I am a nonprofit administrator, educator, and author, and the parent of a Hommocks 7th grader. I am also a graduate of Central, Hommocks and Mamaroneck High School. I have a B.A. from Harvard University, magna cum laude, and a Ph.D. in American Literature from NYU. My career has been spent in senior roles at major cultural institutions, including the New York Public Library, the Museum of the City of New York, and Historic Hudson Valley, where I currently serve as Vice President of Programs and Engagement.
Throughout my professional life I have spearheaded K-12 and adult educational programs and award-winning digital resources that build critical thinking skills, grapple with difficult history, and immerse participants in the arts. I have consistently centered diverse perspectives and antiracist narratives in my work, and fostered opportunities for community engagement. My professional experience has also given me a fluency in matters of governance, policy, budgeting, and fundraising, areas of expertise that I have employed in my work on the boards of the Mamaroneck Larchmont Student Aid Fund and the Paper Bag Players, and previously on the boards of REALM (Recognizing Enslaved Africans in Larchmont Mamaroneck), Neighbors for Refugees, the vestry of St. John’s Episcopal Church, and the Committee to Save the Larchmont Playhouse.
Why are you running for the Mamaroneck School Board?
My Mamaroneck experience was rich with opportunities. Mamaroneck teachers helped me become a critical thinker and a confident writer, while Mamaroneck coaches inspired me to become a student athlete. My situation was not universal: I had the benefit of parents who had the time, energy, and confidence to be my advocates. That is not true of every family in our district, nor should it be required for our students to thrive. I am running for Mamaroneck School Board because I believe the mandate of a public school system should be to nurture and advocate for all students equally, and I know our district is capable of achieving this goal.
As an educator, I am well-versed in the obstacles that can prevent a school district from fulfilling this mandate. Throughout my career, I’ve seen how the competing needs of infrastructure and innovation can put stakeholders at odds and leave students behind. My experience managing nonprofit budgets has taught me that responsible stewardship of an organization’s fiscal, physical, and human resources can and should go hand in hand with advancement. I look forward to helping the Mamaroneck schools do both.
What is the biggest issue facing our schools and how can you help address it?
The biggest issue facing our schools today is that of access. The resources for students in our district are abundant, but they are not equally available to all. Where the district should be creating on-ramps to Universal Pre-K, Honors classes, world languages, the performing arts, or freshman sports, we have generated barriers and dead ends in the form of waiting lists, scheduling obstacles, and time-limited prerequisites. Many of these barriers may be the unintended consequences of bureaucracy, but they still have a chilling effect on student outcomes, enrichment, and future success. They also work against our goals as an inclusive district with a stated commitment to fostering equity. How can we meet our students where they are, and support them in their diverse and authentic identities? How do we empower parents and caregivers, instead of merely inform?
As a member of the Board of Education, I would work in concert with my Board colleagues, and Dr. Sampson and Dr. Moore to develop a series of pathways for students so that they can avail themselves of all Mamaroneck has to offer. In this way, the district can truly foster learning and manifest support for each and every student under its care.