Letters in Support of Wiczyk and Ziegler for Scarsdale School Board

The following letters in support to Omer Wiczyk and Kevin Ziegler for Scarsdale School Board were sent from Nkita Singhal, Jon Mark and BK Munguia, Jill Spielberg, Joanne Wright and Dan Amato and Mike and Rebecca Berry.

(From Nikita Singhal)

I am pleased to offer my wholehearted support for Kevin Ziegler’s candidacy for our school board.

As Kevin’s immediate neighbor, I can attest to his character in a way that goes well beyond a resume. He and his family are genuinely good neighbors - present, warm, and invested in the people around them. What has impressed me most is the quality of the conversations we’ve had about our schools. Kevin doesn’t just have opinions. He has a genuine ability to advocate for what makes sense while remaining open to reconsidering his assumptions when presented with new perspectives. We’ve had substantive discussions about school curriculum and the real challenges families navigate across different grade levels, and each time, I’ve walked away with the sense that he had actually listened, and that it registered.

With three kids spanning different ages and stages in our schools, he has direct, lived experience with the issues that matter to families and his commitment to this community goes beyond his own household. He believes in civic engagement as a real responsibility, and that comes through in how he shows up.

Our school board would be well served by someone with Kevin’s thoughtfulness, humility, and genuine investment in our community. We support him as a family, without reservation.

Warm regards,
Nikita Singhal
26 Fenimore Road

(From Jon Mark and BK Munguia)
To the Editor:

We are pleased to support Omer Wiczyk and Kevin Ziegler, the School Board Nominating Committee slate for the Scarsdale Board of Education.

We have had the opportunity to work with Omer over many years through the Scarsdale Forum and the Citizens Nominating Committee. In his role as President of the Forum, and in his service on the CNC and other civic bodies, Omer has demonstrated a rare ability to bring people together, especially in moments when opinions differ and the stakes are high. He approaches issues with intellectual rigor, careful listening, and a genuine respect for differing viewpoints—qualities that are essential for effective school board leadership.
What stands out most about Omer is not just his thoughtfulness, but his effectiveness. He does not allow important issues to stall in discussion. Instead, he works to move conversations toward clear, practical outcomes. He has a steady temperament, a strong analytical mind, and the skills to build consensus and help a group move forward. In our experience, people trust Omer because he is fair, even-handed and focused on what is best for the community as a whole.

Omer’s nomination by the School Board Nominating Committee reflects the strength of Scarsdale’s non-partisan process. The SBNC conducts a thorough and thoughtful vetting of candidates, selecting individuals based on their qualifications, experience and commitment to public service. Omer’s record of civic involvement and leadership makes him exceptionally well-suited to serve in this role.

We also met with Kevin Ziegler and support his candidacy He impressed us with his professional background and training. As the father of two children attending Fox Meadow, he displayed a depth of knowledge of our schools, issues they are grappling with and underscored his commitment to devote the time needed to make a meaningful contribution to the Board.

In our view, Omer and Kevin represent a balanced and capable slate, prepared to work collaboratively with each other, with the Board, and with the broader community to support Scarsdale’s schools. We therefore encourage Scarsdale voters to vote for Omer Wiczyk and Kevin Ziegler on May 19 and to support the non-partisan system that has served Scarsdale so well over many decades.

BK Munguia
Jon Mark

(From Jill Spielberg)

Leadership matters. The Scarsdale School District and its community stand at a pivotal moment—one that will shape outcomes in lasting ways, and one we cannot afford to get wrong. Omer Wiczyk and Kevin Ziegler are the right choice for the Board of Education.

Every decision the Board of Education makes affects students in a real way - their academics, their mental health, and their overall experience in our schools. Right now, we need leadership that is clear, responsive, and willing to take responsibility. In my view, Omer stands out as exactly that kind of leader.

I write this letter not as empty praise, but from experience. I write as someone who values the future of Scarsdale and as someone who has volunteered in our community in an effort to chart a better course for Scarsdale. In my capacity as a volunteer, I have worked with Omer. I served as his Vice President when he was President of the Forum, and I also served on the Citizens Nominating Committee while he was Chair. In both settings, I saw how he operates as a leader. I experienced firsthand how Omer balances open dialogue with decisive action and how he creates space for input while ensuring that discussions lead somewhere - consistently turning ideas into results.

What sets Omer apart is his approach to leadership. He brings composure, discipline, and focus to complex issues, taking the time to fully understand situations rather than reacting to noise or distraction. When he acts, it is deliberate and purposeful.

Just as important is his ability to listen. In a community where opinions are often strong and divided, Omer engages with different perspectives openly and respectfully. He asks thoughtful questions, challenges ideas constructively, and ensures that everyone’s perspective is heard - leading to better, more informed decisions.

Omer does not stop at discussion. He is fundamentally solution-oriented. Too often, important issues get lost in lengthy, unclear communication, leaving families waiting for direction. Omer cuts through that. He identifies what matters, sets priorities, and turns conversation into action. He understands that leadership is not just about explaining problems - it is about solving them and communicating those solutions clearly to the community. The Scarsdale community is desperate for this type of leadership.

At a time when much of public life feels increasingly politicized, Scarsdale’s non-partisan SBNC process stands out. It brings together community input and thoughtful vetting to identify candidates prepared to serve. Supporting the SBNC slate is not simply about individual candidates—it is a vote for a system built on due diligence, collaboration, sound judgment, and broad community representation.

As a former Chair of the Citizens Nominating Committee (the committee which selects nominees for Village Trustee and Mayor in a manner similar to the SBNC), I have seen firsthand how carefully candidates are evaluated based on the qualities that matter most for effective leadership. Voters should understand that those who run outside the SBNC slate have either been considered by the SBNC and not selected, or have not gone through this rigorous process at all. For that reason, the SBNC slate reflects a level of review, screening and preparation that is essential for representing the Scarsdale community and that does not apply to all candidates.
For these reasons, voters in the Scarsdale community would be best served by supporting the SBNC slate and voting for Omer Wiczyk and Kevin Ziegler on May 19, 2026, between 7a and 9p at the Scarsdale Middle School gym.

Scarsdale needs leadership that is thoughtful yet decisive, open-minded yet focused, and capable of delivering real outcomes. Omer Wiczyk and Kevin Ziegler will bring that balance.
For these reasons, I strongly support their candidacy for the Scarsdale Board of Education.

Sincerely,
Jill Spielberg

(From Joanna Wright and Dan Amato)

We endorse Kevin Ziegler for Scarsdale Board of Education

We are writing in support of the School Board Nominating Committee slate, Kevin Ziegler and Omer Wiczyk, and to share with you our experience with Kevin.

For the past several seasons, our children have been teammates in Scarsdale Little League. Dan and Kevin have coached together. Little League has been a great place to see Kevin's character and leadership on display, with a very important audience, our young student athletes.

Kevin is an active and engaged coach, who clearly loves children, and who knows our team members individually. He pushes them to learn the fundamentals, to stay focused, to demonstrate good sportsmanship and to have fun. He is patient, which is a requirement in our elementary age group, and a steady presence who the boys have gotten to know and trust. He is responsive and easy to collaborate with, and he finds enjoyment in the time spent together.

In addition to his professional experience, which would bring valuable business and communications skills to our board, he is an advocate for Scarsdale schools and our non-partisan process. Even on the sidelines, in free moments, he is often speaking with parents, to explain current board agenda topics in a factual and unbiased way, to allow more parents to be informed and engaged.

We appreciate Kevin's involvement in our community, and we encourage our neighbors to vote for Kevin and Omer on May 19 at SMS.

Sincerely,

Joanna Wright and Dan Amato
56 Church Lane

(From Mike and Rebecca Berry)

Dear Neighbors,

We are Fox Meadow parents writing in support of Kevin Ziegler and Omer Wiczyk, the School Board Nominating Committee slate for Scarsdale Board of Education.

Our endorsement is also informed by our time spent over the past three years coaching baseball and basketball with Kevin, for both of our children.

Kevin is an active volunteer in our community. As many parents know, many of our sports programs are powered by the time and effort of parents, and Kevin is one who shows up, consistently.

He is easy to collaborate with, and knows the focus is on supporting our children in building skills, being active, having fun, and making friends.

We appreciate that he has stepped up for a leadership opportunity, and we trust that he will represent our community well. We encourage our Scarsdale neighbors to vote for Kevin and Omer on May 19 at SMS.

Sincerely,

Mike and Rebecca Berry
92 Popham Road

(From Diane and Marc Greenwald)

Letter to the Editor;

We are delighted to support Omer Wiczyk and Kevin Ziegler for the board of education, nominated by the SBNC, the non-partisan 30-person committee elected by Scarsdale residents to thoroughly and confidentially vet candidates.

We trust this system and find Omer and Kevin will each bring fresh perspectives to the existing board composition. They are both prepared for board service, dedicated to quality public education, and committed to civil and robust community dialogue.

Over the next month, you will hear about Kevin’s professional talents, and the value they will bring to the board of education. He has significant strategic, financial and communications skills, from leadership in public relations and corporate roles, and a volunteer spirit. He has dived into the Scarsdale civic community, he studies the issues, listens intently, and we are confident he will represent our entire community, especially families with young children. We'll also tell you about his character, on display when no one is watching. Last summer, our college-aged son, Eli, and a few of his friends joined an existing rec league men’s softball team, composed mostly of 40-something dads our family didn’t know, including Kevin. This combination could have been awkward, but Kevin and his teammates welcomed the college ‘ringers’ (and their young knees!) with enthusiasm. Eli described Kevin as “super friendly and a genuine guy.” Their multi-generational team had a great season! It’s a small story with a lot of meaning, because we value board members who show up for other people’s kids. Kevin is that stand-up guy.

“Stand-up guy” also describes Omer. Omer has volunteered in some of the most important community institutions, like as president of the Scarsdale Forum and as a leader on CNC. We have seen that Omer facilitates consensus with grace and gentle humor. Marc served on the Citizens Nominating Committee with Omer a decade ago during a contentious time in the Village. Omer, always affable, displayed an ability to hear all sides and contribute to an outcome that all were happy with. We have observed that people listen to Omer because he seeks the best outcomes, without an agenda. He is even-tempered and whip smart, which are great qualities for the School Board.

We hope Scarsdale voters will also join us to support the school budget and the bond referendum. Our grown children were well prepared by Scarsdale schools, and we believe investment into kids and their education is the right thing for everyone.

Contested elections are a part of the non-partisan system and this community has several times had the opportunity to weigh in on candidates to make their own decisions, hopefully without rancor. We believe in the value of our non-partisan nominating committees, and we know how hard the members of those committees work to identify and nominate candidates. We trust members of the community will take the time to get to know SBNC nominated Kevin and Omer and join us in supporting them. We look forward to everyone working together in service to our community.

Vote Omer and Kevin, and Yes to bond and budget!
Tuesday May 19, 7am – 9pm, SMS Gym.