BOE Election Candidates Bios Available

Name: Dawn Fucheck
 
Years in District: 30

Employment: NYSSBA-Adjunct Leadership Development Facilitator

Education: 
 
Spouse/Occupation/Employment: Ray Fucheck-Superintendent of Radiation Protection Indian Point Entergy Nuclear

Children/Ages/Schools:

Elisa Dickinson, 35, Teacher-NECSD
Ryan Fucheck, 32, Meteorologist, SUNY Albany Graduate
Alex Fucheck, 27, Instrument & Controls Technician, Indian Point, Entergy Nuclear
Brent Fucheck, 26, Mount St. Mary College Graduate, BS Accounting

NECSD Committees/Community Committees Served On:

Former Board Member & Board President
Newburgh Teachers Center Policy Board, Curriculum, Personnel, Buildings & Grounds, Library, Compact, Finance, Capital Bond, Orange County School Boards, Boys and Girls Club of Newburgh, Newburgh Armory Unity Center Board Currently: Operation Reopen and Accountability Team for Transformational Leadership

 
How would you complete the following sentence?
If I could achieve any one education accomplishment while serving as a Board of Education Member it would be...
...to collaborate with educators and parents to ensure equitable access to educational opportunities for all students in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District.


What do you view as the Board of Education's top priorities:

• Ensuring the learning gap in education, created as a result of the pandemic, is assessed & addressed.
• Provision of a safe learning environment where teachers can teach and students can learn.
• Develop a fiscally responsible budget that aligns with the district’s mission vision and goals, supports student achievement and is cognizant of the taxpayer’s ability to pay.

Name: Ramona Burton

Years in District: 62

Employment: Retired

Education:

MPS Humanistic/Multicultural Education, SUNY New Paltz, Currently Enrolled
MPS Childhood 1-6 & Special Education, Manhattanville College
MS Counseling, Long Island University
BS Business Management, Hampton University 

Spouse/Occupation/Employment: 

Children/Ages/Schools: 

NECSD Committees/Community Committees Served On:

Current - NECSD: Diversity Committee (Chair), Exceptional Learners/Student Support Services Committee (Chair), Library Committee, and Operation Re-Open Task Force

Newburgh Free Library Harriet Tubman Committee

Newburgh Urban Food and Farm Initiative, Board of Directors, Finance Committee Chair

City of Newburgh Human Rights Commission. Commissioner (Former Chair)

Previous – NECSD: Building & Grounds Committee, Curriculum & Instruction Committee, Finance Committee, Comprehensive School Education Planning Team, Secondary Strategic Planning Team, Parent Advisory Council, Joint Facilities Steering/Educational Planning Committee, Graduation Destination Planning Team, Closing The Gap Initiative, Parents of Color Advisory Council

 
How would you complete the following sentence?
If I could achieve any one education accomplishment while serving as a Board of Education Member it would be...
...to provide all children with an exemplary educational experience, exposing them to numerous positive experience for them to fulfill their dreams.

What do you view as the Board of Education's top priorities:

The top priorities are:  1) monitor 2021-2025 Strategic Plan (Image 2025) efforts, 2) adhere to reopening guidelines and maintain safe buildings, and 3) ensure students’ need are met through SEL and wrap-around services.

Name: Renee Y. Greene

Years in District: 3

Employment: Retired

Education: BBA, MA Business Education, PD in Administration & Supervision
 
Spouse/Occupation/Employment: N/A

Children/Ages/Schools: 

NECSD Committees/Community Committees Served On:

SLT at Balmville Elementary 

How would you complete the following sentence?
If I could achieve any one education accomplishment while serving as a Board of Education Member it would be...

...to provide a safe environment for all students and employees who work in the buildings.  During this pandemic, safety of all is at the forefront!

What do you view as the Board of Education's top priorities:

I view the Board of Education’s top priorities as follows: 

1. Ensuring that all pandemic guidelines are followed and successfully implemented.
2. Providing all educators with the necessary tools for educating our children.
3. Having an open and honest dialogue with families concerning the education of their children.

Name: Philip Howard

Years in District: 

Employment: Retired City of Newburgh Fire Department

Education: BA Adelphi University

 
Spouse/Occupation/Employment:

Jacquelin Willis-Howard-Catskill Woodworking-Office Manager 

Children/Ages/Schools:
Adam (31)

NECSD Committees/Community Committees Served On:

Library Committee, Buildings & Grounds Committee, Curriculum Committee, Diversity Committee, Exceptional Learners Committee, Policy Committee, S.A.V.E. Committee, Re-Opening Task Force

 
How would you complete the following sentence?
If I could achieve any one education accomplishment while serving as a Board of Education Member it would be...

...that every scholar who attends our schools will graduate and receive their diploma at Academy Field.

What do you view as the Board of Education's top priorities:

1. Graduation of Scholars
2. Safe Schools
3. A balanced and meaningful budget
4. Ensure that the scholars are rigorously challenged so that they can be ready to compete in society once they graduate

Name: Shoy  Colbourne

Years in District: 9

Employment: New York City Department of Education, Education Administrator

Education:
Master of Science: Education Leadership, Fordham University
Education Doctorate: Higher Education Administration, Saint Peter’s University
 
Spouse/Occupation/Employment:

Juanella Colbourne, Teacher, HYDE Leadership Charter School-- Bronx 

Children/Ages/Schools:
Leilani Colbourne, 4, Horizon-on-the-Hudson Magnet School

NECSD Committees/Community Committees Served On:
Newburgh Enlarged City School District Guidance Advisory Team
Newburgh Enlarged City School District Wellness Advisory Team
Newburgh Enlarged City School District Re-Open School Team
Hudson-on the-Horizon Magnet School Parent Teacher Organization

How would you complete the following sentence?
If I could achieve any one education accomplishment while serving as a Board of Education Member it would be...
...Ensuring our schools are safe and supportive learning hubs for all members of the community. Free of barriers that can hinder educational growth and student success. The focus needs to remain on mitigating student instructional loss during the transition to remote learning while paying specific attention to our students with varying abilities, and Multi-Language Learners.

What do you view as the Board of Education's top priorities:

There is ongoing instructional loss from the transition to remote learning and those affected are our most vulnerable student populations. As the board focuses on a plan for re-entry, a focus needs to remain on our students and on the timely and necessary supports for our teachers-- who are expected to provide high quality and robust instruction. So I believe the Board of Education's top priorities are to continue to document, focus on, and learn from our experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic to inform a larger educational plan for crisis/disaster management and focus on a safe return to school buildings; engaging the community in the decision-making and planning process at every stage of the development. I believe I am the best candidate to support and guide the district through this new reality.