Bill Text: NY K00851 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Assembly Resolution 851

Introduced

Bill Title: Honoring Heidi and Douglas Kohler upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of the Educators of the Year Award by the Clarence Chamber of Commerce on March 21, 2024

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-02-12 - adopted [K00851 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-K00851-Introduced.html


Assembly Resolution No. 851

BY: M. of A. Norris

        HONORING   Heidi   and  Douglas  Kohler  upon  the
        occasion of their designation as recipients  of  the
        Educators  of the Year Award by the Clarence Chamber
        of Commerce on March 21, 2024

  WHEREAS,  It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those distinguished citizens who would devote their life's  work
and  purpose  to  community  service, contributing to the welfare of the
citizens of their communities and this great Empire State; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  their  Legislative  Body  is justly proud to
honor Heidi and Douglas  Kohler  upon  the  occasion  of  their  special
designation  as  recipients  of  the  Educators of the Year Award by the
Clarence Chamber of Commerce, to be celebrated at its Annual Awards Gala
on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at Samuel's Grande Manor in  Clarence,  New
York; and

  WHEREAS,   Heidi   and   Douglas  Kohler  were  nominated  for  this
prestigious award for their  steadfast  and  unremitting  commitment  to
their beloved community of Clarence Center, New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Heidi  and  Douglas  have both spent their entire teaching
career in Clarence, with Doug  joining  the  staff  of  Clarence  Middle
School in the fall of 1989, and Heidi becoming a faculty member in 2000;
during  their tenure, the couple has worked hard to create opportunities
for  students  in  the  classroom  as  well  as  through  the   numerous
extracurricular  activities that they have been involved in creating and
leading; and

  WHEREAS, A graduate of the Clarence Central School District, Douglas
gained a love of local history through his teaching with  Barb  Gilmour,
always  focusing  on  engaging  his  students  in  the  history  of  the
community; and

  WHEREAS, During the Clarence Bicentennial, Douglas Kohler authored a
series of four books that highlighted the town's  200-year  history;  in
addition  to the books, he has written numerous articles for Western New
York Heritage Magazine; and

  WHEREAS, While serving on the Board of  Trustees  for  the  Clarence
Historical  Society  and  The  Hull Family Home and Farmstead, he was an
integral part of the Hull House History Camp for which he  continues  to
volunteer; and

  WHEREAS,  Through  his  hard  work  and  depth of knowledge, Douglas
Kohler became the Erie County Historian in 2009, the position he proudly
holds currently; and

  WHEREAS, Douglas Kohler is currently working with  PBS  on  a  video
series  for  4th  to  8th grade students which highlights the history of
WNY, and also serves on a consortium of  historians  planning  the  Erie
Canal Bicentennial commemoration that will take place in 2025; and


  WHEREAS,  In  1994, dedicated to providing a wealth of opportunities
to his students, Douglas Kohler helped to create  the  women's  lacrosse
program  at  Clarence High School, where he coached at the Varsity level
for 20 years; his teams compiled multiple section championships, several
all-American selections, and an appearance in the state final  four;  in
the past, he also coached Modified Field Hockey and Modified Soccer; and

  WHEREAS,  Heidi  Kohler  began  her  illustrious  teaching career at
Clarence as  a  student-teacher  of  6th  grade  social  studies;  after
completing  her  master's degree in Music Education, she secured a choir
position at the middle school; and

  WHEREAS, During her time at Clarence, Heidi Kohler has taught  every
grade level of chorus and general music classes, as well as created many
new  choral  opportunities  for  students, including Treble Choir, Guys'
Choir, Summer Voice Lesson for middle school students,  and  the  Summer
Theater  Workshop;  she has served on countless committees and helped to
spearhead integral parts of the middle school  culture,  such  as  Sixth
Grade  Orientation, and multiple academic and leadership committees, and
has mentored nearly 20 teachers both informally and formally; and

  WHEREAS, Together, Heidi and Douglas Kohler have  directed  over  25
musicals  and  collaborated on events such as the History Alive! Concert
Series, field trips and various leadership committees; to  provide  more
opportunities  for  students  to  be on stage, they created the Clarence
Summer Theatre Workshop  in  2019,  alongside  their  production  staff;
during  the  workshop,  rising  6th  through  9th grade students mount a
full-scale production over a two-week period through attending workshops
led by high schoolers and the musical production staff; and

  WHEREAS, In an effort to restore normalcy to students who  had  been
isolated  during  the  closure  of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic,
Heidi and Douglas Kohler adapted to the  circumstance  and  created  two
smaller-than-normal  casts,  distanced the actors on-stage, and streamed
the performances for families to enjoy; and

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative  Body  that  those  who
enhance  the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly  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
honor Heidi and Douglas Kohler upon the occasion of their designation as
recipients of the Educators of the Year Award by the Clarence Chamber of
Commerce on March 21, 2024; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That copies of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Heidi and Douglas Kohler.