School board head 'humbled'by honor

Baldwin school board president Karyn Reid was one of 21 women honored as a Woman of Distinction by State Assemblyman Brian Curran last weekend.

Reid said, “I’m very humbled to receive this award. You do things because it’s the right thing to do, but you don’t think about awards or being honored. I don’t feel like I’ve done anything special except to serve the community.”

Still, she noted, “It’s nice to be acknowledged.”

Curran cited the 21 honorees for their commitment and contributions to improving the 21st Assembly District — the district Curran represents in Albany.

“The selflessness these women have shown to our community is an uplifting example of devotion to our area and residents,” Curran, a Republican, said in a statement. “It is my honor to show them this small token of recognition for the hard work and dedication they have shown to our community.”

Reid, whose family joined her at the recognition ceremony at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Lynbrook on Sept. 26, said she believed she caught Curran’s attention because of her advocacy work in Albany on behalf of Baldwin schools.

“I’ve been in education for twenty years,” Reid said, starting from her home state in Illinois and continuing when she moved to New York. “I did support in the background. I’ve been behind the scenes in an effort to support our school district.”

While volunteering in Baldwin, she joined Friends of Baldwin Schools, a community-based organization that advocated for Baldwin students in Albany and locally.

But when Baldwin schools’ budget proposal failed in 2013, Reid, a teacher by training, really went to work. She joined forces with the Baldwin 4 Children campaign, which raised over $150,000 in nine months to help fund programs that had been eliminated by budget cuts.

In May 2014, Reid was elected to the Baldwin Board of Education to fill a vacant seat. After serving for two months, she was appointed president of the board. She is now serving her second year as board president.

This year, Reid is the only honoree from Baldwin, although other Baldwin residents have been honored in the past. “I’m in good company,” Reid said of the previous winners.