Senate Resolution No. 5016

BY: Senator BONACIC

COMMENDING Sandra Johnson upon the occasion of her
retirement after 12 years of distinguished service
to the Livingston Manor Central School District on
June 30, 2018

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 custom of this Legislative Body to acknowledge
the significant milestones 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
commend Sandra Johnson upon the occasion of her retirement after 12
years of distinguished service to the Livingston Manor Central School
District; and

WHEREAS, Sandra Johnson earned her degree from Bloomsburg State
Teacher's College in 1962; she received her master's degree in Guidance
Counseling from Alfred University and later, furthered her education by
obtaining a Certificate of Advanced Study in School Administration from
SUNY Cortland; and

WHEREAS, Sandra Johnson began her long and illustrious career in
education as a business teacher at Painted Post Central School District;
after 19 years, she became the Senior Guidance Counselor for Horseheads
Central School; and

WHEREAS, In 1986, Sandra Johnson assumed the title of Assistant
Principal with Waverly Central School; a year later, she took an
Assistant Principal position in Corning, New York; she then returned to
Waverly Central School where she served as the Junior/Senior High School
Principal; and

WHEREAS, Sandra Johnson's next role was Principal of the Bath Middle
School; after 11 years of service, she retired in 1999; shortly
thereafter, she realized it was not for her, and went back to work,
holding several interim positions until she became the Principal of the
Livingston Manor Elementary School in 2006; and

WHEREAS, Sandra Johnson then held the title of Principal of
Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12; for the last three years, she has
served as Principal of Livingston Manor Middle/High School, the position
from which she will officially retire at the end of the school year on
Saturday, June 30, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Throughout her tenure, Sandra Johnson has accomplished
numerous goals such as turning teacher centered classrooms into learner

centered classrooms, and introducing Socratic seminars at the high
school; and

WHEREAS, In addition, Sandra Johnson truly believed that each and
every student in the District should be taught necessary skills to
succeed in college and once they enter the workforce; students learned
such lifelong skills as how to successfully run meetings, write
proposals and agendas, and create a PowerPoint presentation; and

WHEREAS, For her steadfast and unremitting commitment to the young
people of Livingston Manor Central School District, Sandra Johnson was
the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including Educator of the
Year Award, and 50-Year Achievement Award by the Mid-Hudson School
Council; and

WHEREAS, Sandra Johnson's loyalty to the district and to her staff
is truly admirable; all who have had the privilege to work with her
through the years have known her to be an honest and hard-working
Principal who always made the needs and concerns of her students her top
priority; and

WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her husband, Ryann Johnson;
their three children, Elizabeth Gordon, Mary Margaret Slack and William
Zaidel; and four grandchildren, Anna Suzanne, Jacob, Camden and Kyle,
all of whom feel privileged to be a part of her life and rejoice in her
accomplishments; and

WHEREAS, The driving force behind Sandra Johnson's commitment to
public education is her belief that all children have the potential to
do great things if given the opportunity; she prides herself on creating
an educational environment where students come first and expectations
are high; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Sandra Johnson upon the occasion of her retirement after 12
years of distinguished service to the Livingston Manor Central School
District on June 30, 2018, and to wish her continued success in all her
future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Sandra Johnson.