And the award goes to . . .

When Robert Brase was presented with his New York State Theater Education Administrator of the Year award on Oct. 18 at an Oceanside Board of Education meeting, he couldn’t help but compare himself to a Major League Baseball manager who had just won the World Series.

“I feel like Joe Torre when he coached the Yankees,” said Brase, the school district’s director of fine and performing arts. “The teachers in Ocean-side are among the best in the state. They, along with the students in our department, deserve a piece of this award because it’s a credit to them. I share this award with them.”

Now in his 22nd year in the Oceanside School District, Brase said he was truly humbled by the award. A few weeks ago, at Sardi’s restaurant in Manhattan, he was honored with a celebratory dinner as a prelude to the school board meeting awards ceremony.

The award was presented by the New York State Theater Education Association. Brase was recognized as the administrator who best exemplified the NYSTEA motto: “Theater transforms student lives.”

A father of two, Brase has established himself as a leading figure in the Oceanside School District. He oversees its art, theater, music, and arts and education programs, working closely with the PTA to bring in new programs and to coordinate the district’s plays, concerts and other arts events.

Before joining the Oceanside staff in the 1980s, Brase attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio, where he graduated in 1977 with a degree in music education. He then worked for 10 years on the administrative staffs in the Levittown and Malverne school districts. And despite his experience there, he referred to Oceanside’s arts and theater program as second to none.

“There’s a great thirst and desire for a terrific arts program in Oceanside,” Brase said. “The kids are great, and there’s tremendous support from the parents. That’s what separates it from the other districts.”

Asked about the future of the Fine and Performing Arts program in Oceanside, Brase was realistic. He cited a bad economy as a hindrance to expanding the program now. “Money is tight,” he said. “We’re going to have to maintain our ground right now, but we’d eventually love to build upon the program we have.”

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