Candidate for
Member, Board of Education; Dobbs Ferry Union Free School District

Though informed by my experience as a highly-involved Springhurst parent, I feel strongly that the Board of Education is a place for rising above "my" to focus on "our."

Civic & school board experience: Volunteer leadership highlights for Dobbs Ferry Schools:
-Cofounder/Co-director of Trailguides: parent support network for Dobbs Ferry children with special needs
-PTSA Executive Board Chair for Special Education
-PTSA Nominating Committee
-PTSA Carey Mougis Volunteer Award for Outstanding Contributions & Continued Advocacy for Dobbs Ferry Children
-Parent member for CSE/CPSE (supports informed parent collaboration with school staff)
-Publishing Room volunteer (to build skills and confidence in our K-2 writers)
-Parent representative for district-wide interview committees
-Leading collaborative parent/school effort for targeted legislative advocacy to address state-mandated fiscal/educational obstacles
-Three years of increasingly consistent attendance and participation in BOE meetings and budget forums since becoming involved in grassroots parent advocacy for decreased class size during my son's Kindergarten year.

Additional civic experience: Served as Public Relations Board Officer for Hastings Co-op Nursery School Served as Officer on Coop Board of Directors, NYC Lifelong volunteer worker for International House of Rhode Island (Service agency founded by my parents + spent childhood working events to welcome and assist foreign students/professors/families; to provide essential services; to promote intercultural connection and understanding.) Volunteer performer for various causes & institutions and for recording to benefit 9/11 aid.

Family: My husband has also been an active participant in our schools and community, sharing his love of baseball - and children - as a Little League coach. We have one child in Third Grade at Springhurst Elementary School and I am further invested as many former students from my Music Together classes are now moving through + or will soon enter - Dobbs Ferry schools.

How long lived in the District: 7 years: Together with my family, I feel lucky to have found a home in Dobbs Ferry over seven years ago.

Education: Wesleyan University, B.A. (Honors, 4.0 GPA) Extensive non-degree learning & varied life experience   Occupation: Current: Early Childhood Music & Movement Specialist Teach Music Together: parent-child & Headstart Preschool Former: Writer/PR-Mktg-Dev/Project Management for Arts & Education (Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY Philharmonic, Boston University School for the Arts, etc.) Real estate sales agent Professional performing artist (actor/singer/dancer/choreographer, member Actors Equity)

I have a varied career history with a common thread: hard work and diligently-developed expertise in service of arts and education, which I firmly believe improve our world. I have worked as a writer, project manager, PR/marketing/development professional for a variety of nonprofits: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York Philharmonic, Boston University School for the Arts, and many more. I spent over a decade working as a professional performing artist (actor/singer/dancer/choreographer). For the last five years, I have taught the research-based Music Together program (music & movement for children birth-five together with adult caregivers) in parent-child classes throughout lower Westchester and in White Plains Headstart Preschools. Though certainly not glamorous or high-paying, I find tremendous fulfillment having a direct, positive effect on the lives of children and families.

Why are you running for school board trustee and what qualifies you for the position?

I am running for school board because I care deeply about + and believe I can be an excellent advocate for - the future of all Dobbs Ferry children. Look at my "resume" + and around our schools + and you'll see that I'm not one for sitting on the sidelines: I'm an eager learner and hands-on volunteer leader. I feel compelled to roll up my sleeves, think creatively and work collaboratively to find solutions... if the apparatus exists, I will gladly join the team to strengthen it; if a necessary structure doesn't exist, I help create it.

Through my varied career experience as a teacher, working artist, and nonprofit administrator, I have honed wide-ranging skills (writing, research, analysis, public relations, marketing, communications, strategic use of limited resources, effective collaboration with coworkers and constituent groups, raising funds and awareness, motivating communities to work productively for common goals).

I believe I can bring a deep understanding of our district and its issues; respect for - and a history of productive collaboration with - key players in our schools; and a fresh perspective from my unique background that will help us to address preparation of students for a wider variety of productive, fulfilling life paths.

Serving on the Board of Education is the place I can most effectively advocate for all Dobbs Ferry students so that is where I believe my understanding, methods, skills and deep commitment to children's wellbeing and growth can be most useful.