1. family and parenting
2. children

2015 NYC Education Council Elections
Candidate Profiles for
Community Education Council 20
Candidate
Alan Aja
DBN: 20K264
IEP: No
ELL No
Applicant Current member of PS264's SLT. Parent of LP (little person/dwarfism). Former ELL student (SpanishBackground speaker), attended Miami-Dade County and Louisville-Jefferson County (Kentucky) public schools.
Assistant Professor at Brooklyn College in a department that specializes in teacher education with focus
on immigrants/ELLs. Have published on issues concerning equity and access to education, including
eliminating ability-grouping, adopting universal enrichment curricula, reducing focus on standardized
tests and implementing culturally relevant pedagogy in the classroom.
Personal Parent, educator and activist who is an avid supporter of increased funding for public schools. Deeply
Statement concerned with the environment of punitive, high-stakes testing, in particular the impact on students
and teachers' capacities to teach freely in the classroom without emphasis on testing. Also a strong
advocate for bilingual/dual language education programs.
Candidate
Susan Chan
DBN: 20K682
IEP: Yes
ELL No
Applicant
Background
Personal
Statement
Candidate
Nadia Chibani
DBN: 20K176
Applicant
Background
Personal
Statement
IEP: No
ELL No
20K176
No
No
I am a very dedicated Parent, since my kids started attending school i got involved a lot as volunteer at
the beginning and then I became PTA member, I love to work with kids and be part of their daily
learning, in order to stay connected with any new information since every year there is change related to
schools system so I prefer to stay informed and also participated in so many C.E.C meetings. I am still
volunteering at my kids school for any event we have i m always present for PTA's monthly meeting .,
My name is Nadia, Moroccan-American citizen, graduated from law school in french language in my
country of origin, i a m multilingual I am very fluent in ENGLISH, FRENCH AND ARABIC (Read,
Written and Spoken). I studied computer, too worked in the translation field, Upstate NY in law firm,
worked also at JFK Airport, as lead agent, I studied also children's behavior, and communication,
married with two charming and beautiful kids, I volunteered and still doing it in their school, i also
volunteer at the City councilmen Mr. Vincent Gentile for his reelection campaign, also for former D.A.
Hynes, I volunteer also with the Red Cross for clothes and toys drive for poor kids or in very bad
financial situation, blood donor and so many more activities in the Red Cross. I volunteer also to
lecture at Religious places of worship, about Drug abuse, prescription drugs to be taken out of our
streets in order to make streets safe for our kids. I am full of ideas and very active person, accept and
work "very jeopardizing situations", I am running for this election because I feel I might fit into this
Community and my previous experiences would be a good asset for it.
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Page 1 of 9
2015 NYC Education Council Elections
Candidate Profiles for
Community Education Council 20
Candidate
Stacy Corbett
DBN: 20K062
IEP: No
ELL No
Applicant As an active parent, I've volunteer for many years in schools to assist in many activities (school trips,
Background holiday shows, fundraising, etc) the school is in engaged. I'm currently w/J.H.S. 062 Ditmas as a
volunteer for the upcoming events (Fashion Show). I've volunteer to help tutor children with their
academic struggles whether its Math or Reading (Elementary & JHS). I enjoy working with children and
I understand their struggles of being a tween going into teenage life (Metamorphosis). I make sure as a
community leader & parent leader I am there to help children understand the changes they are
experiencing are normal. Communicating with children is important. My child is your child. I am an
active parent leader & dedicated to their academic success but it is up to us (Parents, principals,
teachers, community leaders, and the government) to help them see their potential. Whether a child is
in high school or elementary school, I am their leader. They make me feel accomplished when they
accomplish their goals. Being active & informative within the community gives me a lot of hope for
tomorrow. I continue to learn & enjoy my engagement with all these diverse children.
Personal Hello everyone, my name is Stacy. If children were to continue to receive a high quality education, how
Statement strong of an empire would the United States of America be right now? See, I was lucky because I was
fortunate to be raised by not one but two teachers (mother and stepmother). I understood the
importance of quality education. I stand strong for quality education that works & believe children must
be afforded this right to ensure a stronger America for tomorrow. As a community leader and educator,
engaging daily w/children & parents gives me the tools to share information to help them academically.
Because I ask these kids questions, I can find answers to help. Because I talk with the parents, I can
help. Because I care, I can support the families to help children fulfill their personal goals & completes
their vision. You must know & understand how to reach children. I have this gift and I use it. Critical
thinking is important in everyday life & because education is in critical condition, I know I would make
an excellent candidate as a parent leader for our children because I understand our community needs.
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Page 2 of 9
2015 NYC Education Council Elections
Candidate Profiles for
Community Education Council 20
Candidate
Adele Doyle
DBN: 20K187
Applicant
Background
Personal
Statement
Candidate
IEP: No
ELL No
20K187
No
No
20K185
No
No
20K185
No
No
I am the PTA Co-President at PS 185 in Bay Ridge. I have been an Executive Board member in the PS
185 PTA for the last six years as Chair of the Go-Green Committee. The PS 185 Go-Green
Committee has established a thriving school-wide environmental program which has been the recipient
of several grants and two Citywide Golden Apple Awards. I have served on PS 185's SLT for the last
three years and am a strong proponent of literacy and progressive academic engagement to
appropriately meet the needs of all learners. I am an Executive Board Member of IS 187's PTA and
currently Chair the Fundraising Committee there. I am also a teacher at Kingsborough Community
College where I teach freshman and sophomore Argumentative Composition. I hold a Masters in
English Literature from Hofstra and a double major undergraduate degree from NYU in Journalism
and English with a minor in Creative Writing.
As the mother of four very different children (ages 7, 9, 11 and 13) I understand the value and
challenges of diversity in NYC Public School education. My husband of fifteen years and I chose NYC
Public Schools to educate our children, and believe that fostering parent engagement, academic
excellence and accountability are key to success. I teach Argumentative Composition at Kingsborough
to an extremely diverse population, many, the product of our own NYC Public School system and hear
first-hand about the challenges my students faced in our city school-system. I have devoted hundreds of
volunteer hours in our schools for the past seven years and initiated and continue to run a
comprehensive school-wide environmental program at PS 185. Children love hands-on learning, and
we need more of it. I believe in books above digital media and reading for success. Critical thinking
must first begin by fostering a love of the written word in our youngest learners.
Eileen Connelly-Garcia
DBN: 20K490
IEP: No
ELL No
20K104
No
No
20K264
Yes
No
Applicant I am a parent that has just began the IEP process and the transition into Special Education.
Background
Personal I currently have 3 children enrolled in the NYC Public School System. Two who transitioned from the
Statement Catholic School System 2 years ago and 1 that is currently transitioning into the Special Education
program. My children are in high school, finishing elementary and the last just finished her first IEP
evaluation in the first grade. Needless to say I have my hands full. But I believe I can offer insight and
represent those that are new to the NYC Public School System. As I stated, I am also beginning the
Special Education Process for the first time. I'd especially like to share and contribute my knowledge
and experiences to the 2015 NYC Educational Council.
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Page 3 of 9
2015 NYC Education Council Elections
Candidate Profiles for
Community Education Council 20
Candidate
Elena Garvey
DBN: 20K104
IEP: No
ELL No
Applicant I have been an actively involved parent in my daughter's K class - volunteering as a chaperone for kids
Background trips, staying connected with other parents, creating a community atmosphere for the children and their
families. I am very invested in my child's education and the overall quality of the public school
programs and would like to lend my leadership and perspective to the Council, to benefit all families of
Bay Ridge and our City at large.
Personal I came to the United States from Ukraine with my mother in 1993 and graduated as a Salutatorian
Statement from Fort Hamilton High School in 1997. Education has always been a top priority in my family and
these values are being passed down to my children now. I am very invested in childhood education and
development and strongly believe their success is a reflection of the time and effort their parents are
willing to invest. Kids have amazing potential to learn - from music, arts and languages, to match and
science! It is up to us to enable that and I would like to lend my time and leadership to the NYC
Department of Education to help. As a marketing professional with 15 years of experience in Financial
Services, I have the training and skills to approach education challenges with a methodical, business
mindset. I hope you will strongly consider my application for this post.
Candidate
Christopher Gillies
DBN: 20K104
IEP: No
ELL No
Applicant
Background
Personal I am a mostly a qualitative and proactive Information Technology (IT) professional, learner,
Statement researcher, and trainer who utilizes authentic and servant transformational leadership styles to assist all
people regardless of gender, age, tradition, ethnicity, or any other quantitative variable. In addition, I
focus on moral and ethical business alignment, strategy and intelligence, product development, sales,
and marketing, in order to create client satisfaction and ongoing relationships while bridging
communication needs across departments.
Candidate
Robert D Hudock
DBN: 20K185
IEP: No
ELL No
Applicant As a father of an special needs student I have been deeply involved in advocating for her services with
Background the schools and the DOE. I have served as PTA president of a majority ELL school and as an elected
member of the SLT at her current school. I am currently an elected member of CEC 20 and chair of
the Education Committee at Community Board 10.
Personal As a citizen who has benefited from a public education I feel a moral obligation to volunteer my time
Statement so that other families may continue to receive the same benefits of public education I have enjoyed.
Public service is the highest calling in a civil society.
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Page 4 of 9
2015 NYC Education Council Elections
Candidate Profiles for
Community Education Council 20
Candidate
Mikhail Iliatov
DBN: 20K164
IEP: No
ELL No
Applicant As parents of a Kindergarten student we participate in PTA activities at PS164, school fundraising, and
Background we volunteer for various school events. Currently I teach classes in Stop-Motion Animation and Art at
Russian Language Academy to 7-9 year-old children in Park Slope, Brooklyn. In the past I taught
undegraduate courses in Chemistry at University of Washington, Seattle. My wife volunteers for
teaching Japanese language and culture classes at the Brooklyn Steiner Japanese School. We participate
in a
Personal As a parent of a public school student, I see public schools as a core of our society, shaping majority
Statement children's view of the world and preparing them for adult life. In the modern world this process
requires a high degree of flexibility and acute awareness of rapidly-changing society from educators and
parents. I firmly believe, the responsibilities for children's education must be shared among the parents
and educators – both groups providing invaluable, integral and irreplaceable contributions to
development, growth, and happiness of children. By applying to Education Council, I want to represent
voices of New York parents and assist NYC DOE in clarifying and responding to the needs of local
communities, while striving to bring top quality education to our children.
Candidate
Kholoud Jaradat
DBN: 20K030
IEP: No
ELL No
20K204
20K187
No
No
No
No
DBN: 20K102
IEP: No
ELL No
Applicant
Background
Personal
Statement
Candidate
Eileen M. Mckenna
Applicant I have served as a member of the District 20 Community Education Council for the past five years. I
Background have been a member of the Executive Board of the PS 102 PTA for the past six years. I have served as
a Girl Scout leader for the past 10 years.
Personal It has been an honor to serve on the District 20 Community Education Council for the past five years.
Statement It has been a time of tremendous growth in the student population in our district and the CEC has
worked hard to bring much needed additional seats to the district. If I am re-elected I hope to work
with my fellow CEC members towards bringing additional seats to our very overcrowded district.
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Page 5 of 9
2015 NYC Education Council Elections
Candidate Profiles for
Community Education Council 20
Candidate
Mohammad A. Mohsin
DBN: 20K201
IEP: No
ELL No
17K543
No
No
DBN: 20K176
IEP: No
ELL Yes
Applicant
Background
Personal
Statement
Candidate
Amany Naseif
Applicant I have experience with the English Language Learner population . I was an English teacher in Egypt for
Background more than 4 years i was teaching English as a second language to students in elementary school who
spoke Arabic . I also was the Extracurricular Activities Coordinator helping them with subjects such as
Home Economics, Arts, Health, Scouts and Computer Activities . Civic activities include my
representing the Association at the General Secretariat of Catholic Schools in Egypt as a member of the
Training Of Trainers Team (TOT) and also Assisted in preparing civics education manual for
elementary school students under the auspices of Friedrich Neumann Foundation (FNF) . and here in
the USA I joined the CEC 20 since 2013 till now representing ELL parents .
Personal I'd like to continue to serve on the CEC so that I can help all of our children to success not just in
Statement school but also in their life . I strongly believe parents must be help side by side with the school to raise
children who will be good members of our society and humanitarians .TOGETHER WE CAN DO
IT .
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Page 6 of 9
2015 NYC Education Council Elections
Candidate Profiles for
Community Education Council 20
Candidate
Mary Ann Ortiz
DBN: 20K205
Applicant
Background
Personal
Statement
Candidate
IEP: No
ELL No
20K205
No
No
In 2005, I was appointed President of the Family Readiness Group for the 1569th Transportation
Company, a NY Army National Guard unit, while my husband was deployed with them to Iraq. It was
my responsibility to keep in touch with the families of approximately 40 Soldiers, who were based
primarily in NYC, but also included families in New Jersey and in the lower Hudson Valley. I held this
position throughout their deployment, redeployment, and demobilization. As a parent at P.S. 205 since
2009, I have helped with class projects, accompanied students on class trips, led in-class baking
workshops, and participated in multi-cultural celebrations and feasts. I have also volunteered at PTA
Book Fairs and Holiday Sales, attended PTA meetings and events, and interpreted and translated for
parents and grandparents in Cantonese and in Italian. In 2012, I tutored an ELL student privately for 3
1/2 months and helped raise her reading level from D to J. From November 2013 to July 2014, I
worked in a local real estate office using my language skills in Cantonese and Italian to answer
telephone inquiries, to facilitate meetings between agents and clients, and to schedule showing
appointments.
As our communities change, our schools must adapt to address the needs of the new populations that
they serve, and our children must learn to work with people who may speak very different languages
than they do and who may be from very different cultures. At the same time, we must reinforce the
ideas and ideals of American culture and American identity so that our children understand their civic
duties and responsibilities. As a member of CEC 20, I will work to ensure that our schools actively
engage our students and their families both academically and socially. I will work to ensure that our
children have a complete and well-rounded education that prepares them to succeed in high school,
college, and in the adult world.
Zi Yi Pan
DBN: 20K201
IEP: No
ELL No
Applicant I have been a CEC member of D20 for 8 years. I had been a member of SLT for 8 years.
Background
Personal Thank you for our parents' support, I have been a CEC member of D20 for 4 terms. I just want to
Statement continue to represent our parents to make the best for our children, our schools and our community.
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Page 7 of 9
2015 NYC Education Council Elections
Candidate Profiles for
Community Education Council 20
Candidate
Olga Sagalchik
DBN: 20K205
IEP: No
ELL No
Applicant Have taught chess to students from K through 8 grades in Public schools throughout the NYC for many
Background years. Have been a parent of public school students since 1996 (that's when my oldest daughter entered
the NYC school system).
Personal
Statement
Candidate
Gita Shukla
DBN: 20K187
IEP: No
ELL No
Applicant I have twins who are in 6th grade, both in different academy at is-187 in Brooklyn. I am member of
Background local prent group for over 10 years, in which we all share our experiences, positive as well as negative,
to help other parents in the group. I am currently member of school leadership team, am also involved
in PTA functions as well. I am also member of NYC single mom support group and am fully aware of
challenges that single parent encounters.
Personal I work as a Pediatrician thus children's education, growth and developments are very important to me.
Statement My prior work experience was in the emergency room, but since my kids were born I am working fixed
hour job, which allows me to be more present for my children, as well as their school events. i hope to
be elected so that we all working togather can bring positive changes in children's life, enriching their
total potentials, academic as well as nonacademic.
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Page 8 of 9
2015 NYC Education Council Elections
Candidate Profiles for
Community Education Council 20
Candidate
Georgia Stefanidis-Alexandrou
DBN: 20K229
IEP: No
ELL No
Applicant I am currently on the school board of a parochial school that consists of students from Nursery to
Background Middle School. In this school we have been to implement different programs necessary for children to
learn, since children have different learning needs from special education to giftern and talented. My
personal experience has assisted me with this since I have two children one with the need of an IEP for
a learning diability and the other that is in gifted and talented programs. I am also involved with the
community girl scouts and boy scounts program. I have been on the works daycares board at my work
in order to oversee how the program is run and have assisted in the accrediation process, in addition to
meeting the needs of the parents. I have been part of fundraising committees that assist our community
in raising funds for several initiatives needed in order to assist less fortunate people or to develop after
school activities for the childre.
Personal I believe strongly in the public school system. I am a product of the public school system. It saddens
Statement me greatly when parents feel , and in the process critizise a system so rich in resources for our children.
I believe in this stems for a few reasons. Lack of exposure to the parents for what the public school
system has to offer and more so understanding the system and how to retrieve the resources offered. A
lack of the public school system to provide the few resources that are needed by the children in the
community. It is, I feel a supply and demand , we need to supply what the demand is, if it is not there
we should develop it, if it is there then we need to promote it. I don't beleve that any one system is "bad"
or that one is "good" it is actually a matter of communication and proper understand of what is being
communicated as a supply and as a demand
Candidate
Laurie Windsor
DBN: 20K445
Applicant
Background
Personal
Statement
IEP: No
ELL No
20K445
No
No
CEC20, Community Board 11 Vice Chair/Transportation Comittee Chair, Ragamuffin Parade
Committee, School Leadership Team New Utrecht High School and IS259, District Leadership Team
District 20, HeartShare Education Center Board Chair
This is my 10th year on the CEC. We've had many new schools and additions open in this time and
overcrowding is still an issue for District 20. We need to find more sites as we have them in the capital
plan. For the upcoming term, the split siting of PS112 and its new annex will be on the council's agenda
as well as the new addition for PS170. Very excitied about the new site that was just puchased and the 3
buildings being leased for Pre-K but also means the CEC's work is cut out for the next 2 years.
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Page 9 of 9