LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Richard Ognibene upon the occasion of
receiving the National Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those illustrious individuals of distinguished purpose whose
lives have been committed to the pursuit of excellence in education of
the youth of the Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Richard Ognibene upon the occasion of receiving the Horace Mann Award
for Teaching Excellence from the National Education Association Founda-
tion at its "Salute to Excellence in Education" gala held in Washington,
D.C., on Friday, February 6, 2009; and
WHEREAS, The Horace Mann Award is named after a 19th-century American
education reformer, and is bestowed upon individuals such as Richard
Ognibene, who has worked tirelessly to reach all of his students and has
served as a diligent leader throughout his career; and
WHEREAS, With his boundless energy and ability to relate to youth,
Richard Ognibene is perfectly suited to teach physics and chemistry;
like the sciences, he is a force in motion dealing with reactions; he
has been an extraordinary teacher for 23 years, including the last 17 at
Fairport High School; and
WHEREAS, Richard Ognibene prefers a humanistic approach to teaching,
something he advocated after being named New York State Teacher of the
Year for 2008, which allowed him to meet colleagues from all over the
state and country; and
WHEREAS, While he is aware that only a few of his students will
continue as science majors in college, Richard Ognibene takes the oppor-
tunity in his role as a teacher to instruct his students not only how to
be science wizards but exemplary citizens as well; and
WHEREAS, The son of two teachers, Richard Ognibene knew from a very
young age that he wanted to pursue the same profession; his father
taught Education at Siena College in Albany County, New York, where he
was raised, and his mother taught English; they -- and their many
friends -- were role models for Richard, who didn't pick a subject area
until his freshman year at Siena College, when he was inspired by his
science professor, Gene McDevitt; and
WHEREAS, Richard Ognibene earned a Bachelor's degree in chemistry at
Siena College with a minor in education, then his Master's in chemistry
from the University of Rochester; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of his efforts of in-depth magnitude, Richard
Ognibene has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades includ-
ing: the 2006 Fairport Crystal Apple (teacher of the year); 2002 Ameri-
can Chemical Society Teacher of the Year; and 1992 University of Roches-
ter Excellence in Secondary Teaching; and
WHEREAS, Richard Ognibene is an extraordinary leader, a remarkably
successful educational innovator and a bold, thought-provoking scholar;
and
WHEREAS, Richard Ognibene has provided and continues to 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, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, it is only appropriate to publicly proclaim and commend those
individuals for the edification and emulation of others; now, therefore,
be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Richard Ognibene upon the occasion of receiving the National
Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Richard Ognibene.