Commending Superintendent William Dowsland for 30 years of service in education

Senate Resolution No. 2085

BY: Senator GRIFFO

        COMMENDING  Superintendent William Dowsland for 30
        years of service in education

  WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge outstanding individuals within our  midst  who
have made significant contributions to the communities of this State and
Nation; and

  WHEREAS,   This   Legislative   Body  is  justly  proud  to  commend
Superintendent William Dowsland for 30 years of service in education; he
will officially retire at the end of the 2025-2026 school year; and

  WHEREAS,  William  Dowsland  has  served  the  Hamilton,  New  York,
community  for most of his career, initially joining the school district
as a substitute teacher in 1998 and becoming Superintendent  of  Schools
in  2019;  through the years, he came to view his Hamilton colleagues as
his extended family; and

  WHEREAS, Prior to joining Hamilton, William Dowsland  worked  for  a
year  as  a  teacher  at  Madison-Oneida  BOCES  and  spent six years in
professional hockey, working for the New  Jersey  Devils  Organization's
American Hockey League affiliate; and

  WHEREAS, William Dowsland spent 13 years as a physical education and
health  teacher;  later,  he  held  the  titles  of Director of Physical
Education in the Health and Athletics Department as  well  as  Assistant
Principal  and  Principal  of the Junior-Senior High School; during that
time, he coached the softball team, earning honors of Coach of the  Year
from  New  York  State,  the  Utica  Observer-Dispatch, and the Syracuse
Post-Standard; and

  WHEREAS, William Dowsland's  tenure  with  Hamilton  Central  School
District  boasts  many  achievements:  the District's budget approved by
voters  every  year;  two   successful   capital   projects   completed;
implementation of social-emotional learning initiatives; commencement of
a  student  board  member program prior to the recent State mandate; and
expansion of academic offerings  in  Advanced  Placement,  dual  credit,
foreign language, the arts, and CTE programs; and

  WHEREAS,  Additionally,  Hamilton  Central  School District received
State  and  National   recognitions   for   academics,   extracurricular
activities, music, and the honor of being recognized as one of America's
Healthiest  Schools,  a  National  initiative  which honors schools that
support the whole child's health and well-being; and

  WHEREAS, William Dowsland and his wife have three sons, all Hamilton
Central School graduates, and five grandchildren, all with whom he plans
to enjoy more time during his retirement; and

  WHEREAS, The many  contributions,  of  which  William  Dowsland  has
played  a  vital  role, are a testament to his legacy which will inspire
future students of Hamilton Central School District for  generations  to
come; throughout the three decades of tireless service to others, he led

with  integrity,  care, and a genuine commitment to the students, staff,
and Hamilton community; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body that those
dedicated individuals who have shown a long and sustained commitment  to
excellence  unquestionably  have  earned the recognition and applause of
all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commend  Superintendent  William  Dowsland  upon  the  occasion  of  his
retirement and to wish him well in all his future endeavors; and  be  it
further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to William Dowsland.