|
MEET THE CANDIDATES
for Peekskill Board of Education
Monday, May 7 at 8 p.m.
Administration Building
1031 Elm Street
There are four condidates running for two open seats. Here are their statements, in alphabetical order:
Lisa Aspinall-Kellawon
"I am seeking my first term on the Peekskill School Board. For sixteen years I was a NYC teacher in the Central Harlem School District. I also have been a substitute teacher in the Peekskill School system for the past several years.
Credentials: B.A. degree in business from the College of New Rochelle and M.S. degree from the College of Mt. St. Vincent, in Urban and Multicultural Education.
I have resided here in Peekskill for the past six years where I am a member of the Mount Olivet Baptist Church serving on the Children's Church Ministry and the Hospitality Ministry.
I have devoted most of my life and career advocating for all children to receive the best education possible in a pluralistic and global world."
______________________________
Marcela Bobe´
"My family and I've been Peekskill residents since 1996. My husband and I have two daughters, a senior and junior in Peekskill High School. Both of them have attended Peekskill public schools since kindergarten.
I'm originally from Argentina, South America, where I completed my education all the way through law school. After graduating, I moved to New York almost 24 years ago and have since become a US citizen.
While I am an attorney by trade, specializing in constitutional guarantees during the due process, most of my work experience for the last 16 years is in the finance area. I've been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work in different areas of the finance organization. The job experiences that have proven most helpful to the work of the Board of Education are:
- Three years in the Treasury function where, among other things, I was responsible for investing up to $800 MM on behalf of the company;
- Four years of Internal Audit, mostly performing operational audits, both in the US and many of the company's 19 international offices;
- Seven years as a Compensation manager of one of the company's subsidiaries, with a sales organization of about 300 sales employees. Besides overseeing the company's commission and promotion expenses program (about $30MM/year), I was responsible for managing a $25MM/year fixed selling budget which included items such as salaries for full and part time employees, benefits, reimbursement of business expenses, consultants and other professionals' expenses, etc.
I've had the honor of serving on the Peekskill BOE for the last three years. Despite all the challenges we face, or maybe because of them, I remain a strong supporter of public education. I would like to be given the opportunity to continue contributing my time, efforts and ideas towards providing our students with the best possible education. Our district has started a new chapter in its history and much remains to be done. I'm ready and eager to be part of this important and challenging phase of the Peekskill Central School District."
______________________________
Rev. Darryl Vaughn Footmon
"I am seeking my first term to the Board of Education. I will be fully retired from NYPD in August 2012, after 20+ years of service. I have worked the last 10 years as the Community Affairs Officer for the 25th Pct.in Spanish Harlem, where I also ran the Youth Explorers Program for 8 years. I also serve as the Pastor for Congregational Care at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, in Peekskill.
My credentials: A.A.S. in Data Processing, B.A. in Behavioral Studies, Master of Divinity, and currently pursuing Doctor of Ministry.
I am married to Paula M. Burrus-Footmon, a Westchester County employee for almost 25 year,s and we have one 20 year old daughter Jossette M. Footmon, a junior at Queens University of Charlotte, NC, who is a proud product of the Peekskill educational system. We have resided in Peekskill since 2000.
Platform: I believe that encouragement of the children and partnership with parents, Superintendent and school officials is the only effective way to hold onto that which is good in the system, improve that which is lacking and strive for higher attainable goals in the future. I promise to be sensitive, sensible, inclusive and innovative if elected.
______________________________
Colin Smith
"I was born and raised in Peekskill and have lived here most of my life, with the exception of a couple of years here and there for undergraduate and professional schooling. I went through the Peekskill School district from K-6 (Park Street and Hillcrest) and from 9-12th grade at Peekskill High School. I hold a J.D. in law from Pace Law School in White Plains, NY, and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Cedarville University in Ohio. Many of my friends and my family live in Peekskill, so I have deep ties to this community. I currently live with my Domestic Partner, Cynthia Torres, and my two step children, one who is currently attending the Peekskill Middle School and is in the 8th grade.
I feel I am a good candidate for the Peekskill Board of Education because I am a product of the Peekskill City Schools and, as such, I have an intimate knowledge and familiarity with it. I firmly believe that not enough emphasis can be placed on the value of a good education. I also have a deep desire to be involved in improving the quality of education for our beloved city's youth, not only to give them a more competitive edge in today's ever changing marketplace, but to prepare them for a life of learning and fulfillment that begins with solid academic preparation."
______________________________
| 
