The Council of Administrators and Supervisors (CAS) honored Hilari Cohen, the president of the Board of Education of the Jericho School District, on Thursday evening, Jan. 30. Cohen, who has served on the board in Jericho for the past five years and has been president for the past four years, received the CAS award for her outstanding contributions to education.

Each year the Council of Administrators and Supervisors solicits nominations of board members and central office personnel from among its 1,300 members. CAS members represent school districts in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

"The criteria for nomination include pedagogical leadership, administrative expertise, and support for administrators and supervisors, as well as the promotion of our profession, and recognition of the crucial role that today's administrators and supervisors play in it," said CAS president Tony Laurino. "It is with great pleasure that we selected Mrs. Cohen to be among the exclusive group of educational leaders from our more than 70 school districts to be publicly honored and to receive our CAS award."

Members of the Jericho Educational Administrators Association (JEAA) nominated Cohen for this recognition. "Hilari has established herself as a strong leader, a visionary, and a self-starter," explained JEAA President Cecile Wren. "She is hard working, thoughtful, and bright. Hilari has a strong set of values and beliefs about what is important in school; she sets high standards and makes decisions that are in the best interest of children. We are all aware that many hours are spent planning, reflecting and developing strategies that enable a district to flourish. Being the president of the BOE is hard work and often a thankless job. However, there are few jobs where you get the thrill of knowing that you have made a difference in someone's life. Hilari's untiring efforts have made Jericho a better place for all."

Cohen was truly honored to receive this award with district administrators and members of the Board of Education present. "I am fortunate in many ways to serve on a school board in a community where education is so highly valued, and to sit with my fellow board members who are child-centered and have a deep commitment to keeping our district strong. Our administrators, many of them here tonight should all share in this award with me, because truly, they are the heart and soul of this district. Their devotion to ensuring success for every student in Jericho is an inspiration," said Cohen. "Our district is also fortunate to have a superintendent whose door is always open to both staff and community members and who works tirelessly to guarantee that the very high standards and goals that we set for ourselves are consistently met. These are the factors for achievement, the reasons for our success."