Senate Resolution No. 1447

BY: Senator PARKER

COMMENDING Mark Cannizzaro upon the occasion of
being named a 2019 Hall of Fame Honoree by Making
the Impossible Possible, Inc. on May 26, 2019

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Mark Cannizzaro upon the occasion of being named a 2019 Hall of
Fame Honoree by Making the Impossible Possible, Inc., to be celebrated
at its 8th Annual Power of Partnerships, Scholarship and Hall of Fame
Gala on Sunday, May 26, 2019, at the BRIC Arts Media, Brooklyn, New
York; and

WHEREAS, Founded in 2001, Making the Impossible Possible, Inc.
(MIPO) is a non-profit membership organization, promoting the quality of
life of Haitian youth in the United States and abroad through education,
music, character building, medical care, apprenticeship training, family
support and scholarships; and

WHEREAS, A New York City educator for more than 32 years, Mark
Cannizzaro currently serves as President of the Council of School
Supervisors and Administrators (CSA); and

WHEREAS, Mark Cannizzaro became active in CSA in 2006, serving
briefly as District 31 Assistant District Chair before his election as
one of the union's Vice Presidents in the Fall of that year; in 2008, he
began simultaneously serving as CSA's Secretary and was named its
Executive Vice President in September of 2012; and

WHEREAS, This extraordinary man then served as CSA's chief
negotiator from 2012-2017, successfully negotiating the current
collective bargaining agreement; he assumed the CSA Presidency on
September 1, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Mark Cannizzaro began his illustrious career teaching
physical education at Totten Intermediate School on Staten Island,
where, in 1994, he received the Angela Zirpiades Outstanding Physical
Educator Award; he was named Assistant Principal at Totten in 1995, and
eight years later, he was named Principal of Paulo Intermediate School,
which was subsequently recognized as a Model Middle School by Region 7
in 2005; and

WHEREAS, Born and raised in Staten Island, New York, Mark Cannizzaro
received his bachelor's degree in Physical Education from SUNY Cortland
(1986); he went on to earn a master's degree in Special Education (1990)
and a sixth-year certificate in Supervision and Administration (1993)
from the College of Staten Island; additionally, he completed studies at
Cornell University's AFL-CIO Union Leadership Institute in 2014; and


WHEREAS, It has always been the objective of this Legislative Body
to honor and support those individuals who have displayed their
commitment to the betterment of their communities, and it is the intent
of this Legislative Body to inscribe upon its records, this tribute to
Mark Cannizzaro, that future generations may know and appreciate his
admirable character, his many benevolent deeds, and the respect and
esteem in which he is held by his peers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Mark Cannizzaro upon the occasion of being named a 2019 Hall of
Fame Honoree by Making the Impossible Possible, Inc. on May 26, 2019;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Mark Cannizzaro.