Retired Rush-Henrietta School Leader Honored with SAANYS Distinguished Retiree Award

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Mark Turner, Retired Elementary Principal from the Rush-Henrietta Central School District

ALBANY, NY (04/09/2026) (readMedia)-- Mark Turner, retired elementary principal from the Rush-Henrietta Central School District, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 SAANYS Irving Schwartz Distinguished Retiree Award. Irving Schwartz was a founding member of SAANYS, and this award is given annually to a retired SAANYS member who, in retirement, has made significant contributions to the welfare of the association, education, and the greater community.

Turner retired in 2008 following a distinguished career in educational leadership, and for the past 18 years has continued to serve the profession as a SAANYS Region 11 representative. Beginning this role immediately after retirement, he has remained deeply committed to supporting and mentoring school leaders across the region.

A hallmark of Turner's post-retirement work has been his leadership in mentoring and coaching. He chaired the New York State team that developed the mentor-coaching model that serves as the foundation for SAANYS' current mentoring program. In this role, he collaborated with educational leaders across the state and beyond, including visiting other states and working with the Ontario Principals' Council in Toronto, to design a model tailored to the needs of New York's school leaders. His work has had a lasting statewide impact on leadership development.

Turner has also contributed significantly to the preparation of future school leaders through his work in higher education. He supervised student teachers and served as an adjunct professor at both St. John Fisher University and SUNY Brockport, teaching graduate-level courses in educational leadership. Through these roles, he has helped shape the next generation of administrators.

In addition, Turner served as a consultant for the Children's Institute in Rochester, where he provided leadership in early intervention efforts and conducted professional development focused on effective leadership practices. His expertise extended to organizing and facilitating national certification site visits in both New York and Florida, supporting quality and continuous improvement in leadership programs.

Andy Scott, a longtime SAANYS Region 11 member, notes, "Mark reserves his comments, listens carefully to everyone's voice, and then offers his thoughts. His feedback demonstrates his years as a practicing administrator supporting other colleagues and as a valued advisor to schools as a SAANYS Region 11 Representative. Mark remains current on issues in education and continues to serve as a model administrator and strong advocate for educators throughout the entirety of the educational arena."

Turner's service to SAANYS also includes his tenure as president during the 2006–07 school year, where he helped guide the organization and advance its mission to support school leaders across New York State. His continued contributions in retirement reflect a lifelong commitment to strengthening education and supporting those who lead schools.

Turner and fellow 2026 award winners will be recognized at SAANYS' annual awards celebration, taking place on May 1 at the Desmond Hotel – Crowne Plaza in Albany.

SAANYS represents nearly 22,000 school administrators, supervisors, and retiree leaders. As a professional association, SAANYS is committed to providing direction, service, and support to its members in their efforts to improve the quality of education and leadership in New York State schools. SAANYS is affiliated with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).