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

FROM MARY MCNAMARA, BOB BARBETRA, LISA SALVETTI, JOSEPH VASSALOTTI, BONNIE SCHAPIRA, ANNA CHRISTINA ALLEN AND NANCY KEANE - Dobbs Ferry:

We are writing to endorse Gabrielle Mason for the Dobbs Ferry Board of Education. We have seen Gabrielle's passion and dedication to our schools firsthand and know her to be the first one to step up and do whatever is necessary.

Recently, - collaborating with school administrators, BOE members, and parents + Gabrielle initiated efforts to identify specific unfunded State mandates that overburden our schools, yet do not benefit students. She met with Assemblyman Abinanti and his chief of staff and plans to do more. Like many of us in this community, Like many of us in this community, Gabrielle is aware of how difficult it is to afford increasing taxes. She will work hard to maintain efficient budgeting and effective use of resources.

Seeing no support for families of children with special needs, she co-founded Trailguides to link parents with resources, workshops, and most importantly, each other. This group has been a lifeline for those struggling with how best to help their children.

We have seen her dedication to our schools through PTSA work, serving on the nominating committee, and as special education chair. Gabrielle received the PTSA Carey Mougis Volunteer Award for Outstanding Contributions and Continued Advocacy for Dobbs Ferry Children. Through her work with the PTSA and Trailguides; as CSE parent member supporting partnership with school staff; as participant in budget and search forums and district-wide interview committees, she has developed an excellent understanding of our district.

Gabrielle is an incredibly hard worker committeed to helping our schools serve all students. She has attended many BOE meetings over the years and has takent he time to learn the isssues and framework within which the board works. Gabrielle never fails to impress with her thorough research and ability to seek out information and to collaborate with various people and groups.
Her passion for children is seen in her current work as an early childhood music and movement specialist. Working for the benefit of children, and with them, is Gabrielle's greatest joy.

Gabrielle is focused on what is good about our schools and will work to make them even better. She is an unflagging advocate for all students and believes that every child deserves the best education possible.

We believe that Gabrielle is the right person for the Dobbs ferry Board of Education.

FROM KAREN HAMLIN, fellow teacher & mother of former student + White Plains:

I am writing in support of Gabrielle Mason to be elected to the Dobbs Ferry Board of Education. I am a mother of three school-age children as well as a former elementary school teacher; from both my personal and professional perspective, I wholeheartedly endorse Gabrielle.

Gabrielle is an extremely smart candidate whose astute problem-solving capabilities will greatly benefit the school district. In addition, she is hardworking and will put enormous time and energy into her work on the Board.

As a parent in Gabrielle's music classes, I experienced first hand Gabrielle's creativity, energy, and warmth. Moreover, I saw how utterly devoted she is to her students; it was obvious how much she cared for my son as well as all the other children in her class.

Gabrielle also helped to mentor me when I started teaching music classes myself. Her support, encouragement, intelligent analysis and constructive ideas made me a better teacher.

With her intelligence, passion, commitment, and drive, Gabrielle would be a wonderful asset to the Board of Education.

FROM LINDA LEONE + Dobbs Ferry:

I attended the "Meet the School Board Candidates" event and was pleased to see so many qualified candidates for the Board. I am writing to encourage all to vote for the budget on May 17th and to vote for Gabrielle Mason.

All the candidates seem well qualified and for the most part gave all the right answers. However, Gabrielle said something that stuck with me. Time was limited for opening statements so she said it very quickly as her time ran out, and I am afraid many did not hear it. However, it bears repeating here because I believe it illustrates the essence of who she is and what she can bring to the Board if she were elected. It is an ancient African proverb that says, "When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers."

I have had the pleasure of knowing Gabrielle and her family for more than 5 years and I know she will approach this role with common sense and cooperation. She strongly believes it is important to work collaboratively with the administration and the community to ensure our children have the best possible education.

She has demonstrated her ability to be creative with the budget by forming an ad-hoc parent group to address unfunded mandates. The group looked for programs to be cut that would have zero impact on the education of the children and brought these ideas directly to Tom Abinanati for consideration.

Moreover, she knows the importance of parent involvement as demonstrated by her significant contribution to the PTSA and her part in the creation and administration of Trailguides a support and advocacy group for parents of children with learning differences.

You can be sure that Gabrielle will consider what is best for all the children in the community and work collaboratively with administration to guarantee that all our available resources will be used wisely and creatively to benefit every child in our community.

FROM ALAN J. COHEN, Dobbs Ferry:

Those of you who know my wife, Gabrielle Mason, can attest to her passion, intelligence and willingness to roll up her sleeves, join in and help others. For 19 years, I've watched her pour her heart, energy and time into things she cares about. This year, Gabrielle is running for the Dobbs Ferry Board of Education.

For those of you who don't know her yet, let me tell you that Gabrielle is the real deal. She has immersed herself in what makes an effective school district tick. She has researched and sought details, expanding her knowledge about the educational and economic challenges facing us so that she may best serve as an advocate for our students, our community and our schools. Last year, the PTSA acknowledged her efforts with the Carey Mougis Volunteer Award for Outstanding Contributions and Continued Advocacy for Dobbs Ferry Children.

As a board member, she will work tirelessly to help nurture, challenge and inspire all students to reach their highest potential.

With a background in the arts and non-profit worlds, she knows the methods by which productive organizations work effectively to do more with less. With shrinking support from New York State and escalating costs, this perspective and experience is invaluable.

Too often, our most compassionate, creative, thoughtful citizens don't enter the political arena. We have an opportunity to elect one such person to the Board of Education. Please vote for Gabrielle Mason on May 17th.