On October 1st, the Brockport Board of Education presented Joan and Richard Fenton with the 4th annual James C. Fallon Distinguished Service Award. The Fentons were nominated by community member Lynn Moulton and were unanimously selected by the Board for this honor.

Joan and Richard Fenton have made outstanding contributions to the Brockport community, both as individuals and as a couple. Now retired from distinguished careers in education, they continue to champion the success of the Brockport Central School District (BCSD) and the wider community through active involvement in various organizations.

Joan retired from BCSD in 1998 after a career as a reading specialist and served two terms on the BCSD Board of Education (1999–2004). She also held leadership roles with the Alumni Association of SUNY Brockport and Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG), supporting women in education.

Richard, an emeritus professor of economics at SUNY Brockport, taught from 1968 to 2009, earning the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1989. He helped establish Delta College and has served on multiple boards, including the Sweden Town Board and Morgan Manning House.

Together, the Fentons have spearheaded many initiatives. They are founding members of the Walk, Bike, Action Group, organizing events like the Walk to School Day. They also established the fourth-grade poster contest for the Low Bridge High Water Celebration and continue to display the students' work in downtown businesses. Their service extends to SUNY Brockport’s Friends of Drake Memorial Library, the Multigenerational Advisory Group, and the Town-Gown Committee, fostering collaboration between the university and community. The Fentons are also active board members of the Brockport BEST Foundation, providing guidance and support to BCSD teachers, students, and staff.

The James C. Fallon Distinguished Service Award was established in honor of former Superintendent Fallon for his many years of faithful service to our District. Brockport’s BOE presents this award annually to a district student, employee or community member who demonstrates the following characteristics: confident, expert-level knowledge in a given field; wisdom, leading to effective judgement based in transparency and empathy; a commitment to the principles of servant leadership and individual empowerment; rigorous accountability to themselves and to the community, and humbleness.

Joan and Richard Fenton’s names have been added to the James C. Fallon Distinguished Service Award perpetual plaque displayed in Brockport’s Board of Education Room in the District Office.