Francine Reynolds receives Award for Excellence

Owego Apalachin (OA) School District’s Francine Reynolds has won a state secretarial award for excellence. Reynolds received the 2017 Judith A. Martens Secretarial Award for Excellence for Section 4, from the New York State Athletic Administration Association. 

The award honors a secretary to an athletics administrator “who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to athletics at the local level,” according to the association. Reynolds will officially receive the Martens Award at a luncheon ceremony Feb. 24. 

“Francine embodies all that is great about our school district, about Owego Free Academy (OFA) and our athletics programs,” said Andy Buchsbaum, director of athletics for the district. 

He continued, “She is the biggest OFA Indians fan out there, and she bleeds red, white and royal.” 

“Francine has played many roles for the district throughout her distinguished career,” said Corey Green, OA superintendent, “but many people say she was meant to work in athletics.” 

Reynolds began her career at the Owego Apalachin district in 1996, working for the maintenance and transportation departments. In 1997, she moved into the schools and worked district-wide for the nurses. She became secretary for the OFA guidance counselors in 2004, and in 2011 she became secretary for the OFA assistant principal. Reynolds became secretary for athletics in 2014. 

“It’s immediately evident that Francine deeply cares about all our student-athletes, and that this is more than just work for her,” Buchsbaum said. “She clearly enjoys every moment spent at all our games, contributing in varieties of ways, including from the scorer’s table.” 

Reynolds’ presence goes hand-in-hand with OA Schools, and now, especially since her arrival to her latest post a few years ago, with OFA athletics. That’s easily explained when you realize she is an OFA graduate herself (Class of 1973), as is her husband Darryl (Class of 1974). Not surprising, all four of their children are also OFA graduates, and former student-athletes here: Joe (1997), Jake (2000), Michelle (2004) and Jon (2006). 

“Francine could not be more deserving of this award,” Buchsbaum said. “I know it means a lot to her and her family to receive this type of recognition, even though she never looks for credit or any type of spotlight. 

“I’m proud to call her a colleague and friend,” Buchsbaum added, “and I don’t know what I’d do without her.”