For the past 15 years, I have been an active member of the community. Serving on the PTAs at Cherry Lane, Suffern Middle School and Suffern High School, as well as PTA Council, provided many opportunities for me to work closely with our wonderful teachers, staff, administrators and community members. Together, I believe we made a difference. We raised funds for valuable programs and coordinated district-wide student assemblies and community events such as Race to Nowhere, Ryan’s Story, Hidden in Plain Sight, Hang Up and Drive and the Kind Campaign, as well as presentations on Vaping, Addiction, Mental Health Awareness and more.
Working at the Council and Region level have shown me how important it is to work together, and the work I participated in on the Strategic Planning and the BOE Advocacy Committees have been great examples of how powerful our voices can be when we unite to achieve common goals. I believe we should be one school community because we can accomplish much more when we work together to ensure our children receive the best education in a truly safe and nurturing environment.
For me, serving on the School Board is a new opportunity to make a difference. Over the years, I have remained informed by attending BOE meetings and communicating directly with the school board and the administration on many important topics. I know we all want the best for our students and I hope to have your support so we can work together to reach our common goals.
I feel strongly that our community needs to work together and believe that the BOE should lead by example. As a member of the BOE, I would:
-
Strive for more effective and frequent communication with the community, especially on important matters that impact our students
-
Foster respectful discussion among BOE members
-
Develop a true partnership with the administration so we can continue to move the district forward
I believe the community deserves a BOE they can trust and I will use my experience, knowledge and sincere interest in the safety of our students and success of our district to earn your trust.
Please vote on May 21st and remind a friend or neighbor to vote as well.
Thank you!
My husband, Anthony, and I are the proud parents of two Suffern Mounties. Our son, Bryan, graduated in 2016 and just completed his junior year at Penn State. Our younger son, Nick, is a sophomore at SHS and enjoying our robust athletics program.
Cheryl Valenti
Stephanie, a graduate of Penn State University, is an elementary school speech pathologist in Irvington. Brittany, a graduate of the University of Scranton, is a middle school math teacher in Pleasantville. Ashley, a Gold Award Girl Scout, is a graduate of Lafayette College and is employed as a chemical engineer, while working towards earning her MBA at Villanova University. My son, Zack, an Eagle Scout, is a sophomore working towards a degree in forestry at the University of Maine.
As a board member, I would bring to the table a unique breadth and depth of over 28 years of experience in community service, both serving on boards and in leadership positions. I also bring a proven track record of skill-sets needed to develop strong relationships between the community and our district.
I bring both formal training and practical experiences in helping organizations achieve success in planning for the future. I know how boards work and function. I am fair, listen to all perspectives.
I consider all the evidence, and I am an independent thinker.
What I see now is that our district is facing many challenges, such as declining enrollment and additional concerns about safety including an increase in bullying, teen suicides and a dangerous drug epidemic. Funding sources rely on tax bases and, to some degree, our expenditures are tied to requirements from Albany. Loss of contribution from major corporations, such as the recently departed Novartis, places additional financial strains on our district, which already carries high taxes.
We as a school board can stand united to ensure that our school district finds ways to continue to thrive
and attract families to support our schools. We need to think outside the box, but remain grounded
in our principles and community values. For this, we need members with strong teamwork,
innovative ideas, who can work well with each other, as well as and with administrators, faculty, staff, parents and community members to help steer our schools into the future.
I have been asked to run for the board often over the past 25 years, and feel that now is the right time.
I have done my homework. I have already attended a prospective board member workshop in Westchester
last month and have years of experience to offer my community, neighbors,
and future families as we support the students together.
My track record has proven my commitment, ability to work as a team player and
my personal investment in the district. I have the time, experience, and dedication
to pay forward all the wonderful opportunities my children enjoyed.
In addition to all the academic opportunities, my children also participated in the vast array of athletic opportunities the district offers. As a crew, track, swim and volleyball parent, I experienced first hand the district’s commitment to our athletic programs. Two of my children continued on to swim at division one colleges, one was a national qualifier in crew and another a state qualifier for swimming.
My children also participated in our fine music & arts programs.
We need to ensure that a full array of AP courses remain available for our students who achieve on the highest academic levels. For our athletes, sports must remain top notch, for our musicians and artists these thriving programs remain important to our district. For our children who are interested in service careers…we prepare them well. We also have a responsibility to help our students to develop the life skills necessary
to become kind, caring compassionate and productive members of the community.
Whatever it is that makes Suffern students thrive, we need to let them shine.
We can do it together.​
I hope you will give me the opportunity to continue my service to our schools, students and community as a member of the Succern Central School Board. I ask for your support and vote on May 21st.
Thank you!
​
Jeannette Kunow
I have been a resident of this district for over 35 years.
I understand how important a school’s reputation is to the
well-being of a community for both current residents
and in attracting new families.
When my husband and I decided to relocate from long Island to Rockland County, one of the top considerations was the reputation of the school district. I attribute the success of all four of our children directly to the education they received at Suffern Central School District.