultant and affirmative action coordinator.

Ms. Vernon has received numerous awards and accolades for her service, including the 2020 Rosemarie Siragusa Youth Service Achievement Award from the Westchester County Board of Legislators; the Susan Brewster Eisenmann Outstanding Community Service Award from the Town of Ossining; the NAACP ACT-SO Award for youth service; the Ossining School District’s Superintendent’s Distinguished Service Award; and many more.

“I’m both touched and honored to be recognized,” Ms. Vernon said. “When I came back to Ossining as an adult in the early 70s, I had two children in the middle school and my youngest child was in kindergarten. And it was really the issues of the school system that motivated me and planted the seed. I got involved with the issues of that time and was inspired to be an advocate for opportunities for young people throughout the community.”

She was on the board during redistricting, when Ossining switched from neighborhood schools to the Princeton Plan, in which all students in a grade go to the same school.

Ms. Vernon’s three children, two of her 11 grandchildren, public officials, colleagues and friends applauded her achievements.

Ossining Town Supervisor Dana Levenberg presented Ms. Vernon with a town proclamation that Feb. 27 would be Francine Vernon Day. Village of Ossining Mayor Rika Levin and the Board of Trustees gave Ms. Vernon a proclamation in recognition of her “exemplary dedication and commitment to the community.” Ms. Vernon also received citations honoring her accomplishments and dedication from state Assemblywoman Sandra Galef and state Sen. Elijah Reichlin-Melnick.

Alice Joselow, coordinator of Ossining Communities that Care and a former Board of Education trustee, said Ms. Vernon’s hard work and advocacy led to Ossining establishing a Youth Bureau. She also noted that Ms. Vernon has served for many years on the Greenburgh Board of Education and the Children’s Village Board of Trustees.

“I ran for the school board because of you, too,” Ms. Joselow said. “For me personally, you are my moral compass, you are my mentor, you are one of the most impactful people in my life and I am so grateful for all that I learn and continue to learn from you.”

Trustee Frank Schnecker said Ms. Vernon is “a true force of nature and we take your mission; we move it forward and we keep driving. But thank you for all the groundwork you’ve laid because we really are a different community because of you.”