LONG LAKE — No matter the weather or the season, CSEA Long Lake Central School District bus driver Jerry Flanagan is dedicated to student athletics.
That is why he was recently honored with the Excelsior Award, which honors a CSEA member who displays extraordinary dedication to school athletics. The award is jointly sponsored by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association and our union.
Flanagan received the award during the association’s Football Championships at Syracuse University’s Carrier Dome in late November.
“Jerry Flanagan represents the very best in CSEA — he is dedicated to his work, cares about the young people he works with, and contributes to the quality of life in his school district,” said CSEA President Danny Donohue.
“It is great to partner with the New York State Public High School Athletic Association because it helps ensure people like Jerry are recognized for their outstanding character and service.”
Flanagan is a Western New York native who grew up vacationing in Long Lake with his family, a tradition he continued with his own four children. A U.S. Army veteran with a strong work ethic, Flangan also has six grandchildren.
In 2000, he moved to Long Lake as a permanent resident and began working for the Long Lake Central School District as a cleaner in 2001. Over the next two years, he earned his commercial driver’s license and became a district bus driver in 2003.
In the spirit of the award, Flanagan exemplifies “going above and beyond.”
He soon incorporated his new job with his love of sports, driving students from Long Lake and other Mountain Valley Athletic Conference schools to their soccer, basketball and baseball games, regardless of weather.
While North Country winters can often lead to tough driving conditions, that hasn’t stopped Flanagan from giving his all. In addition to driving students to and from the games safely, he keeps score and records statistics for the teams.
Flanagan said that he loves the community and that the kids are fantastic. He marveled that despite the students’ dedication to athletics, all put academics first and are “scholar athletes.”
For his efforts, he was nominated for the Excelsior Award by two separate district athletic directors.
When asked about the award, Flanagan noted that “he gets more than he gives.”
— Therese Assalian
