Senate Resolution No. 317

BY: Senator MARTINS

HONORING Miranda Best upon the occasion of her
designation as recipient of the Arts Education
Leadership Award by HEARTS of Port Washington on
February 10, 2023

WHEREAS, The unity of our State and Nation is built upon the
compassion of good individuals such as Miranda Best who uphold the
values of community life and who, through their great actions, epitomize
the best of humanity; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Miranda Best
upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the Arts Education
Leadership Award by HEARTS of Port Washington, to be celebrated at its
Annual Red Party on Friday, February 10, 2023, at Polish American Hall,
Port Washington, New York; and

WHEREAS, HEARTS (Helping Enrich the Arts) of Port Washington is an
independent, grassroots, not-for-profit community organization whose
mission is to add meaningful value to children's lives by supporting,
promoting, and enriching the arts in public schools and throughout the
Port Washington community; and

WHEREAS, A caring, competent and committed leader, Miranda Best's
character and integrity are the hallmarks of her life and work as an
educational leader, a community volunteer and as a person; and

WHEREAS, Miranda Best has taught art in Port Washington for more
than 25 years, beginning at Weber Middle School and moving on to
Schreiber High School, where she has given tirelessly of her time and
energies for the past two decades; and

WHEREAS, Throughout her illustrious tenure, Miranda Best has worked
with students to create murals, host visiting artists, design fashion
collections, take field trips and much more; furthermore, she has found
that working with contemporary art is an essential piece of her approach
to teaching, allowing students to examine ideas from multiple
viewpoints; and

WHEREAS, A significant contributor to education in New York State,
Miranda Best has continually demonstrated an impressive dedication, an
unparalleled devotion and an unremitting enthusiasm for the quality of
the art programs and opportunities offered at Schreiber High School for
the benefit of its faculty and students, as well as for the entire
community; and

WHEREAS, Miranda Best grew up in Virginia and attended both Vassar
College and Teachers College, Columbia University; she taught art in
Manhattan for one year before making the move to Long Island; and

WHEREAS, For the past 24 years, Miranda Best has lived in Sea Cliff,
New York, with her husband Jim and her two children, Jackson and Maya;
she maintains her artmaking practice with a focus on drawing, painting,
and printmaking from her home studio; and


WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an
individual for the benefit of others which Miranda Best has displayed
throughout her life; and

WHEREAS, It has always been the objective of this Legislative Body
to honor and support those individuals who have displayed their
commitment to the betterment of their communities, and it is the intent
of this Legislative Body to inscribe upon its records, this tribute to
Miranda Best, that future generations may know and appreciate her
admirable character, her many benevolent deeds, and the respect and
esteem in which she is held by her peers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Miranda Best upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of
the Arts Education Leadership Award by HEARTS of Port Washington, and to
wish her continued success in all her future endeavors; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Miranda Best.