Bill Text: NY J02169 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: 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

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 43-20)

Status: (Passed) 2022-03-29 - ADOPTED [J02169 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-J02169-Introduced.html

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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.