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History
The Mort Thau Award was named in honor of a man who made a
significant contribution to the field of education and, in particular,
school personnel administration. Mort was born and raised in Great
Neck, graduating from Great Neck High School in 1941. He was an
All-American soccer player at Springfield College, where he received
his Bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education. His undergraduate
studies were interrupted by a three-year stint in the armed services,
including duty as a staff sergeant in the Pacific theater. Mort
subsequently earned his Master's degree from New York University
in 1951.
He began his teaching career at Geneseo State Teachers College,
where he served as a physical education teacher, Director of Athletics
and varsity coach in baseball, basketball and soccer. He later
taught Health and Physical Education at City College of New York.
In 1952, Mort accepted employment as a teacher, coach and Director
of Recreation in Baldwin, Long Island, marking the beginning of
a long and successful career with the Baldwin School System. In
1961, Mort was appointed Assistant Superintendent for Personnel
and served in that capacity until his untimely death in 1978 at
the age of 54.
Mort Thau was an active member of our profession. Along with Jay
Greene and a handful of others, he played an instrumental role
in the creation of NYSASPA in 1966. He served as Treasurer of
NYSASPA in 1968 and of the Long Island Association of School Personnel
Administrators in 1977. As a personnel administrator, Mort was
professional, expert in his field and through the force of his
personality always demonstrated strong leadership qualities. He
was a demanding individual who set high standars for others, while
at the same time accepting no less from himself. Mort was both
a friend and colleague to all those who were fortunate to have
worked with him, and through his accomplishments and service to
others he made a lasting impact on our profession.
Nominations and Filing Date
The NYSASPA has determined that the Mort Thau Award is to be
granted, when special circumstances exist, to a worthy individual
who has satisfied the criteria set forth herein and who has been
nominated by a member or members of the Executive Board. All nominations
must be submitted to the president of NYSASPA by June 1, preceding
the fall conference. The award will be presented at the fall conference.
Criteria
To be eligible, nominess should satisfy the criteria set forth
below:
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An active practitioner in the field of personnel administration for a minimum of 10 years | |
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An active member of NYSASPA for a minimum period of 10 years | |
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Distinguished service as an officer of NYSASPA | |
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Active in personnel-related activities at the national, State, regional or local levels (committees, task forces or panels) | |
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A record of stable and consistent leadership in personnel administration | |
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Evidence of contributions or assistance t the NYSASPA membership and the profession at large | |
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Ability to work effectively with others and gain the respect of peers, staff, and school community | |
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Effective in achieving and implementing innovations and improvements in personnel programs and practices |