Tom Long receives Irving Schwartz Distinguished Retiree Award

Thomas Long, retired high school principal from the Cazenovia Central School District, has been selected as the 2017 recipient of the Irving Schwartz Distinguished Retiree Award by the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS).

Embracing retirement as an opportunity for continued community service, Long has worked tirelessly to serve SAANYS and numerous other community organizations, all with an eye toward benefitting education.

“Tom Long is a distinguished educator and effective SAANYS leader. Respected by teachers, parents and students, Tom was an impeccable instructional leader,” said colleague Frederick Kirsch. “In retirement, Tom spent many years advocating for SAANYS members.”

Long is active as a board member for the Cazenovia Area Community Development Association, and successfully lobbied to add a high school representative to the board of directors, becoming “an impactful program for both the participating students and for the development of our board,” said CACDA Executive Director Lauren Lines.

Long is also an active member of the Cazenovia Lions Club. Having previously served as its president, he currently leads numerous committees including the student scholarship and the student of the month committees. He is also a current member of the Lions Club Foundation, which has helped to raise nearly $10,000 to help the Cazenovia CSD implement an anti-bullying campaign known nationally as Rachel’s Challenge.

“For all Tom does for his community, the one characteristic that stands out to me most of all is that he serves with great humility,” said fellow member of the Lions Club Nick Kagey. “Others are drawn to service because of the humility that is omnipresent in everything he does. Tom leads by example.”

In addition to these community service efforts, Long is also a longstanding board member of the Cazenovia Methodist Church and volunteers as a driver for the Cazenovia Area Transportation Service.

“Tom Long has given me the model for my eventual retirement,” said Cazenovia CSD Superintendent Matthew Reilly. “He has continued to help students and others in his community. He selflessly shares his time and wisdom with others as he relentlessly strives to make the world a better place.”

Irving Schwartz was a founding member of SAANYS, an organization that represents nearly 7,200 school administrators, supervisors and coordinators. This award is given annually to a retired SAANYS member who, in retirement, has made significant contributions to the welfare of the association, education and the greater community.

Long will be honored for his contributions at an awards ceremony on May 5 at the Century House in Latham, N.Y.