My name is Andrene Smith and I am running for reelection to the Mamaroneck School Board to serve my community and because I strongly believe that public education is intimately tied to the vitality of our community. As a first-generation immigrant from Jamaica, I experienced first-hand the transformative impact of public education, graduating at the top of my class from Truman High School in the Bronx. I earned a BA from Stanford University, an MBA from Schiller International University in Paris, and a JD from Georgetown Law.
After working as an attorney in Washington, I moved home to New York. Currently, I am Managing Counsel for a multinational bank and previously worked as a policy director for a major insurer. I moved to Mamaroneck in 2016 for the excellent public schools. My son attended MAS and is now in the 6th grade at Hommocks. I also have a one-year-old son.
In my first term, I served as Board Secretary, and I sit on the board of Girls Inc. Westchester. I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve the Mamaroneck/Larchmont community and look forward to building on that work.
Why are you running for the Mamaroneck School Board?
I am eager to continue advocating for students and building on our successes after serving as a MUFSD School Board Member for the past three years. There is a steep learning curve for newcomers. I am committed to using the learnings from my first term to drive more growth-centered investments in our students.
During my first term, I worked hard to expand programming, promote rigorous academic and enrichment standards, encourage innovative teaching, and create a supportive learning environment. I served as School Board Secretary and sat on the Policy & Law, Audit, Curriculum, Communication and Universal Pre-K Committees. I served as Board Liaison to the District Equity Team, as well as to Central, Murray, and Mamaroneck High schools. As the only lawyer and MAS-zoned member on the Board, my background makes me uniquely qualified to serve.
Community service is important to me, and it has been a privilege to contribute to significant accomplishments, including hiring our new Superintendent and Assistant Superintendents; adopting new union contracts, including with teachers; expanding UPK access; upgrading facilities across the District; and updating district policies to address equity issues. There is more work to be done and I am eager to build on our progress.
What is the biggest issue facing our schools and how can you help address it?
Based on my experience over the past three years, I have learned that to foster excellence across the District, we must tackle and prioritize multiple issues. They all require the attention and focus of a dedicated Board, working with the Administration. My priorities are aligned to these goals: Transparency, Opportunities, and Partnerships.
Through my consensus-driven approach, I aim to promote transparency by implementing data-driven governance, offering easily-accessible metrics that enable families and the public to support or challenge key decisions. I will promote budget accountability and alignment to program needs, ensuring every dollar of the District’s budget is optimally allocated for maximum student impact.
Strengthening communication and engagement among the Board, District leadership, teachers, parents, and students is crucial for trust and accountability. Disruptions in trust, such as those experienced this year when hundreds of families petitioned to reduce half-days on the school calendar, can be challenging to rebuild.
I will advocate for academic excellence by enhancing literacy, writing, library, and STEM curriculum using science-based and data-driven approaches. Additionally, I will work to improve the middle school student experience through positive school culture and physical environment improvements.
Expanding foreign language instruction to elementary schools and UPK programs balanced against K-12 space and enrollment needs is also a priority. Furthermore, I aim to build partnerships to elevate student achievement, develop diverse career pathways, and plan for future enrollment trends.
My complete priorities can be found on TeamAndrene.com.