Dr. Jason A. Andrews Named NYS Superintendent of the Year

The New York State Council of School Superintendents (THE COUNCIL) has named Windsor Central School District Superintendent Dr. Jason A. Andrews the 2019 New York State Superintendent of the Year. You can watch video of the ceremony held Thursday at Windsor Central High School here.
 
“I am humbled and honored to be named Superintendent of the Year. This award is a reflection of the hard work of the students, staff and community partners of the Windsor Central School District,” said Dr. Andrews. “We are committed to Windsor being a world-class community school that is the district of choice. Everyone in Windsor is working to make our district a beacon of 21st-century learning where students can become ready for a successful future and pursue any field they choose.”
 
Dr. Jason A, Andrews
 
“Jason is the consummate professional under whose leadership our student and staff performance has excelled to a point that I would never have thought possible when I joined the board 15 years ago. He began his superintendency as the youngest superintendent in the state of New York and he has shown incredible skills at motivating people at all levels of our organization and beyond. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award,” said Windsor Board of Education President and Broome-Tioga BOCES Board of Trustees member, Pete Nowacki.  
 
In honor of the recognition, Broome County Executive Jason Garnar named November 13, 2018, Dr. Jason Andrews Day in Broome County.
 
Dr. Andrews has served as Superintendent of the Windsor CSD since January, 2006, when he became New York’s youngest school Superintendent, a status he retained for several years. Dr. Andrews currently serves on the Executive Committee for the NYS Council of School Superintendents, the NYS Education Commissioner's Advisory Council, the National Center for Educational Research and Technology National Board and is a charter member of the Institute for Innovation. 
 
He also consults with districts across the country regarding Professional Learning Communities, strategic planning, and preventing bullying and harassment.
 
During his tenure, Dr. Andrews has overseen over $60 million in improvements to facilities in the District, allowing the Windsor CSD to serve students with an outstanding learning environment. The District is currently in the midst of a $15.7 million capital project which is providing safety upgrades, a state-of-the-art multi-purpose athletic field and a STEAM wing in Windsor Central High School (STEAM – Science, Technology, Arts and Mathematics). 
 
The District has earned a number of statewide and national honors. Windsor CSD has once again been named One of the Best Communities for Music Education. This year alone, Windsor has the highest number of newly-named NYS Master Teachers among districts in the Southern Tier, boasts the 2018 Middle School Principal of the Year and the Empire State Excellence in Teaching Award winner. 
 
The District is one of only 11 in the nation named a Model PLC (Professional Learning Community) District. PLCs recognize those who best exemplify the process in which educators work collaboratively in recurring cycles of inquiry and research to achieve better results for the students they serve. 
 
The recently-launched Future Ready Knights program is an ambitious partnership between the District and local businesses and organizations to allow students to pursue one of seven career pathways: Business/Finance, Health Care, Computer Science, Agriculture, Education, Trades and Engineering. K-12 Students will tour local businesses, receive hands-on training and develop their own professional network. A Career Counselor in the high school will help students take their first steps toward a professional career.
 
Dr Andrews standing at the podium 
 
During Dr. Andrews’ tenure, the number of co-curricular activities in the Middle School and High school, along with the number of Advanced Placement and college-credit courses in the High School has dramatically increased. Advanced courses available at Windsor Central High School has increased from five to 29. Each school is also a designated mental health clinic with services available to students and their families. 
 
All students in grades 8-10 can take the PSAT free of charge during the school day, and all juniors can take the SAT during the school day free of charge as well. Students also have access to customized tutorials through Kahn Academy to prepare for the PSAT and SAT exams. SAT participation among Windsor CSD juniors has jumped from 67 in 2016 to 106 in 2018.
 
In addition, Windsor has been a lead district in the Breakfast in the Classroom program, providing free breakfast to every student. Windsor’s summer program gives Universal Prekindergarten-12 students access to high-quality STEAM, fine arts and athletics programming, and employment opportunities for older students to serve as mentors. These efforts are part of the District’s dedication to serve the whole child while preparing them for the world of possibilities available after graduation.
 
Council Executive Director Dr. Charles Dedrick said, “Jason Andrews is respected statewide as an educational leader and always exemplifies the best of our profession. As a member of our Executive Committee, he is a thoughtful and informed leader providing keen insight on key issues affecting our state. Dr. Andrews understands how important superintendent leadership is to a school district’s success to provide students with a comprehensive educational experience. I saw this first hand when I went to Jason’s district and saw the outpouring of support from the community, students and staff for him as superintendent. He leads by example and not just by words.”
 
Council President and Plainview-Old Bethpage Superintendent Dr. Lorna Lewis said “Dr. Andrews represents the best qualities of what superintendents in New York possess to make an impact on tomorrows leaders. He has been actively engaged in the work, having led courageous conversations on changing school culture, offering his service to THE COUNCIL’S leadership and advocating for the issues that produce the highest leverage for schools. He will continue to serve us well as he takes on the well-deserved recognition as the New York State Superintendent of the Year.”
 
Dr. Andrews is now New York’s nominee for consideration as the National Superintendent of the Year. The announcement for that award will be in Los Angeles in February, 2019. 

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