Syosset Schools Superintendent Dr. Carole G. Hankin recently announced the district's winning of the 2002 New York State Alliance for Arts Education Annual School Board Recognition for Arts Education Leadership Award. As winner of the state award, Syosset School District has been nominated as New York's entry for the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education and National School Boards Association Award.

"This award is given annually to a school board that has demonstrated support for a commitment to high-quality arts education in its district," explained New York State Alliance for Arts Education President Sharon Dunne. "The review panel was impressed by the number of courses offered in the arts and the extensive nature of the offerings for all grade levels. We feel the Syosset School District is making an outstanding commitment to the arts and to student achievement through the arts. We are pleased to make the recommendation that the school district be New York State's nominee to compete on the national level."

Syosset School Board President Janet Cox was happy to learn about the award. "The Syosset School Board has always recognized the importance of the arts in education. This award is especially rewarding because it recognizes all of the Syosset School District's programs in the arts, which includes music, visual arts, drama, dance and even computer graphics. Combined with our excellent academic course programs, Syosset gives its students every opportunity to achieve their maximum potential."

Letters of reference from arts education professionals who have direct knowledge of the arts programs in the district were sent in support of Syosset, such as The Metropolitan Opera Association, Nassau Music Educators Association, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Columbia Teachers College and the National Theatre Association and former Secretary of Education Richard Riley nominated Syosset Schools for the award.

"Our arts partnership program has been growing each year and the benefits our students receive from learning from top arts, music and drama professionals are truly unique," said Superintendent Dr. Carole G. Hankin. "Our students have achieved such high levels of performance, in large part due to the tremendous support of our outstanding administration, faculty and from their parents. Our student concerts and dramatic productions always play to full audiences. It's this encouragement that the students receive at home and in school that makes it possible for our programs to flourish."

The award will be presented to the district at an April conference, which is attended by educators and arts professionals from throughout New York State.