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BOE Candidate Bios Available Now
Candidates are running for a three three-year term or one one-year term on the Newburgh Enlarged City School District Board of Education. Voters will select four (4) candidates on the ballot. Bios are now available. Below, click on the name of the candidate to view more information about that candidate. Candidates are listed below in the order in which they were randomly selected to appear on the ballot.
Years in District: 40 years
Employment: Retired Teacher
Spouse/Occupation/Employment: ARC counselor (retired)
Children/Ages/Schools: : two adult children (both NECSD graduates); three grandchildren
NECSD Committees/Community Committees Served On:
Library, Personnel, Audit and Finance, Policy, SAVE
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... the development of a curriculum that reflected the needs, development, and expansion that would make our district a model for the nation
What do you view as the Board of Education's top priorities:
The Board of Education’s top priorities are to implement district wide strategies designed to close any educational gaps created by COVID, develop curricula and educational strategies that are time-tested, encourage investigation, communication skills,and build a platform for life-long learning.”
Years in District: 20
Employment: New York City Correction Officer
Education: North Carolina Central University
Spouse/Occupation/Employment: Sonya D. Grant/ American International Group (AIG)
Children/Ages/Schools:
Ellyson K. Grant (23) NFA Graduate ’18 - class rank 72 of 723 (top 10%)
Sterling A. Grant (19) NFA Graduate ’21 - class rank 75 of 729 (top 10%)
Hanibal R. Grant (18) NFA Graduate ’22 - class rank 16 of 754 (top 2%)
NECSD Committees/Community Committees Served On:
Strategic Economic Development Advisory Committee (SEDAC); Harriet Tubman statue to the Newburgh Library Committee; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. - Upsilon Tau Chapter, Former President and Scholarship Committee Chairman; National Pan-Hellenic Council of Mid-Hudson Valley, Former President; Safe Harbors of The Hudson Newburgh Community Cleanup, Planning Committee and Volunteer
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 have parents and guardians within our NECSD community strive and thrive to be learning partners and serve as a chief part of the education of our children with a focus on literacy and STEAM.
What do you view as the Board of Education's top priorities:
Build a safe, preeminent academic, athletic, and vocational environment while strengthening our NECSD family with mental wellness assistance.
Years in District: 34
Employment: USDA
Education: American Preparatory Institute
Spouse/Occupation/Employment: Sonia Harvey/retired Teacher’s Assistant
Children/Ages/Schools: 36, 40
NECSD Committees/Community Committees Served On:
NAACP President Newburgh/Highland Falls chapter
Congressman Pat Ryan Veterans Affairs Committee
Community Voices Heard
E203 Committee (Police Reform)
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 bridge the gap between schools and the community to bring transparency and trust.
What do you view as the Board of Education's top priorities:
- Restoring the harm done between the community and school district
- Ensuring that students and staff feel safe
- Students must receive the necessary skills needed to reach THEIR level of success. By doing so, we introduce students to non-traditional forms of employment and ways to make a sufficient living.
Years in District:
Employment: Head Start of Eastern Orange County
Education:
Spouse/Occupation/Employment:
Children/Ages/Schools: JustyceO’dell Ali Burks, 7, Balmville
NECSD Committees/Community Committees Served On:
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...
ensure that every student with with a disability has the opportunity to become a success beyond the academic field. And that they are provide the same educational opportunities as their peers who are in general education classes.
What do you view as the Board of Education's top priorities:
The students
Special educational/ exceptional learners
Budget
Staff layoffs
Diversity
Years in District: 30
Employment: North Point Carpet Supplies
Education: Associates degree OCCC
Spouse/Occupation/Employment: Sharon Levinstein, Data Processing Clerk, NECSD - NFA Main
Children/Ages/Schools:
Aliya, Graduate of NFA 2012, American University 2016, George Washington Law School 2023.
Rebecca, Graduate of NFA 2014, University of Albany 2018.
Michael, Graduate of NFA 2016, Binghamton University 2020
Matthew, Graduate of NFA 2020, 3rd year at Berklee College of Music
NECSD Committees/Community Committees Served On:
NECSD: Finance, Facilities, Personnel, Curriculum, Building & Grounds, Exceptional Learners, Diversity, Library, & Compact Committee, Capitol Bond Project Advisory, Newburgh Teacher Center Policy Board.
Temple Beth Jacob Trustee. Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County Trustee
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 partner with parents and educators to create better outcomes and opportunities for the children of the Newburgh School District.
What do you view as the Board of Education's top priorities:
To ensure a safe and secure environment for the children and employees of this district, so our educators can provide the best education possible. Strive to make sure that our students graduate, and that they are College or Career ready, and Civic-minded young adults.
Years in District: 33 years as an NECSD taxpayer
Employment: Retired Teacher from NECSD July 1, 2022
Education: M.S. Education, English; B.B.A. Management; A.S. Business Administration
Spouse/Occupation/Employment: N/A
Children/Ages/Schools: 2 adult children, ages 33 and 28, both of whom graduated from NFA.
NECSD Committees/Community Committees Served On:
Diversity Committee, Reported on Personnel Committee Meetings for NTA, Negotiations Committee of NTA, Head Delegate at Heritage Middle School, participated in many after school events such as cooking and serving members of the Varsity and JV Basketball teams for home games through Grace Community Church, arranged and provided dinners to Unified Basketball Team and their opponents at home games, currently on the Outreach Team of Church at the Bridge.
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 ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT WHO CROSSES ACADEMY FIELD CAN READ FLUENTLY, COMPREHEND WHAT THEY READ, POSSESS MATH SKILLS THAT ENABLE THEM TO FUNCTION IN SOCIETY, AND HAS LEARNED HOW TO BE A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF OUR COMM8NITY BY KNOWING HOW TO THINK CLEARLY AND TO REACT APPROPRIATELY IN A MULTITIUDE OF SITUATIONS.
What do you view as the Board of Education's top priorities:
- TO ENSURE THAT THE DISTRICT MAINTAINS FISCAL TRANSPARENCY TO ALL SHAREHOLDERS AND USES FUNDS PROVIDED THROUGH GRANTS AND THE GOVERNMENT IN RESPONSIBLE WAYS THAT MOST APPROPRIATELY SUPPORTS THE LEARNING PROCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS.
- TO ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS ARE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN.
- TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS IN EVERY SCHOOL (PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL)
- TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN AN HONEST AND OPEN RELATIONSHIP WITH PARENTS BY PROVIDING TRUTHFUL AND TIMELY INFORMATION ABOUT WHATEVER OBSTACLES OR EVENTS OCCUR IN OUR SCHOOLS.
- TO ENSURE THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS DOES HIS/HER JOB AT A HIGH LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE.
- TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE PLACED IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS THAT ARE MOST CONDUCIVE TO THEIR LEARNING AND THAT EVERY LETTER OF STATE REGULATIONS ARE FOLLOWED.
- TO ENSURE THAT ANY AND ALL CURRICULUM DECISIONS ARE FOUNDED ON ACTUAL AND ACCURATE DATA FROM OUR OWN STUDENTS AND THAT ANY AND ALL DECISIONS ARE MADE IN COLLABORATION WITH TEACHERS.
- TO ENSURE FISCAL STABILITY BY DEVELPING BUDGETS THAT BOTH MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
Years in District:
Employment:
Superintendent’s Hearing Officer Middletown School District 2022-23
Retired NECSD 33 years
Principal of Gidney Ave. Memorial School 1995-2005
Principal West Street School 1994-1995
Director Foreign Language & Bilingual Education 1975-1985
Bilingual Teacher
Poughkeepsie City School District Director of Special Projects and PHS School Improvement Manager 2007-2013
Spouse/Occupation/Employment: Deceased A. Favino Teacher NECSD 20 years
Children/Ages/Schools: N/A
NECSD Committees/Community Committees Served On:
2014 – 2023 Board of Education Newburgh Enlarged City School District
2014-15 Chair Buildings & Grounds and Diversity Committees, Member & Policy Committee
2015- 2023 President of the Board of Education Newburgh Enlarged City School District,
Ad hoc member of all board committees
Member Strategic Planning/Shared Decision-Making District Team
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 primary education that would develop the capacity in all students to read and do math on grade level while developing a sound financial plan for the District.
What do you view as the Board of Education's top priorities:To provide a safe environment in which all students can learn, to provide fiscal responsibility, to provide open dialog with all stakeholders.
Years in District: 33
Employment: Field Engineer with Advance Network Services
Education: Marlboro Central High School
Spouse/Occupation/Employment: Lillian Burgarelli/Engineering Manager/Advanced Network Services
Children/Ages/Schools:
Sebastian/16/NFA Main
Carmen/13/Heritage
NECSD Committees/Community Committees Served On: N/A
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... Close the gap between the New York State graduation rate and that of NFA’s.
What do you view as the Board of Education's top priorities:
Safety of all the children of our district from the time they get on a bus til the time they are home off that bus. Creating a clear channel for communication for the teachers to be able to raise their concerns/needs without fear of retribution. Ensure all the children of our district to get the help they need to be successful scholars.
Years in District: Lifelong resident
Employment: Teacher for 18 years in the North Rockland Central School District
Teacher for 3 years in The Newburgh Enlarged City School District
Education:
AAS Fashion Design Fashion Institute of Technology
BS Production Management Fashion Institute of Technology
MS Special Education Mount Saint Mary College
Certificate of Advanced Study: School Building and School District Leadership SUNY New Paltz
Spouse/Occupation/Employment: Nicholas Politi,Electrician, Jim Murphy Electric, IBEW Local 363
Children/Ages/Schools:
MaryJane Politi age 16 attends NFA Main Campus
Augusten Politi age 11 attends Horizons on the Hudson
Levon Politi age 8 attends Horizons on the Hudson
Olive Politi age 6 attends Horizons on the Hudson
NECSD Committees/Community Committees Served On:
I have served on the HoH Compact Committee and NECSD Talent Committee. I currently serve on the School Improvement Team at Haverstraw Elementary School. I coached Girls on the Run:Heart and Sole at South Middle School. I currently coach Girls on the Run at Haverstraw Elementary and I am a Coach and Co-Founder of The Newburgh Lightening Bolts.
Former NTA member and current NRTA member.
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 create consistency in the implementation of programs, the code of conduct, security/safety plans, and make educationally sound decisions for the youth in our community.
What do you view as the Board of Education's top priorities:
Consistency, transparency, communication, and listening to the needs of all stakeholders.
Professionalism and serving as role models to our scholars.
ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!
