Volunteers. On a mission to make a difference.

I’ve worked for the Central Square School District for over 22 years, and during that time I saw firsthand how many students were experiencing child hunger. It broke my heart. As I began looking more closely at programs addressing childhood food insecurity, I discovered that schools across our district were quietly running their own versions of weekend backpack food programs. Along with our current Treasurer, Denise Parrotte, I brought together the individual school coordinators, together we made the decision to consolidate our efforts into a single 501(c)(3). That collaboration became Central Square Essentials for Success Inc., allowing us to better support students and families in a more unified and impactful way. I’m excited to work with others who share my passion for ensuring no child in our community goes hungry. I’ve been married for 39 years and am the proud parent of two sons, both married to wonderful women, and a grandmother to one granddaughter and one on the way. Outside of my work, my husband and I love roller skating, taking motorcycle rides through the countryside, and kayaking.

I retired from the Central Square School District after 20 years of employment. During my tenure I had the privilege of getting to know hundreds of families throughout the district and witnessed first-hand the challenges many of these families faced at times. In 2020 Leane Stone and I joined together to form CSES as a 501c3, to be able to coordinate the weekend food assistance programs each school building had throughout the school district. I have always been involved with working with youth, I have been a 4-H leader, both at the local and state level, of which I still am a volunteer State representative within 4-H, furthering the education and program development for NYS youth involved in the Horse programs. I coached a 4-H horse drill team for 20 years, served on the PTA at Central Square Intermediate and volunteered and served as an officer with the Central Square Music Boosters. I believe every child should have the opportunity to thrive and succeed, and food is a necessary factor to achieve this goal. I hope to continue to support the youth of our community through this organization, by being proactive in fundraising and helping to develop a strong withstanding program to help any student in need, in the Central Square School District. I have many interests; any outdoor activity, including gardening, hiking, kayaking as well as traveling, I also enjoy sewing and crafting. My greatest enjoyment comes from spending time with family including my husband, our 4 children their spouses and 4 grandchildren.

Growing up with a single parent and six younger siblings, there was a need for food assistance among other things, which we did receive the help.  I've always felt the need to pay it forward, as I have done for many years, and this organization fits perfectly as we help the students in our community. Throughout the years I was a Cub Scout Den Leader,  coach and team mom with Central Square Recreation Baseball Inc., Hastings Mallory Elementary PTA member, American Cancer Society's Relay for Life Team Captain, a volunteer for The Magic Yarn Project which supports children with cancer making yarn wigs, and Chase-ing Hope volunteer that supports March of Dimes. I hope to bring a positive energy to the board and to continue our efforts in fundraising so that no child goes hungry. My love for the outdoors includes golfing, hiking, camping, boating, snowshoeing and traveling.   As well as enjoying family time with my husband, Tim, our two sons and three grandsons.

My husband and I were both raised in Brewerton, where we now reside with our two boys who attend our schools and participate in our community programs. I have been a teacher in the Central Square School District for 16 years and have volunteered to help coach a few sports along the way.  Through my experiences in teaching and coaching, I have been persistently troubled by the tremendous number of children in our community who do not have access to materials they need to satisfy their most basic needs- nutritious food, adequate clothing, proper shoes and personal hygiene products. As an educator, I have listened as elementary students told me how hard it is to concentrate at school when they feel so hungry all morning or that they do not have any clean clothes at home because their family cannot afford to do their laundry.  As a coach, I have seen kids try to play sports in shoes that are falling apart and with broken equipment.  In most of those moments, I was able to provide some support with snacks, shoes or hugs- and then went on to seek other avenues of help for those children. In those same moments, I knew I needed to do more- to find a way to prevent children from being in those situations in the first place. In 2025, I was introduced to Central Square Essentials for Success, Inc. and now hold the position of Secretary. In my short time with this organization, I have become reinvigorated and excited to see what our students will do in their futures- with just a little bit of help from caring community members like you!!

Manager, Project Delivery at National Grid. We have two children in the CSSD, ages 7 and 16. We love to spend time with friends and family camping, boating, and traveling.  I am passionate about people and helping others in a variety of ways, both professionally and personally. I became involved with CSES as a way to give back to the CS community and to build upon the growth of a program that was developed to help students achieve success in school and beyond.

I am honored to volunteer with a group dedicated to providing children in our community the essentials they may otherwise go without. As a mother with a child in our school district I have seen the importance of all children feeling supported, valued, and cared for. Always remembering a small act of kindness can make a long-lasting difference. It is my hopes Central Square Essentials for Success continues to foster this within our community.