LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Adelaide L. Sanford upon the occasion
of being honored in conjunction with Women's History Month 2014 in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those women of achievement within the Empire State who have
made strong contributions to their communities and who inspire others
through their model citizenship; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Adelaide L. Sanford upon the occasion of being honored in conjunction
with Women's History Month 2014 in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Women of every race, class, and ethnic background have made
invaluable contributions to the growth and strength of New York State in
countless recorded and unrecorded ways; and
WHEREAS, Each year, the State of New York officially sets aside time
to recognize the achievements and lives of such exemplary women, repre-
sentatives of the wide-ranging and vital roles women have played in the
historic development of this great Empire State and its communities; the
theme of this year's commemoration is "Celebrating Women of Character,
Courage, and Commitment"; and
WHEREAS, Educator Adelaide L. Sanford is a retired teacher, principal
and former Vice-Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents;
throughout her long and distinguished career, she has consistently
epitomized the values of character, courage, and commitment in her
unwavering service to her students, colleagues, and community; and
WHEREAS, Adelaide L. Sanford was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1925;
she earned a Bachelor of Education degree from Brooklyn College in 1947,
Master of Education degree from Wellesley College in 1950, and a Ph.D.
in Education from Fordham University in 1967; and
WHEREAS, Dedicated to the education and uplift of New York's children,
Adelaide L. Sanford's illustrious 35-year career as an educator in New
York City included service as an elementary school teacher, a guidance
counselor, an assistant principal and a principal in New York City; it
was as principal of the Crispus Attucks school in Brooklyn that she
established her reputation for promoting excellence and achievement in
underserved schools, gaining city-wide recognition for her school's
dramatic improvements in student achievement, teacher morale and gifted
programs; and
WHEREAS, After her retirement in 1985, Adelaide L. Sanford was elected
to two 7-year terms as a member-at-large on the New York State Board of
Regents, and served two 3-year terms as its vice chancellor; unwavering
in her concern for the welfare of New York's most vulnerable children,
she was chairperson of the Regents' Committee on Low Performing Schools
and played a pivotal role in shaping new educational policies towards
closing gaps in student performance among New York State's schools; and
WHEREAS, Adelaide L. Sanford's positive impact on the educational
well-being of children extends beyond her work on the New York State
Board of Regents; she served as a consultant for the boards of education
in Niagara Falls, Connecticut, Indiana and New Jersey, worked on several
national committees, including the advisory committee on multicultural
education for the National Association of State Boards of Education,
served on the board of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, and played
an instrumental role in creating the John Henrik Clarke meetinghouse;
and
WHEREAS, Adelaide L. Sanford has won numerous accolades and awards for
her outstanding leadership, commitment and accomplishment; her honors

include distinguished alumna awards from Wellesley College and Brooklyn
College, the Josephine Shaw Lowell Award, the Ellen Lurie Award, and the
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Humanitarian Award; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of her service to her community
and the State of New York, Adelaide L. Sanford has stood constant in
dignity, good grace and humor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity to
express its highest admiration for educator Adelaide L. Sanford and to
wish her continued success in all of her future endeavors; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Adelaide L. Sanford, upon the occasion of being honored in
conjunction with Women's History Month in the State of New York; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Adelaide L. Sanford.