Rieger honored for 50 years of school board service
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> One of the youngest people ever elected to a school board has been honored for 50 years of service and contributions to public education.
John Rieger was on Schuylerville Central School District Board of Education from 1963-84, when he was elected to the Saratoga-Warren BOCES Board of Education in 1984.
This merged with the Hamilton, Essex and Washington BOCES in 1993 and he is now president of the five-county board.
Rieger, a Fort Edward resident, was recently honored with the New York State School Boards Association’s top award, the Everett R. Dyer Award for distinguished service at the association’s annual convention in New York.
Under Rieger’s leadership, BOCES have strengthened and streamlined its special education program, expanded employee professional development opportunities, rebranded its Adult Education and Career and Technical Education divisions and created the Early College Career Academy.
During the ceremony, Rieger thanked his wife, Millie, of 55 years for supporting him so he could volunteer. He said he felt very lucky to be a member of such a talented BOCES board at a moment when Career and Technical Education is gaining recognition.
“As some of you may know, I have always been a strong proponent of CTE,” he said. “Maybe it took the celebrity of (television show host) Mike Rowe to raise awareness of the value of these programs. Or maybe it’s the glaring skills gap that we now have in our nation. Bottom line is, we need CTE programs. BOCES around the state are leading the way to provide pathways for students to find their niche and make their mark.”
“This is also an important time for special education,” he said. “Awareness has been elevated to show that the status quo isn’t good enough. We need to take our blinders off. With the right education, there is a productive place in our society for everyone.”
When Rieger was a young man someone planted a seed that he should run for a seat on a rural school district board of education. Reflecting on his service as a school board member for over 50 years, Rieger urged the audience to keep up what they are doing and to encourage their neighbors, family, and friends to serve.
He hopes that by sharing positive experiences with others, it will inspire others.
“You are all leaders,” Rieger told the audience. “You are our community fabric. And I am so happy to be among you.”
School Boards Association President William Miller presented Rieger with the award saying, “John consistently encourages innovation and welcomes new ideas. His leadership has fostered a culture of serving component districts, and he has demonstrated exemplary dedication to the students from those districts.”