Orleans-Niagara BOCES leader recognized for veterans’ outreach program
Dr. Clark J. Godshall
Dr. Clark J. Godshall, superintendent of the Orleans–Niagara BOCES, was recently honored by the Association of School Business Officials International with its 2017 Pinnacle of Excellence Award for an innovative outreach program that provides education and support to the community’s veterans.
What began as elementary school students’ desire to help local homeless and disabled veterans blossomed into a collaboration among education providers, community-based organizations, veterans’ agencies, and the public to bring awareness to and help the vast number of veterans in the county in need of food, shelter, skills, and support.
Godshall championed the development and implementation of several initiatives to reach out to adults and veterans, including Literacy Zone, a continuing education adult literacy program that welcomes all veterans and their families to participate in activities to increase literacy, obtain a GED, learn computer skills, and improve job-readiness skills. An annual community luncheon and event honors and thanks local veterans and their families for their service.
“This program encompasses ‘lifelong learning’ at its best,” Godshall said. “It has changed many lives for the better.” These programs also provide opportunities for the local K–12 students to give back to the community by volunteering.
As the Pinnacle of Excellence Award recipient, Godshall will receive $5,000, Virco furniture for his school system valued at $5,000, an all-expenses-paid trip to the ASBO Annual Meeting & Expo in Denver, CO, and a crystal Pinnacle of Excellence Award.
