There will be a race in this year’s Board of Education election, which is scheduled for May 19. Lisa Martino Alves filed nominating papers just prior to the Monday’s deadline. Incumbents Annemarie Garcia and Sid Burke, whose three-year terms expire next month, also filed nominating papers prior to the deadline.

Last year, incumbents Natalie Marrero, Will Treves and Jackie DeAngelis ran unopposed.

Alves serves as the principal at Hendrick Hudson High School in Montrose, NY. In a statement addressed to the Hendrick Hudson community, Alves emphasized her commitment to collaboration, student voice and engagement, and a renewal of school pride and tradition.

“My vision for Hendrick Hudson High School is rooted in the belief that every student deserves to be known, challenged, and inspired,” she wrote in a post titled Principal’s Corner. “This year, we are launching a renewed focus on real-world learning, student voice, and shared purpose, aligned with the Hendrick Hudson Central School District’s Strategic Plan. Together, we will deepen student engagement, promote experiential opportunities that connect learning to life, and build a culture of open communication and collaboration.”

According to her Linked In page, Martino Alves has previously served as an assistant principal at Woodlands Middle/High School in Hartsdale, spent 24 years working in various positions for the New York City Department of Education, and has taught social studies in Brazil.

Sid Burke is an attorney with the law firm DLA Piper. He was elected to the Board of Education in 2023. In his campaign statement that year, he wrote, “My job as a transactional lawyer is to provide strategic advice. That requires listening to parties’ often deeply-held, conflicting views, identifying creative solutions, and finding common ground to reach genuine consensus on difficult issues. We don’t currently have an attorney serving on our school board, and I believe my legal experience would add a valuable perspective.”

Burke was a founding board member of the Amani Public Charter in Mt. Vernon and has served on the Village of Pelham’s Planning board.

Annemarie Garcia was also elected to the Board of Education in 2023.  In her campaign statement that year, she wrote of her love for the Town of Pelham: “Having raised my family in Pelham for the past 16 years, I can confidently say there is no other place I’d rather call home. My husband José and I moved here for the welcoming community and exceptional schools. Seeing my children thrive at Hutchinson Elementary and the middle and high schools only affirms my love for this town. My daughter’s enrollment at the University of Michigan is a testament to the quality education our schools provide, and as my son completes 10th grade, I’m grateful for the wonderful opportunities Pelham has offered my family.”

Garcia is director of client engagement at Wildfire Strategies, a consulting firm. She is also a career coach, as well as a speaker and author, according to her Linked In page.