SUNY Potsdam Education Alumni Honor Duane Richards Jr. '90 with 2015 St. Lawrence Academy Medal

Related Media

L to R: SUNY Potsdam President Kristin Esterberg, St. Lawrence Academy Medal recipient Duane Richards Jr. ’90 and School of Education Alumni Board President David Vroman ’83.

POTSDAM, NY (07/22/2015)(readMedia)-- The SUNY Potsdam School of Education Alumni Association recently honored Duane Richards Jr., a member of the Class of 1990, with the 2015 St. Lawrence Academy Medal, at the College's annual Reunion Weekend.

The St. Lawrence Academy Medal is presented to a SUNY Potsdam graduate who has made significant contributions to the field of professional education or related fields. The Alumni Association recognized Richards for his commitment to excellence in education, and in gratitude for his contributions to SUNY Potsdam's teacher preparation program.

An educator in St. Lawrence County schools since 1991, Duane Richards' steadfast, principled leadership and his wholehearted commitment to the growth and happiness of children and families within his school community and beyond exemplify the ideals at the heart of this award.

As principal of the Jefferson Elementary School in Massena, Richards leads a team of 72 faculty and staff who are responsible for educating 500 students, the majority from financially disadvantaged families. He makes it clear that the presence of students and families at Jefferson dignify the school – and he means it. Richards is very highly regarded by his students and their families, his teachers and others who are fortunate to collaborate with him on outreach programs, including students and faculty at SUNY Potsdam.

Such outreach programs have resulted in infusions of technology and training support for his teachers, development of after-school partnership programs with the public housing authority and Big Brothers/Big Sisters and innovative professional development for faculty and staff.

One very successful collaboration is called Branching Out With Books, a partnership between SUNY Potsdam and St. Lawrence University that pairs college students with high-need children in North Country schools, to improve literacy skills, build self-confidence and instill a love of reading and writing.

For many years, Richards also has visited SUNY Potsdam's graduate literacy education classes to share his insight about being a school leader in a high-poverty, rural community. Reflecting on the classes he has visited, our students regularly express respect for his obvious commitment to his community, the joy he takes in his work and his deep empathy.

Richards' commitment to developing teachers' knowledge and skills extends beyond his own school. Over the past few years, he has permitted a talented teacher-leader to attend training provided by the New York State Education Department, and then provided the teacher with release time to help translate this training for other regional teachers, resulting in school improvement in 18 districts for approximately 100 teachers and 2,500 students each year.

The St. Lawrence Academy Medal is named for the predecessor institution to The State University of New York at Potsdam. Founded in 1816, the Academy focused on teacher training from its founding -- a tradition that continues to the present day with the rigorous liberal arts and sciences foundation offered at SUNY Potsdam.

To find out more about education at SUNY Potsdam, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/soeps.

Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,300 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its handcrafted education, challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training and leadership in the performing and visual arts. Empowered by a culture of creativity, the campus community recently launched Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam, which aims to raise $32 million by the College's bicentennial in 2016.

###