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Written by: Wendy MacMillan

Published: 12 May 2025

Created: 12 May 2025

Last Updated: 12 May 2025

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The end of senior year at Scarsdale High School is celebrated in a variety of traditional and meaningful ways such as prom, a senior luncheon, and graduation just to name a few. But just as in years past, this year, the celebratory season was ushered in by the annual SHS award ceremony which recognized over forty high school seniors not only for their academic, artistic, or leadership achievements but also for their kindness, integrity, inclusive nature and dedication to our District’s motto, Non-Sibi, not for oneself.

The joyful ceremony, held on Wednesday May 7th, was once again thoughtfully organized by a committee of faculty members and led by Assistant Principal Andrea O’Gorman who sought to create a non-competitive celebration of students from a variety of backgrounds and diverse accomplishments during their four years at SHS. While many students were recognized for their success in certain subject matters and other students were honored for their perseverance and commitment to growth and learning, every award recipient was applauded for their enthusiasm, curiosity, and their ability to inspire both their peers and their teachers.

In his opening remarks addressing the auditorium filled with the night’s award recipients and their loved ones, Principal Bonamo said, “The world needs people with skills and the confidence to make real changes, you are just the leader we are looking for.”

The evening began with Karine Schafer, Chairperson of the English Department, honoring four students who in their own unique ways, each demonstrated their passion for, and deep understanding of literature and the written word.

English Department Faculty Awards - Zane A. Kohn & Isabel Gray Needleman

Harvard University Award - Isabelle Hannah Josephs

Audrey McGinn Creative Writing Award - Zoe. M. Greenberg

Next to present awards was Ms. Dina Hofstetter, Chairperson of the Fine Arts Department. Ms. Hofstetter honored five students for their exceptional creativity, talent, and devotion to different areas in Fine Arts.

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In the field of Music and Performing Arts, Chairperson Ms. Lisa Forte honored six students for their passion, dedication, and their remarkable contributions to the SHS community.

Ms. Mary Leech, Chairperson of the World Language Department, was on hand to present five awards to students who demonstrated a thirst for knowledge, a passion for culture and language, and showed mastery of a foreign language.

The French Award was given to Maria Papazoglu.

The Latin Award was given to Lucas Oliver Heidbreder.

The Mandarin Award was presented to Caitlyn Wu.

The Spanish Awards were given to Kelly Deng & Alexander M. Grinberg.

The World Languages Department Award was presented to Adrina Fard.

Next, the Chairperson for the Special Education Department, Ms. Eileen Cagner presented the Steve Corbin Academic Success Award to Faris Kaleem Amin. Cagner said the recipient had made an impact on the lives of their peers both in the classroom and on the track team and was recognized for his heart, determination, and sense of humor.

Director of Counseling, Mr. Oren Iosepovici, presented The Casey Ferrone Memorial Award to Jordan Ella Kefer who is known for her empathy, kindness, and positive energy.

Iosepovici also presented the Counseling Department Award which was bestowed upon Alexander Cyrus Akbarian who he described as owning true strength of character, enthusiasm for learning, and natural curiosity.

The Billy Safian Humanitarian Award, presented by Mr. Tim Seymour, was given to Jennifer Sarah Schwartz. Schwartz was described as someone who is always there for others and as a “teacher's dream student.”

Judith E. Weil Kindness Award was presented by Weil’s daughter Mandy Weil Lax in honor of her late mother. The Kindness Award was given to Jenna Grossbach who embodies selflessness, kindness, generosity, and empathy felt by both family and friends alike.

The Scarsdale Rotary Club Awards, presented by Mr. Serken Ceylan, were given to Avery Faye Dickstein, Kamila Tarek El Moselhy and Amelia G. Fader for their meaningful volunteer work and tireless acts of service to try to make the world a better place.

Ms. Diane Wrobleski presented the Retired Scarsdale Teachers’ Association Award to Ava Darcy Feldman and described Feldman as a role model and a natural leader who continuously performs at a highest level of excellence.

The Scarsdale Foundation Award, presented by Ms. Anne Lyons, was bestowed upon Arya Goyal for her distinguished contributions both in the classroom and in our school community. Lyons said Goyal, who leaves no stone unturned, is the definition of school spirit.

The Michael V. McGill Book Award was presented by Mr. Art Rublin, Chairperson for the Coalition for Scarsdale Schools. The award was given to Daniyal H. Naeem as they best demonstrated the values of Non-Sibi. Rublin applauded Naeem for being a courageous and selfless leader who cares deeply about the world.

The NYS Comptroller Award, presented by Ms. Carol D’Angelo and Dr. Michael Kumaresan were presented to Brandon Cascade & Raymond Bryant Tong and were recognized for their commitment to excellence and their dedication to improving the school community.

The NYS Office of the Attorney General Civic Ambassador Award was given to Adam Joshua Rublin. Rublin was recognized for his unique ability to listen to others and for his direct, positive impact in school and the broader community.

The NYS Office of the Attorney General “Triple C” Awards went to Monday Lerner & Isabelle Hannah Josephs who were recognized for being exceptional humanitarians who are thoughtful, inclusive, and compassionate.

Assistant Principal, Ms. Andrea O’Gorman, presented two awards during the ceremony. The first being the Dartmouth College Award given to Hannah Julia Wasserman for her excellence in service to school and community.

Next, the Halliday Clark, Sr. Memorial Award was given to Juliana Beatrice Chavis for her leadership and service to the community. Chavis is described as someone who works hard to ensure the success and happiness of her peers.

To close out the touching ceremony, SHS Principal Mr. Ken Bonamo presented the evening’s last two awards. He first presented the Scarsdale High School Faculty Award to Noah Aaron Weintrob who Bonamo characterized as being a wonderful mentor to younger students and owning an unwavering commitment to excellence.

The Principal’s Award, the final recognition of the night, was given to Layden Hayes Kennedy. Kennedy was described as someone who approaches roles seriously while radiating positivity and owns a steadfast commitment to create an inclusive community.

Scarsdale10583.com offers congratulations to all of the students and their families and a heartfelt thank you to the faculty and community members who helped to make this special celebration possible.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 29 April 2025

Created: 29 April 2025

Last Updated: 01 May 2025

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Some wondered if it would ever happen, but skeptics were proved wrong, when the newly renovated Scarsdale High School auditorium officially re-opened on Monday night April 28, 2025.

Plans for the renovation have been in the works for more than a decade. The space had fallen into disrepair and the district administration, after thorough study, proposed a renovation to bring the auditorium up to current standards—including improved acoustics and lighting, new audience seats, dressing room reconfigurations, modifications to enhance students’ theater tech learning experience and safety, and additions to improve accessibility.

Funds for the project were originally appropriated in the 2014 bond, but when expenses for the renovation of Greenacres Elementary School exceeded budget, the auditorium funds were used to complete that job.

It languished year after year, until May 2023 when the district proposed a $4.75mm bond for the work which was approved by voters in the May election.

Once the funds were in hand, work proceeded rapidly and the auditorium will now be available for the Class of 2025 Senior Play.

The new space is striking. Handsome wood panels line the walls, there’s attractive and comfortable seating, plush carpet, lit aisles and a maroon and blue color scheme. For the debut concert on April 22, removable acoustic tiles lined the stage. The acoustic tiles that lined the ceiling have been replaced with attractive spotlights. Next time you visit the high school, stop by to see the stunning new facility.

The district held a ribbon-cutting ceremony before the concert on Monday April 28 and here are excerpts from remarks by School Board President Suzie Hahn, Superintendent Drew Patrick and SHS Principal Ken Bonamo:

School Board President Suzie Hahn

…On behalf of the Board, we are so excited to be here with you to mark this happy occasion.

Of course it was Shakespeare who coined the phrase that “all the world is a stage”. But is it also true that a stage can be all the world? Now any Scarsdale math teacher will tell you that the converse of a true statement is not necessarily true. So we need to think about this case. I would like to suggest that it can indeed be true.

...and for many of our students it is and opens up their world. It’s a place to imagine and recreate scenes of far off lands and times both past and into the future. It’s where creativity and expression can grow and thrive, where students will take risks and find their voice. It’s where many of our students will feel most like they belong, whether it's to a musical ensemble like orchestra or band, or to a theater group, cast or stage crew. It’s where students will showcase their many talents and share the fruits of their hard work with their classmates, faculty and staff, and families. It is a place to come together and support one another, and learn as a community, and furthers our mission in Scarsdale to sponsor each student’s full development.

I happened to be at the high school during Jabberfest before Spring Break and the atmosphere was positively electric. To see the students’ excitement, to feel the positive energy, and to hear the students perform was truly special.

You may or may not know that auditorium improvements have been in the works for a long time. The auditorium had not had a significant renovation in nearly 50 years and updates were long overdue. We are so fortunate to now have this new modern venue for our Scarsdale community! Not only does it look great, but it sounds great, with greatly improved acoustics, as well as upgrades in safety and accessibility.

…. To everyone who supported this effort, thank you and bravo. Lastly, to our students - dream big and break a leg! That’s just for the theater kids! It’s your time to shine and we can’t wait to see what you can do. I look forward to the many moments of connection and joy in this beautiful renovated venue.

Superintendent Andrew Patrick

What a joyful and exciting occasion this is! Today, as we stand just outside our magnificent new auditorium, we celebrate not just the culmination of a construction project, but the start of a vibrant new chapter in the life of Scarsdale High School. The renovation of this space exemplifies our community’s steadfast commitment to a comprehensive education rooted in the liberal arts tradition, a philosophy that recognizes the profound power of the arts to shape well-rounded, insightful, and empathetic individuals. As has been the case with past generations, this is a space where the melodies of our orchestra and band soar, the harmonies of our chorus resonate, and the dramatic narratives of our plays and musicals unfold. The auditorium and stage within is where budding talent shines, our students discover and express their unique gifts, and where our entire school community gathers to connect, learn, and become inspired.

This auditorium is more than just bricks and mortar; it is a testament to our belief in the transformative power of creativity and artistic expression. It is a dedicated space where generations of young imaginations will flourish, where collaboration will thrive, and where the lessons learned on stage and through performance will extend into a world far beyond these walls. The reimagined space behind these doors will serve as a beacon, signalling the importance of the arts in nurturing the whole child – mind, body, and spirit.

Principal Ken Bonamo

What an incredible moment this is for our school and for our entire community. It is truly a pleasure to stand here before you to celebrate the grand opening of our newly renovated auditorium — a dream that has now become a reality thanks to the overwhelming support of our community.The 2024-2025 Scarsdale School Board with Laura Gelblum

First, I want to thank all of you — parents, students, staff, and leaders — for believing in the importance of education, of the arts, and of investing in the future of our students. The bond measure that funded this renovation is a direct reflection of your commitment to giving our young people the very best.

Ken Bonamo and Andrea O'GormanI also want to take a moment to recognize our school board members, district officials, and project leaders who worked tirelessly to bring this project to life with so much care for quality and detail. From the original committee meetings and the many years of trying to find the funding to make this happen, through the construction process, weekly meetings and tours of the space, to dealing with relocating countless events this year, I cannot overstate the time and effort that went into planning and making this renovation a reality. But I am very happy to say that it was worth it. Thank you to the construction teams, the architects, and the designers who turned sketches into stunning reality. And a special thank you to our teachers and students who were patient, flexible, and enthusiastic throughout the entire renovation process.

This auditorium is more than just a beautiful space. It is a symbol of what happens when a community comes together for a common purpose. Within these walls, our students will perform plays and concerts that allow us to experience the emotional power of the arts. We will also use this space for celebrations, recognitions, and moments of pride that students will remember for a lifetime.

It’s a space where creativity will be nurtured, confidence will be built, and memories will be made.

As we cut this ribbon today, we are not just opening doors to a physical space; we are opening doors to opportunity, to inspiration, and to countless moments of growth and achievement for generations of students to come.Suzie Hahn cut the ribbon.

On behalf of our school, our staff, and especially our students, I want to say thank you. Thank you for your belief, your trust, and your investment in the future.

Now — let’s celebrate this moment, and all the incredible moments yet to come!

Diane Greenwald who was instrumental in moving the project from conception to completion said, “This community passed a bond in 2014 that included funds to renovate the SHS auditorium so I am thrilled, all these years later, that its finally done, and so fantastic! I was proud to be a part of the year-long committee work —a model process — that led to well-defined investment, under then board president Suzanne Seiden’s inclusive leadership. The work got delayed but never forgotten thanks to our amazing district professional and lay leaders, and particularly thanks to FMA, under the committed eye of another inclusive leader, Laura Gelblum. We pass the baton in Scarsdale — stewardship for the benefit of the arts, for our kids learning, for capital improvements! I love sharing these values and seeing such spectacular results for the children of the Dale!”

And Laura Gelblum, who championed the renovation as former President of the Friends of Music & the Arts said, "It’s extremely gratifying to see our talented student orchestra perform in this beautiful space and to hear their music fill the hall. The renovations allow for an even greater appreciation of everyone’s talents. This is a place where skills are honed, imaginations are sparked, student confidence is built, and community bonds are strengthened."

"While it’s taken over a decade for this project to be realized, the renovation is even better than originally envisioned. I appreciate the dedication of current and former board of education members, and the administration’s efforts to update the scope of work. The upgrades to sound, lighting, safety, accessibility and more were added to meet current and anticipated needs.

"The process brought in the expertise of talented new staff and a new architectural team, and valuable input from the community.

"One of the highlights for me, tonight, is seeing the new digital billboard displays flanking the theatre entrance. What a great way to showcase the high school’s vibrant arts scene!

"Several punchlist items remain to be completed. I know the district will see them through."

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Written by: Wendy MacMillan

Published: 10 April 2025

Created: 10 April 2025

Last Updated: 10 April 2025

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The Board of Education meeting on Monday April 7th, opened with the heartbreaking news that a beloved Heathcote first grade teacher, Julia Queck, unexpectedly passed away on Sunday April 6th, as a result of an accident at her home. In a recent email to the school community,

Superintendent Dr. Drew Patrick shared:

“Julia joined us in the 2023-24 school year as a special education teacher at Immaculate Heart of Mary, serving students who attend that school and receive services from the District. She began as an ICT teacher this school year as part of the first grade Heathcote team. Julia and her co-teaching partner, Deborah Rubin, provided a warm, nurturing, supportive environment for students as they have developed throughout the year. Julia leaves behind a loving husband and two young children. This is a heartbreaking loss for her family, and for our students, staff, and parents."

Before moving onto the business portion of the meeting, Patrick expressed, “We extend our deepest sympathy to Julia's family and her loved ones, to her students and her Scarsdale family.”

IRS Penalties

Addressing more routine matters, Patrick updated the community about two payment penalties the District received from the IRS. As he explained, “In November, we were made aware of an IRS penalty in the amount of 2% of payroll (worth $3,900.90) in the third quarter of 2024, imposed on the district due to processing the July 15 payroll federal taxes one day late. The late payment was a consequence of a misunderstanding in our business office of the Semiweekly Depositor Rule, [during a] temporary change in our process associated with the transition to Envision on July 1, we submitted our payments to the IRS according to the Semiweekly Depositor Rule…What we didn't realize was that, due to the amount of our taxes, this rule didn't apply. Rather, the Next Day Deposit Rule applied. Unfortunately, it took the IRS four months to notify us of this error. While we corrected our procedure immediately upon notification, we learned in February, the second payment from October, prior to the notification about the delay, was also one day late. This resulted in the second 2% penalty totaling $25,148.15. Again, the process was corrected immediately in November, but we did not realize the second late payment had occurred in October. In both cases, we immediately remitted the full penalty to the IRS as required, and filed the necessary paperwork to request a refund of these penalties, consult the tax counsel, and we await a response from the IRS.”

Reveal Math

During his Cabinet Update, Dr. Edgar McIntosh announced that at a recent Superintendent's Conference Day, administrators gave elementary teachers an anonymous, in depth-survey about Reveal Math resources. McIntosh explained that the teacher’s responses to the survey “will guide further adaptations, substitutions, professional development and parent communications.” He also acknowledged that the community has demonstrated a high level of interest in the curriculum and so in response, the district will also administer an upcoming elementary math focused, parent survey. The feedback from this survey will help to shape the content of parent workshops the district will hold this spring. An update about the elementary math curriculum will be given at the BOE meeting on May 12th.

Public Comments

The Public Comment portion of the meeting saw another robust turnout with a large number of community members sharing their concerns both in person and via Zoom. While there were a few comments in regard to issues like the proposed budget, Reveal Math, and about the process by which the BOE will select its new “student” member, the majority of speakers were there to voice their support of a cell phone ban in all schools. The new cell phone policy has been drafted but not adopted as yet. It was written in response to the Governor's proposed budget legislation requiring all school districts to adopt a policy prohibiting the use of internet enabled devices by students on school grounds during the school day.

One parent, Jessica Gallo spoke in support of the draft Policy 5695 - Students and Personal Electronic Devices which proposes to restrict cell phones during school hours. She argued that banning cell phones will decrease distractions, improve interpersonal skills, and reduce social pressures. Gallo emphasized the importance of a phone-free environment to foster focus and attention as well as the overall health and well-being of students.

Casey Hogan, a mother and teacher, emphasized the need for Scarsdale to do more for gifted students. She highlighted the importance of talking to kids and families through a strength-based lens, providing cross-disciplinary learning, and offering enrichment opportunities. She encouraged the district to investigate these pedagogical philosophies, which do not require major program overhauls or significant financial investment.

Howard Weinberg, representing himself and his company Green Jewels, discussed the high cost of the proposed electrification of school buses. The proposal costs $814,000 for an eight-year lease, translating to almost $5 per mile per bus, which he finds astronomical. Howard suggested that his company could provide similar services at a lower cost, as they obtain grants and incentives from the state. He offered to help the board understand the technology and answer any questions they may have.

Others who spoke in favor of the proposed policy echoed Gallo’s sentiments with one father adding that a clear policy about cellphone use in schools, will support teachers in enforcing the rules in their classrooms.

SHS student Sonja Xie advocated for mental health awareness and support. Xie, who founded Brain Waves for Change, emphasized the importance of early education, open conversations, and a school culture that prioritizes mental health. She also encouraged the district to create more opportunities to listen to student voices, equip all adults in the building to support students emotionally, and consider funding a school-wide mental health assembly. To Learn more about Xie and Brain Waves for Change see here.

School Budget

Later in the meeting, the Board voted to adopt the proposed budget for the 2025/26 school year which will be put forth to the community to vote on, on May 20th.

Before voting to adopt the budget, board members took turns relating the reasons they support this budget by reading thoughtfully prepared statements. Colleen Brown started the discussion by highlighting how this budget supports the “pillars of our strategic plan: Learning, Living and Leading. These are the foundations that allow our students to grow and thrive and leave us as global citizens, ready to tackle real world problems and have a positive impact.” Brown went on to discuss how the budget allows elementary school students to learn in small class sizes, middle school students to transition smoothly, and high school students to follow their passions.

Leah Dembitzer also conveyed her support for the budget and expressed her belief that preserving class size, a hallmark of our schools, is paramount. While she feels that this budget does that, especially at the elementary level, Dembitzer underscored the importance of monitoring the size of high school classes, specifically classes like AT statistics, to make sure that they're not overly large next year and in future years.

Dembitzer went on to remark on the tax cap saying, “While, in my view, it is important for the purpose of preventing major spikes in the annual tax levy and to compel fiduciary responsibility, it is also an arbitrary calculation that is not, in and of itself, reflective of the real financial needs of the district. In that way, it complicates budgeting over a period of time for our district. As is evident, educational needs have shifted over the past 10 to 12 years, especially since the tax cap came into being. For example, we now have a robust special education program and increased student mental health supports, safety and security additions and personnel, and now we have an electric vehicle bus mandate to manage and roll out further. We've become too reliant on the fund balance pulling from reserves in order to minimize the tax levy and also to pay for recurring expenses. This is not a sustainable practice, and in my view, it must end following this current budget cycle to the degree it has been going.”

Among other comments, Amber Yusef added, “The board balanced its commitment to our students with consideration for our taxpayers during the development of this budget. This budget continues to maintain our traditional values ranging from smaller elementary class sizes, a middle school house structure, and student choice at the high school. This budget also honors our commitments to every student by supporting the continuation of our special education students as they move from the elementary school to the middle school in our 812 program, and our middle school students to the high school in our 12:1:1 program.”

James Dugan, Bob Klein, and Suzie Hahn also contributed their thoughts to the discussion. To watch this discussion in full and to hear each of the BOE members statements, see here. 

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 24 March 2025

Created: 24 March 2025

Last Updated: 25 March 2025

Hits: 4533

Suzi Hahn has been nominated to serve a second term on the Scarsdale School Board.The 2025 School Board Nominating Committee (“SBNC” or the “Committee”) has selected Suzie Hahn, Colleen Brown, and Laura Ying Liu for the 2025 non-partisan slate for election to the Scarsdale Board of Education. The Committee chose Suzie, Colleen, and Laura from a pool of dedicated candidates after a thorough vetting process. If elected during the school board election on May 20, 2025, Laura will assume her role as a first-term school board member and Colleen and Suzie, who currently serve as members of the Board of Education, will return for their second term effective July 1, 2025.

The Candidates

The SBNC enthusiastically endorses Suzie, Colleen, and Laura for election to the School Board. These three qualified candidates will bring different perspectives and draw on complementary backgrounds and experiences to serve our community. What they have in common is a deep commitment to maintaining the excellence of the Scarsdale schools and serving different constituents. Upon notification of being slated, all three candidates expressed gratitude to the SBNC members and co-chairs for their diligence and hard work during this slating process and, voiced that if elected in May, each looks forward to serving our incredible community and working collaboratively with the other Board of Education members and Scarsdale School District Administration to support our students and move our schools forward.

Suzie Hahn

As a Scarsdale resident for over 14 years, it is evident from her long and continuous list of accomplishments since her oldest child started Kindergarten that Suzie does not shy away from opportunities to contribute to our District. As her two children have grown, so has Suzie’s engagement with the community. Suzie has worn a plethora of hats in various volunteering efforts over her PTA/PTC tenure including annual activities, like book fairs and evening events, all the way up to the highly demanding daily roles of Webmaster, After School Clubs Chair and President of the QR PTA. If your family has joined the PTA at your child’s school, if you utilize the online PTA school directories, if you ever visit a PTA website for one of the Scarsdale schools or if you receive eblasts from your child’s school, you have benefited from the diligent work of Suzie Hahn who introduced Membership Toolkit to our District back in 2018 as PTC Directory Chair. Suzie has been a champion for this unifying technology platform that aggregated these various parts of the PTA efforts into a centralized system. She served as PT Council Treasurer for two years, overseeing all aspects of training and guiding all the Scarsdale unit PTAs in matters of its fiduciary responsibilities.

These endeavours all led to Suzie’s most recent volunteer commitment, her May 2022 election to the Scarsdale Board of Education. She has diligently served our community over her first three-year term, spending numerous hours each week getting up to speed on any issues that will be addressed during School Board meetings and is always being thoughtful in the points she raises and the questions she poses. She took on officer roles within that term, serving first as Vice President and currently President of the BOE. From watching Suzie on the Board of Education, both as a member and as an officer, it is apparent how she makes sure everyone is heard, discusses issues respectfully, and works toward decisions that are best for the community. Over and over again, Suzie has demonstrated her fervent commitment to the wellbeing of the children of our district throughout her time in Scarsdale and will continue to be an effective member of our Board of Education.

Suzie has served on many boards and committees at the local level including the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale as School Portfolio Chair, and board trustee at the Hoff-Barthelson Music School, as well as at the District level including the 2018 bond for Building/Facilities and Code of Conduct review. At the regional level Suzie serves on the Westchester-Putnam School Board Association Board of Directors where she currently serves as treasurer. All of this uniquely positions her with first-hand knowledge and experience that would be instrumental in the effective operations of the Scarsdale Board of Education. Suzie’s professional experience as a managing director at D.E. Shaw further bolsters her credentials as a returning Board of Education member, providing her financial acumen for the critical board tasks of budget evaluation and debt service on behalf of the community and engagement in collective bargaining agreements. It is clear from her track record that Suzie is willing to step up and take on more tasks for the community with a continued interest in her commitment to continuing with a second term as a Scarsdale Board of Education Trustee.

Colleen Brown

In her 10 years residing in Scarsdale with her husband and their two children, Colleen Brown has volunteered extensively in the community, holding many leadership roles culminating in her most recent service of her first three-year term as Scarsdale Board of Education Trustee. She is an active and concerned citizen devoted to the community, bringing much experience as a current board member as well as being respected by those she has worked to establish relationships with throughout the years. At the PTA level, she was very involved in the schools in pivotal roles like the Co-Chair of the “Learning From our Differences Program”, QRS PTA Executive Council Member, PTC Executive Member and last but not least, President of the QRS PTA. She has worked extensively with the many stakeholders in the community including parents, teachers, PTA leaders in other schools, QRS administration, District administration and the School Board. In all of these roles Colleen was a steadfast and a strong leader. She succeeds in her roles by being an excellent listener, a great collaborator, a creative problem solver who is able to bring out the best in all of those around her. She is uniformly lauded as a valuable board member with in-depth knowledge of the school system, District Administration and BOE while also demonstrating that she is eager to learn more, especially around areas she is unfamiliar with, by engaging in meaningful discussions and information-seeking to best reflect the community interests.

Prior to moving to Scarsdale, Colleen worked for 10 years at the Leman Manhattan Preparatory School which is currently a private K-12 school in lower Manhattan. When Colleen started at the school in 2006, it was a brand-new school built from scratch serving the K-5 student population. She initially was hired as the Director of Wellness, Nutrition and Food Service to develop the wellness curriculum as the school took a holistic approach to child education and was a classroom teacher in this area for four years. She was also a classroom teacher for Science grades 5-8. After a number of years Colleen moved into administrative roles and was the 6th Grade Dean, the Interim Assistant Head of the Middle School and lastly the Assistant Head of the Upper School. The school served a diverse population from many different areas and countries and had to create a strong support system particularly for the students who boarded at the school. Colleen oversaw the implementation of the international baccalaureate diploma program as the high school transitioned away from the standard high school diploma to a diploma recognized in many countries.

Colleen throughout her professional and personal life has been passionate about education, the welfare of children and contributing to the community that she is a part of. She would continue to bring to the School Board her dedication and professionalism, enthusiastically embracing the challenges ahead of her and contributing the important perspective to board activities as a parent and as a former educator / school administrator.

Laura Ying Liu

Laura has been a resident of Scarsdale for 15 years where she and her husband chose to raise their three children. Being raised in China herself, she carefully considered what community to establish roots in, determining that Scarsdale was the right home for their young family. Over the years, Laura’s volunteerism has covered a broad range of roles, undaunted by language or cultural barriers. She has tirelessly contributed to PTA work, often in leadership positions, from the elementary to the high school level. Laura put her finance background to good use and closely followed the school budget process for years, eventually serving as PTC Budget Study Co-Chair in the 2021-2022 school year. She is familiar with the many components and issues impacting the school budget, from personnel and programs to facilities and financial levers such as reserves, as well as the transparent and inclusive budget development process in which community needs and feedback are integrated. In addition, her service on the Library Board, first as Finance Officer and later as President, gave her experience overseeing the Library’s annual operating budget, capital improvement projects, collective bargaining contracts, and other municipal finance issues. These are all skills highly relevant for a Scarsdale Board of Education Trustee.

Laura has always sought opportunities to expand her knowledge and experience throughout her educational, professional and volunteer endeavors. Moving to New York to matriculate in a masters program in chemistry followed by an MBA, she then launched herself into the corporate world at Time Inc. serving in both business and financial roles. Her passion for fully understanding complex issues and implementing solutions is clear in everything she is involved in, from Scouting of America to the Scarsdale Chinese Association to various PTA/PTC committees to the Scarsdale Library Board, with her focus always on both serving the community while challenging herself to grow. Laura has always put tremendous effort into helping to build a strong Scarsdale community where families from all cultures and backgrounds can feel a strong sense of inclusion and belonging. Laura has spearheaded many diversity initiatives over the years, ranging from school events that enrich student experiences to parent-facing events that bring diverse groups together. She understands that all families, including immigrant families, have unique perspectives, needs, and strengths.

Laura’s educational and professional background have shaped her fact-based, analytical approach to problem-solving which, along with her thoughtful and deliberate style when addressing complex issues, make her an ideal Board of Education member for Scarsdale. She is described as a hard worker, good listener, well organized, collaborative, open-minded and thoughtful by those that have worked with her in various capacities, both large and small. These attributes, paired with the deep and broad knowledge she has of our community based on her years of volunteering and her professional background in finance, position her to be a welcome addition to the School Board.

The Committee

The SBNC is a non-partisan committee comprised of 24 voting members (with representatives from each of the five elementary districts) who serve for a three year term, and is chaired by a non-voting member. Over the course of Sunday meetings from January through March, this year’s committee conducted extensive candidate outreach to encourage interested community members to apply, listened to applicant presentations, questioned them, conducted detailed due diligence on all applicants, and considered potential candidates’ qualifications and characteristics. Pursuant to the SBNC Resolution, committee deliberations concerning candidates are confidential and the SBNC selects candidates “solely on their qualifications to serve the community” and not on their campaigning abilities or positions on specific issues. All discussions, deliberations, and references shared in Committee are kept confidential. Informed and engaged residents willing to serve on the SBNC and the School Board, along with voter participation, help to ensure the highest quality school board leadership.

The SBNC congratulates Suzie, Colleen and Laura on their nomination and thanks all applicants who went through the nominating process. “We are grateful to the Committee members for their dedication, hard work, and thoughtful consideration, to the applicants for their demonstrated commitment to our community which was further evidenced by their courageous willingness to participate in our rigorous selection process, and to the broader Scarsdale community for its support of the SBNC's efforts to help shape the excellence of the Scarsdale schools and ensure student success and wellbeing,” noted the Co-Chairs of the SBNC for 2024-25 comprised of Lisa Gans, Jennifer Zola and Anne Bates.

Voters in the School District are encouraged to vote on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in the Scarsdale Middle School Gym. In addition to voting for three School Board seats, District voters will also be voting on a proposed School District Budget for the 2025-26 school year.
For more information on the SBNC, please visit our website at http://scarsdalesbnc.org or contact the SBNC Chair.

Please Participate

Scarsdale is fortunate to maintain a nonpartisan election process for the Board of Education that selects candidates based solely on their qualifications to serve, not on their campaigning abilities or positions on specific issues. Informed and engaged residents willing to serve on the SBNC and the School Board, along with voter participation, help to ensure the highest quality school board leadership. Please consider serving or suggesting other school district residents to fill future vacancies. You can do so at any time by emailing [email protected]
In addition, please consider a donation to the SBNC. The SBNC elections and process are financed by your contributions alone. Donations are solely used for running the SBNC elections and not towards any candidate. Any amount would be appreciated. Please visit https://scarsdalesbnc.org/please-donate/