Bill Text: NY J02713 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Mourning the death of Judith Johnson, prominent educator, distinguished citizen, and devoted member of her community

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 40-22)

Status: (Passed) 2020-02-04 - ADOPTED [J02713 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J02713-Introduced.html

---

Senate Resolution No. 2713

BY: Senator HARCKHAM

        MOURNING  the  death  of Judith Johnson, prominent
        educator, distinguished citizen, and devoted  member
        of her community

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens  of  the  State  of New York whose lifework and civic endeavors
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and

  WHEREAS, Judith Johnson of New Hempstead, New York, died on Tuesday,
October 22, 2019, at the age of 80; and

  WHEREAS, Starting her career as a  teacher  in  the  New  York  City
schools, Judith Johnson went on to serve in administrative roles for the
Mamaroneck,  Southern  Westchester BOCES, Nyack, and White Plains school
systems; and

  WHEREAS, Judith Johnson's immaculate career included a tenure in the
United States Department of  Education  under  President  Bill  Clinton,
first  serving  as  Deputy  Assistant  Secretary and later as the Acting
Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education; and

  WHEREAS, Following this endeavor, Judith  Johnson  returned  to  New
York  State  and served as Superintendent of Peekskill schools from 2001
to 2011, and interim Superintendent of Mount Vernon Schools from 2012 to
2014; and

  WHEREAS, In 2008, Judith Johnson was named  New  York  State  School
Superintendent  of  the  Year,  making her the first African American to
receive this auspicious award from the New York State Council of  School
Superintendents; and

  WHEREAS,  Furthermore, in 2015, Judith Johnson was inducted into the
Rockland County Civil Rights Hall of  Fame;  that  same  year,  she  was
chosen  by legislative leaders to represent the 9th Judicial District on
the Board of Regents, which creates educational policy; and

  WHEREAS, A true pillar in her community, Judith  Johnson  was  often
seen  at  schools,  nonprofits, and community events; this extraordinary
woman truly cared about the life and well-being of all the students  and
families she came in contact with; and

  WHEREAS,  Armed  with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Judith Johnson leaves behind a legacy which will long endure
the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory  to  all  she
served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Judith  Johnson,  prominent  educator,  distinguished
citizen, and devoted member of her community, and to acknowledge all the
work she did over her illustrious career to nurture the hearts and minds
of young New Yorkers in the Lower Hudson Valley; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Judith Johnson.