Ron Wilson Honored by Huntington NAACP Chapter
Born, raised, educated and employed here, Ron Wilson is pure Huntington. The longtime community member was honored by the NAACP’s Huntington branch at the Thatched Cottage last week for his inspirational work with young people.
Mr. Wilson is a dean of students at Huntington High School where he also coaches football and winter and spring boys’ track. His family has called Huntington home since the early 1960s. Pastor Louis Wilson and Peggy Wilson were on hand last week along with a crowd of more than 200 to see their son receive his award at the NAACP’s Freedom Fund Dinner.
Huntington School Board President Emily Rogan, Trustee Xavier Palacios and Superintendent James W. Polansky were in attendance at the dinner as well as several other district officials and colleagues of Mr. Wilson.
“I want to thank Mrs. Rogan and Mr. Polansky and my athletic director, Georgia McCarthy for giving me a lot of rope to work with,” Mr. Wilson said during his brief remarks at the dinner. “My ways are a little unorthodox at times so I appreciate their support.”
A member of Huntington High School’s Class of 1994, Mr. Wilson participated in a variety of after-school activities including the mentoring program, Student Associates Business Alliance, Black History Day, culture club and athletics.
As a junior, Mr. Wilson would go back to his old elementary school, participating in read-aloud sessions with sixth graders and discussing with them what would be expected of them in high school. It was through such programs and activities he identified a strong inner desire to work with children.
While studying elementary education at St. John’s University, Mr. Wilson started volunteering with Teacher Opportunity Corps, serving as a mentor and tutor for inner-city at-risk youth. After obtaining a BS degree in May 1998, he began working as a substitute teacher in the Huntington and South Huntington school districts. He earned a master’s degree at Stony Brook University in 2005.
In October 1998, Mr. Wilson was hired by Tri-Community & Youth Agency to work with the young people that utilize that organization’s facilities and services. He also started volunteering as a coach with the J. Taylor Finley Junior High School football team. Players and their families quickly took a liking to him and he proved to be a highly effective motivator.
Through his connections with young people and their parents, Mr. Wilson saw a need to bridge the gap between Huntington and South Huntington athletes. He turned to Kevin Thorbourne and Crystal White, who have also dedicated themselves to nurturing area youth, collaborating with them to organize a basketball tournament that helped to shatter barriers between the two groups and pave the way for many friendships to be formed.
Mr. Wilson joined the Huntington School District’s full-time faculty in 2001. After working for many years as a second and third grade teacher at Flower Hill School and as a sixth grade teacher at Huntington Elementary School, Mr. Wilson was appointed a dean at Huntington High School.
In his work as a dean of students at Huntington High School, Mr. Wilson continues to work closely with Principal Carmela Leonardi and Assistant Principal Brenden Cusack. “Carmela and I hit it off when I first started working in the high school as a dean,” he said. “We are both passionate about education for all students and educating the ‘total’ student. I am grateful for the support she and Brenden Cusack give me. They both support the work I do in the building and in the community and for that, I thank them.”
With many years remaining in his career, Mr. Wilson has already had a lasting and positive impact on the youth of this community. He continues to volunteer his time guiding young people and has built remarkable relationships with students and their families through teaching, mentoring, volunteering and coaching.
Mr. Wilson said he feels “blessed to have been given the gift of being passionate about teaching.” He has made a commitment to educate and serve the youth he crosses paths with and to be a good role model for them.
“I tell people all the time that Huntington is a great place to live and raise a family,” Mr. Wilson said. “I’ve been fortunate to have gone through the school system as a student and athlete and now work in the very system that helped to educate me and raise me. I truly enjoy working with our students and their families. Students from all walks of life struggle with life’s problems and strains. I’m just grateful to for the privilege to work with them and help them get through.”