Bill Text: NY J02642 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulating Superintendent Al Harper upon the occasion of his retirement after 25 years of distinguished service as an educator

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-01-28 - ADOPTED [J02642 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J02642-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 2642

BY: Senator KAPLAN

        CONGRATULATING  Superintendent  Al Harper upon the
        occasion  of  his  retirement  after  25  years   of
        distinguished service as an educator

  WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to take note of
and   publicly  acknowledge  individuals  of  remarkable  integrity  and
character whose endeavors have enhanced the quality of education in this
great State; and

  WHEREAS, The result of many individual efforts, the  excellence  and
the  success  of  Elmont  School  District  is  due in large part to the
efforts of Al Harper; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to  congratulate
Superintendent  Al  Harper  upon the occasion of his retirement after 25
years of distinguished service as an educator; and

  WHEREAS, For more than two  decades,  Al  Harper  has  been  a  true
fixture  in  Elmont,  New  York,  serving  as an Assistant Principal and
Principal at Elmont Memorial High  School  before  becoming  the  Elmont
School  District  Superintendent in 2005; he will officially retire from
this esteemed position at the end of the 2019-20 school year; and

  WHEREAS, Raised in Queens, New York, Al Harper received a Bachelor's
degree in Communication from Howard University in 1981; he  went  on  to
earn  a  Master's degree in Special Education from Adelphi University in
1993, and a professional  certification  in  Administrative  Supervision
from the City University of New York Graduate Center in 1994; and

  WHEREAS,  Al  Harper  began his illustrious career in education as a
middle school and  special  education  teacher  in  New  York  City;  he
eventually  became  both  a  grade  and  special  education  Dean in the
district, and worked to train  new  teachers,  coordinate  multicultural
programs  and  establish  procedures  for  expanding  the  collection of
student data; and

  WHEREAS, In addition, he helped implement Project Reach,  a  program
which  empowers  teenagers  to strategize ways to address discrimination
and injustice; and

  WHEREAS, In 1995, Al Harper joined the Sewanhaka Central High School
District as an Assistant Principal at Elmont Memorial High School, where
he served on the Sewanhaka  District  Safety  Committee,  organized  the
school's   discipline   plans,   coordinated  in-school  suspension  and
supervised the Saturday Detention program; and

  WHEREAS, Al Harper was named Principal of Elmont  Memorial  High  in
2002,  during  which  time  he  was  responsible  for the management and
instruction of nearly 2,000 students; under  his  able  leadership,  the
school  received  several accolades including recognition by the College
Board in 2004; and

  WHEREAS, Continuing a trend toward excellence, Al Harper became  the
Elmont  District  Superintendent in 2005, building on his experiences at
the middle and high school levels; he expanded  enrichment  programs  to
all  students in grades three through six and, seeing how successful the
high  school's  Model  United  Nations  Club  was, implemented a similar
program for the elementary school students; and

  WHEREAS, During Al Harper's extraordinary tenure as  Superintendent,
87  percent  of  his  students  were listed as proficient on the English
Language Arts exam, up from 50 percent in the 1998-99 school  year,  and
approximately  95 percent of students were proficient in mathematics, up
from 70 percent; and

  WHEREAS,  With  a  steadfast  and  unwavering  commitment   to   his
community,  Al  Harper  spearheaded  the Elmont Dads Club, which engages
fathers and their children in community service activities, and  started
a  Thanksgiving  Food  Drive;  he  also forged strong relationships with
officials at Gateway Youth Outreach, Belmont Park  and  the  local  fire
department; and

  WHEREAS,  A  caring,  competent  and  committed  leader, Al Harper's
character and integrity are the hallmarks of his life  and  work  as  an
educator, a community volunteer and as a person; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Elmont  community  is indeed fortunate and blessed to
have had such a dedicated and respected educational leader;  his  wisdom
and   contributions   reached  into  every  classroom,  truly  making  a
difference in the lives of those lucky enough to have worked  with  him;
and

  WHEREAS,  A  significant contributor to education in New York State,
Al Harper has continually  demonstrated  an  impressive  dedication,  an
unparalleled  devotion  and an unremitting enthusiasm for the quality of
the educational programs and opportunities offered at the Elmont  School
District for the benefit of its faculty and students, as well as for the
entire community; and

  WHEREAS,  In  completing  his  service  as Superintendent, Al Harper
leaves behind more than mere bricks  and  mortar;  he  leaves  behind  a
legacy to the students of Elmont School District and to the residents of
the Elmont community; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Superintendent Al Harper upon the occasion of his retirement,  and
to  wish  him  continued  success in all his future endeavors; and be it
further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Superintendent Al Harper.