On the Bright Side: Franklin principal is honored

By Mark Boshnack
Staff Writer

June 10, 2009 04:00 am

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"You don't get here on your own," said Franklin Principal Jason Thomson in discussing an award he received on Friday from the Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego Board of Cooperative Education Services School Library System.

He was surprised with the group's 2009 Administrator of the Year Award at the group's end-of-the-year symposium at the Canasawacta Country Club in Norwich.

It is an acknowledgment for all the work administrators do in support of library services, said DCMO School Library System secretary Rebecca Dixson.

Librarians who also received awards at the event were Rebecca Rosas, from Oxford Middle School, and Deborah Miner, of Norwich City School District's Perry Browne Intermediate School, Dixson said.

Thinking he was simply representing the school at the Friday event, Thomson said he was "shocked when they made the announcement."

"I am very grateful (for the honor)," said Thomson, and "very lucky." He also won the award two years ago, along with Franklin Superintendent Gordon Daniels.

"I am blessed with great students and an outstanding staff that works well together," he said. But there have been "so many people on the way that have taught me," he said.

He started his administrative career in Walton Central School, coming to Franklin in 2006. Walton principals Mike Snider and Mike MacDonald were influential in helping him learn to be successful, Thomson said. Another important influence was Walton football coach Jim Hoover, he said.

When asked about working for Daniels, Thomson said, "I couldn't ask for a better teacher." He also thanked his wife, Heather, for her contribution to his career.

"She has always supported me," he said.

In nominating him for the recognition, Franklin librarian Barbara Lennon cited various programs that Thomson has worked on to promote reading and literacy at the school.

"He continues to demonstrate his ability as both an extraordinary administrator and a proven advocate of school libraries/librarianship," she wrote.

Thomson's earlier award did not affect the recent choice. According to a BOCES media release, after the nomination by an individual from one of the BOCES 16 component school districts, the application is then "blinded" with all identifiable names removed for review.

The School Library System council _ composed of academic librarians, regional library system representatives, museum directors, school and public librarians and one or more administrators _ make the decision for the award.