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Forestville’s Sylvester Cleary named school board member of year

Sylvester Cleary

Sylvester Cleary of Forestville is the 2018 recipient of Chautauqua County School Board Association Board Member of the Year. He received this award at the CCSBA Annual Meeting and Honors Night on May 23 at the Williams Center on the SUNY Fredonia Campus.

This award gives recognition to a current or former school board member for outstanding service in advocacy for children. The candidate must demonstrate the following: leadership in the district and community; actions that clearly benefit children; willingness to stand up for principles in the face of public criticism and a belief in young people as positive contributors. Nominations are submitted to the CCSBA Executive Committee for review and selection.

Cleary was nominated by Renee Garrett, superintendent of Forestville Central School. He serves on the Forestville Central School Board of Education, a position he has held for eight years. He is a member of the Erie 2 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES Board of Education, a position he has held for four years. He has been on the CCSBA Executive Committee for eight years and currently serves as President. He serves as the Area 3 Director on the New York State Caucus of Black School Board Members, a position he has held for six years. He also serves on the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Board as the Scholarship Committee Chairperson, a position he has held for one year. He is a new member of the Community Council at Job Corps in Cassadaga.

His other accomplishments include writing and producing videos. “Stand Up for Public Education” received national recognition as it was played at the National School Boards Association during its Annual Convention in 2016. “Nothing Less” encouraging students to identify and develop their individual greatness which appeared in the local newspapers and Channel 7 News. In 2013 he wrote a song, “Word to the Bully,” which was then made into a video bringing together 107 students, a local dance studio, school board members, staff, community members, local businesses and four local churches.

He is active in the Forestville Central School Music Program. He is a well-known inspirational speaker with a dynamic personality and highly sought-after resource for several different venues. He has a talent for motivating individuals and groups. He was also awarded the New York State School Board Association (NYSSBA) Lifetime Achievement Award.

Garrett states, “This man is one amazing individual! He truly is like no other. He’s always polite, upbeat and holds a strong sense of purpose. He is clearly a man of faith. Everyone that encounters him knows that he is an extremely principled individual that promotes understanding and tolerance in others. Those that know him are fortunate to have him in their lives. Sylvester Cleary embodies outstanding service and advocacy for children!”

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