To the editor:

We are writing to wholeheartedly endorse Janice Powers for election to the board of education.

Powers brings a lifetime of experience as a public servant to this role. As an Asst. Attorney General she is a tireless ally, meeting with community groups, listening to their concerns, explaining complex legal issues and finding resolutions. Powers’ professional experience will be invaluable to our community as our board of education navigates complex state regulations that govern every aspect of our school program. No other candidate possesses this specific blend of talent, training and commitment.

As a seasoned trial lawyer and advocate, Powers is also uniquely positioned to champion the needs of our children and understands the ethical duty to keep students’ needs central at all times. This is a difficult task in a community with diverse opinions that demands the expertise of someone who is both skilled in mediation and understands our public schools’ obligations under state law and who comes to this role to meet those obligations and serve our students first and foremost.

This role demands a particular level of professionalism as well as perspective that represents the diversity of the community that the board serves. We need Janice’s analytic and pragmatic problem-solving skills in combination with her deep commitment to advocacy and equity.

Board of education service represents one of the highest forms of public service within our community — overseeing all aspects of the education and well being of our youth. What really resonates for us about Janice is her commitment to our community, demonstrated in service as a board member of the Pelham Education Foundation, Chair of Siwanoy School’s Diversity Committee and as a volunteer who has continuously rolled up her sleeves to give generously of her time in support of our teachers and students at school activities. There’s just no replacement for time spent working within our community’s schools.

We want leaders on the board of education who understand the unique qualities of our schools and who have invested many hours of engagement in our schools and know first-hand what is wonderful about them and where attention is needed. Even now, Janice’s approach to seeking a seat on the board reflects her deep experience in public service because she takes the time to come and meet people where they are. From playgrounds to playing fields to our main street hubs, Janice has spent her energies listening to people; this is public service.

Above all, Janice is a leader. Both compassionate and inspiring, she co-founded Bridges of Pelham to bring the Black community together and forge partnerships with the district and other groups that are strengthening diversity, equity and inclusion in our town, making Pelham a stronger and more unified place to live, work and learn.

We are also listening to our youth, whose voices have repeatedly told us through years of surveys, the equity audit and in public vigils in the park, that stronger leadership is needed and that representation matters. Janice Powers is exactly the kind of steadfast advocate that our students need, and will serve all of our community as she has for years, with compassion, dedication, and integrity.

Janice is our clear choice for a seat on the board of education and we hope you will join us in support of her leadership as Pelham students enter a period of innovation and growth.

Deborah Lowery Knapp

159 Corlies Ave.

and

Abby Balafas
Adam Banfield
Adam Ilkowitz
Adam Riegel
Adrian McLean
Alexy Scholl
Alicia Carmona
Allison Frost
Amanda Allensworth
Amy Fierman Moore
Amy Lacoste
Anand Chudavala
Andrea Ziegelman
Andrew Kirby
Andrew Wasson
Annemarie Garcia
Anthea Kelsick
Ariana Massouh
Ariel Spira-Cohen
Ashley Matts
Astiney Montiel
Atasha Greene
Ava Knapp
Barrie Pietranico
Betty Chen
Brendan Cahill
Brendan Considine
Brian Harrell
Carlos Colon
Catherine Prencis
Chance Mullen
Chandra Turner
Cindy Finegan
Clarissa Rosado
Cynthia Jenkins
David Eliezer
David Schwaderer
Dawnette Lewis
Debra Stern
Dino Mytides
Don Otondi
Dr. Kusum S. Matthews
Elise King
Elizabeth Herbert Wasson
Emily Chandler
Eric Sznip
Erin Blakeley Ginsburg
Ernest Wright
Esther McLean
Evan Balafas
Felix Matos
Francile Albright Mullen
Frank Jaklitsch
Fred Gallo
Gabriela Suarez
Garrett Jenkins
Gary Gamaldo
Hanan Eldahry
Heather Glickman Eliezer
Inez Sieben
Jamal Epps
Janna Zagari
Jeff Ginsburg
Jeffrey Gould
Jen Silvester
Jeniece Ilkowitz
Jennifer Parmelee
Jess Jaffe
Jessica Solomon
Jill Kirby
Joanne Colon
Joanne Davies
Jocelyn Childs
Joe Barthelemy
John Matts
John Moore
Jose Garcia
Josh Wallach
Josie Carbone
Julia Fuller Nakayama
Karen Beatty
Kate Kerrigan Petty
Katherine Hughes
Kathleen Rothschild
Katie Butterfiled
Katrina Zafiriadis
Kevin Howell
Kim Barrett
Kim Espinosa
Kim Riegel
Krystal Howell
Larry Mallach
Latoya Barthelemy
Laura Baber
Laura Barge O’Sullivan
Lauren Frasca
Lee Khan
Liliana Arabia
Lindsey Pachella
Lisa Robb
Liz Massie
Loretta Gallo
Lynda Fajardo Banfield
Marc Burgess
Maria F. Pannullo
Marisa Panzani
Mark Denner
Maryanne Joyce
Matt Morrell
Maurice Greene
Melissa Eustace
Melissa Labonte
Mercedes Maldonado
Michael Casey
Michael Frankel
Michael Kleiman
Michael Middleton
Michael O’Sullivan
Mike Zagari
Molly Sheldon
Monique Wilson
Morgan Jenkins
Nancy Harvey
Nathan Pereira
Nichole Otondi
Nicole Burgess
Ossie Gamaldo
Paul Cullen
Paul Prencis
Paula Wood
Peter Giarrizzo
Peter Moskowitz
Peter Romaniuk
Rachel Saffian Gould
Rose Diaz
Rosemary Maggiore
Ruth Davis Konigsberg
Sabrina Glaser
Sara Mallach
Sarah Frei
Sarah McKee
Seth Jacobs
Shayna Klopott
Sinead Joyce-Farley
Solange Hansen
Stacey Gallagher-Khan
Stacey Kaplan
Stephanie Marie Otero
Steve Pachella
Steve Salee
Steven Espinosa
Suany Aquino Chudavala
Sukhi Cheema
Susan Saas
Tara Weishaupl
Theresa Collins
Theresa Mohan
Thomas Farley
Tiffany Hebert, M.D.
Timothy Petty
Timothy Rood
Toby Knapp
Toby Marxuach-Gusciora
Tracey Gardner
Van Tran
Victor Birutti
Violet Massie-Vereker
Wendy Ge
Will Hedd
Xaira Ferrara
Yanira Figueroa Bartoloni
Zhuli Hedd