Senate Resolution No. 2169

BY: Senator MAYER

MOURNING the death of Beverly L. Ouderkirk,
renowned member of the New York State Board of
Regents, distinguished citizen and devoted member of
her community

WHEREAS, There are certain outstanding members of our community who,
through their selfless commitment and dedication, served to better the
quality of life in our community and had a measurable positive impact on
the lives of its residents; Beverly L. Ouderkirk was one such
individual; and

WHEREAS, It is with profound sorrow and deep regret that this
Legislative Body records the passing of Beverly L. Ouderkirk, noting the
significance of her purposeful life and accomplishments; and

WHEREAS, Beverly L. Ouderkirk of Ogdensburg, New York, died on
Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at the age of 82; and

WHEREAS, With over 50 years of experience in public education,
Beverly L. Ouderkirk was appointed to the New York State Board of
Regents on March 10, 2015 for a five-year term effective April 1, 2015;
she proudly represented the students, educators, parents, and
communities within the 11 counties comprising the major geographic
portion of the North Country; and

WHEREAS, Regent Beverly L. Ouderkirk served as an educator for 17
years in various elementary and special education classrooms in the
Jordan-Elbridge and Weedsport Central School Districts, as well as for
the Onondaga-Cayuga BOCES; she served as Elementary Principal, Director
of Elementary Education, Committee on the Handicapped Chair, and Deputy
Superintendent in the Gouverneur Central School District; and

WHEREAS, Furthering her career in educational administration, Regent
Beverly L. Ouderkirk was Superintendent of Schools at Morristown Central
School District, Tioga Central School District, and Valley Central
School District before becoming a BOCES District Superintendent at
Genesee Valley in Western New York; and

WHEREAS, Following her first retirement, Regent Beverly L. Ouderkirk
served four additional districts as an Interim Superintendent over a
10-year period; the culminating activity of her long illustrious career
was as a Shared Superintendent for the St. Regis Falls and
Brushton-Moira Central School Districts, a first in New York State; and

WHEREAS, Regent Beverly L. Ouderkirk also served as a consultant to
Boards of Education in Sodus, St. Regis Falls, Brushton-Moira, and
Clifton-Fine, and as a mentor to new superintendents; and

WHEREAS, With a steadfast and unwavering commitment to the field of
education, Regent Beverly L. Ouderkirk was also on the faculty of the
Western New York Superintendent Development Program and Mater Dei
College; she participated in an International Coaching Program in the
Washington, D.C. area, and led Strategic Planning processes through

Transformation Systems, LLC in three school systems, including Genesee
Valley BOCES; and

WHEREAS, A loving parent of three successful adult sons, foster
mother to a child with disabilities, host parent to two AFS foreign
exchange students, and grandmother to six unique grandchildren, one of
whom is hard of hearing, Regent Beverly L. Ouderkirk viewed public
education through numerous lenses; and

WHEREAS, Regent Beverly L. Ouderkirk graduated from Pulaski Academy
and Central School District; she earned her bachelor's degree in
Elementary Education and her master's degree and a Council for the
Advancement of Standards certification in Educational Administration
from SUNY Oswego; she was also awarded a certificate extension for
Special Education from Syracuse University; and

WHEREAS, While at Tioga Central, Regent Ouderkirk helped build a
strong partnership with the various County Mental Health Services to
better coordinate the services available and to develop improved crisis
plans; and

WHEREAS, At Valley Central, Regent Beverly L. Ouderkirk sought and
received Board support to create an Alternative Middle School off the
main campus for students failing to experience success, students with
high absenteeism, and students who had dropped out; with the assistance
of the Director of Guidance, these students were identified and placed
in real world work opportunities in the surrounding communities; and

WHEREAS, The outcome of the program which Regent Beverly L.
Ouderkirk spearheaded was largely successful, turning around the
trajectory of the future of the students being assisted by the new
program into favorable and productive outcomes; and

WHEREAS, She was additionally successful in arranging a Cultural
Education Exchange with a sister school in Russia for Morristown Central
School, first hosting Russian students and then accompanying Morristown
students for a two-week visit to Russian schools and cultural events in
St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Novgorod, including a stopover in Helsinki,
Finland; and

WHEREAS, Largely involved in community activities, Regent Beverly L.
Ouderkirk was a member of the Morristown Village Board, the Morristown
Chamber of Commerce, the Morristown Public Library Board, and the
Morristown Plein Air Festival Planning Committee; and

WHEREAS, Regent Beverly L. Ouderkirk's infinite selflessness and
benevolence will shine on through her family's vivid and happy memories;
her insight and strength will forever serve as a beacon of love, light
and hope to the countless lives she touched; and

WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Regent Beverly L. Ouderkirk leaves behind a legacy which
will long endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting
memory to all who were privileged to have known and loved such an
amazing woman; she will be deeply missed and truly merits the grateful
tribute of this Legislative Body; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Regent Beverly L. Ouderkirk, and to express its
deepest condolences to her family; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Regent Beverly L. Ouderkirk.