Occupation: 

For the bulk of my career, I was a successful Account Manager at a pioneering multimedia company, where I designed and developed marketing and advertising packages for blue-chip companies and achieved multi-million dollar quarterly revenue targets. In 2005, I decided to follow a new path. After completing my Masters in Science from NYU, I became a clinical dietitian at Mount Sinai Medical Center, where I was responsible for nutritional interventions caring for patients with varying needs. In my subsequent private practice work, I have continued to use evidence-based approaches to design nutrition interventions that match the unique lifestyles and health needs of my clients. Through this work, I cultivated my ability to communicate effectively, listen, solve problems, and get results.

Qualifications

The business acumen and empathy-focused skills I’ve honed over my many years working in both the health sector and sales and marketing have given me a unique perspective on how to interact with, listen to, and collaborate with people from all walks of life. 

In addition to my career qualifications, I have made a vocation of service to the North Shore School District and our community. My fundraising leadership has generated well over $300K for local groups, including a record-breaking fundraising drive for Sea Cliff Elementary School’s PCA. 

What I am most proud of, is the successful district-wide effort - that I both initiated and led - to place HEPA filters in all learning spaces during the pandemic. It was a campaign that required extensive strategic planning and the trust of the community. I simultaneously developed all materials, managed social media, coordinated with the press, and raised $130K in six weeks - the result of which continues to benefit the in-classroom wellness of our children. I am also proud to have raised substantial funds for the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor, Friends of Sea Cliff Library, and Girls Rising. 

As a working member of the Legislative Action Committee (LAC), I am well-versed on the impact of the upcoming LIPA settlement, legislation, state aid, county reassessments, rising prices, the loss of SALT deductions, and how each of these affects our tax burdens and education. I have prepared to work diligently to confront these current and forthcoming challenges by attending audit and Board of Education meetings and actively educating myself on process, municipal budgets, and policy. Most recently, I chaired and produced LAC’s 2022’s district-wide “Legislators Night”. In addition to coordinating with legislators’ offices, I managed logistics, content, and all of the student volunteers.

My efforts have been recognized through mayoral appointments to the Sea Cliff Environmental Conservation Commission and the Sea Cliff Beach Events Coordinating Committee, where I spearheaded and continue to organize the popular summer Beach Yoga series since 2017.

My record demonstrates a proven commitment to North Shore schools and community engagement. My direct communication style, fundraising expertise, municipal budgeting acumen, and ability to take initiative are just some of the skills and attributes I would deploy toward being a successful Trustee.

Personal:  

My husband and I moved to Sea Cliff in 2013 and are proud to raise our middle-school-aged daughter and elementary-school-aged son in this welcoming district. With each passing year, we grow increasingly impressed by the robust educational and extra-curricular opportunities provided to our children and their peers in the North Shore Schools. From stellar academics, athletics, the arts, STEAM programs, language arts, and more - North Shore has provided our children so many opportunities to pursue their interests and thrive. Though my own children inform our personal experience with the schools, I'm acutely aware that the needs of students are extremely diverse, as a trustee I would prioritize the needs of each child. 

I am the child of a teacher who, after originally teaching in East Harlem’s public High School in the 60’s, went on to be a professor at Columbia University Teachers College. When I was in elementary school, my mother pursued a second career as a physician. Her deep commitment to life-long learning and curiosity taught me how the power of a strong and comprehensive education increases both access and options for our youth. As a trustee, I would remain committed to providing as many doors of opportunity as possible for our students to thrive. 

Statement: 

I am proud and excited to announce my candidacy to become a Trustee of the North Shore Board of Education. I believe strongly that North Shore must continue to provide robust academic opportunities for ALL learners in order for them to achieve their potential and thrive.  It is especially important to support our district in its mission to nurture all student interests - including both athletic and artistic endeavors. Fostering humanity and creativity through the arts is crucial for our children’s development. Similarly, athletics are vital in building a foundation for life-long health while also instilling the values of teamwork and perseverance.

My depth of district-wide experience, including my work on the Legislative Action Committee, spearheading the “Hepa Viking Out” campaign, plus leading several successful community initiatives, have prepared me to preserve what makes a North Shore education so dynamic and special as we confront serious fiscal challenges. I am a taxpayer too, and I know that budget transparency is vital to earning the trust of my fellow taxpayers. We are all counting on the Board of Education to spend responsibly and ensure the long-term economic sustainability of our schools. 

We need solution-focused, pragmatic, and intelligent leadership if we are to overcome the hurdles we face. I stand by my proven track record as a problem solver and collaborator and recognize the need to bridge the varied interests and concerns of our community. I am prepared to manage the unique and unprecedented challenges facing our district so that North Shore can continue to flourish.

I humbly seek your vote May 17th 7a-10pm at the High School on LINE 4 of the ballot.