FOR RELEASE: November 8, 2023
Fred Langstaff, the New York State School Boards Association’s president in 2020 and 2021, was honored with the organization’s President’s Award at NYSSBA’s Annual Convention and Education Expo in Buffalo in October.
Langstaff, who lived in Sayville and remained on NYSSBA’s Board of Directors as immediate past president, died in August.
The NYSSBA President’s Award was created in 2000 to recognize individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to the betterment of public education in New York.
NYSSBA’s current president, Peggy Zugibe of the North Rockland School District and Rockland BOCES, selected Langstaff for the honor early this year and presented the award posthumously to his widow, Debby Langstaff; son, Jamie; daughter, Krystie; and grandson Tyler, at the 2023 Convention Opening Session on Oct. 26.
Langstaff "personified almost every quality you could hope for in a school board member," Zugibe said. "He was caring and engaged in whatever issues our schools were facing. He was always ready to listen and learn – and to me, he was a mentor and a friend."
Langstaff, a retired Verizon technician, had been a member of the Eastern Suffolk BOCES board since 2003. Previously, he served for nine years on the Sayville School Board, including a year as president and two years as vice president.
He co-chaired the legislative committee at Eastern Suffolk BOCES, and he was on the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards legislative committee.
Click here to download a photo of Fred Langstaff.