BOCES honors Oceanside Superintendent

Oceanside Schools Superintendent Dr. Herb Brown is one of 13 educational leaders being honored with the Nassau BOCES Education Partner award this year. The recipients work in various fields, from school administration and business to non-profit and community outreach, and all are recognized as leaders who have made a significant impact on public education in Nassau County.

Nassau BOCES began seeking nominees for the Education Partner award in 2007, and has awarded a handful of individuals the honor each year since then. The agency received more than 85 nominations this year, and the winners were selected based on their demonstrated reach and impact in the field of education.

Brown has been working in the field for over 30 years. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Brooklyn College, and went on to get his master’s degree in economics and a doctorate in education administration from New York University. He began his educational career as a math teacher in New York City.

Brown began working in Oceanside as the district’s business administrator in 1983. He also worked as the district’s assistant superintendent for administration and business, then as the assistant superintendent for instruction, before becoming superintendent in 1987.

Brown’s colleagues praised him as the driving force behind many of Oceanside’s most successful programs, including the full-day Kindergarten Center and the Foreign Languages in Elementary Schools Program. More recently, Brown pushed for a personal finance program to teach high school students the importance of money management prior to graduation. The course is now a requirement.

Ilene Brandon, Oceanside’s assistant superintendent for special education and pupil services, said Brown has been instrumental in creating programming that challenges all students, while still recognizing the unique needs of all learners. Louis Frontario, the assistant superintendent for business, added that Brown is “a facilitator and a mentor” who has led staff and students alike. Frontario praised Brown’s ability to support and encourage his staff to hone their craft for the benefit of their students. “He’s the consummate educator and humanitarian,” Frontario said. “He’s a wonderful leader.”

His colleagues across the board agreed. Bruce Misher, who was principal of School No. 4 and served as the district’s assistant superintendent for instruction, curriculum and research before his retirement, worked with Brown for more than 20 years. Misher noted Brown’s success in expanding and improving programming each year, as well as his work advising administrators in other school districts. Bob Fenter, the current assistant superintendent for instruction, curriculum and research, added that Brown has been very successful in implementing programs while keeping fiscal responsibility in mind. Donna Kraus, Oceanside schools’ public information coordinator, summed up his achievements well: “Dr. Brown’s strongest leadership trait is his educational vision,” she said. “He sees what could be and then makes it happen.”

Brown was humble about the role he has played in the district’s success. He compared himself to the conductor of an orchestra, and said that he simply tries his best to get everyone to play well together for the benefit of the children. He also expressed great pride in the programs the district has developed over the years, particularly in its mentoring programs.

Brown and this year’s other Nassau BOCES honorees will receive their awards at a ceremony in May. Nassau BOCES, or the Board of Cooperative Educational Services of Nassau County, is a public agency that works with school districts to help them provide cost-effective programs and services to the community. The agency’s Education Partner program is meant to honor those who have worked toward that end.

“One of the nicest things about this program is that — just like Nassau BOCES — it is open to people from all walks of life, and we are proud that the honorees reflect this diversity,” said Dr. Robert Hanna, Nassau BOCES deputy superintendent, in a statement announcing this year’s winners. To find out more about Nassau BOCES, visit www.nassauboces.org.

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