Skaneateles Education Foundation welcomes new members

Submitted by Heather Carroll

Executive director SEF

Of the new board members, six currently have children enrolled in Skaneateles Schools, one is a current teacher, one is a retired teacher, one is a former school board member, and one is a local businessman.

They all bring a variety of skills and talents that will help to propel the mission of the foundation forward, and they all bring passion for the work.

Debra Covell is librarian at Skaneateles High School Library, where she teaches information literacy, promotes reading and poetry, and assists all students, faculty members, and administrators with literature and technology. She has worked in the district for 15 years.

Valerie Jerabeck is a former nuclear engineer, and former member of the Skaneateles Central School Board of Education. A 33-year resident of Skaneateles, her two children both attended SCS from K through 12.

Lynne Marie Scolaro Jones brings her skills as a Certified Fund Raising Executive [CFRE] to the foundation. All five of her children have attended Skaneateles schools since nursery school. Lynne is currently the Senior Director for Gift Planning at Syracuse University. She hopes her experience working with donors will help further the mission of SEF.

Before moving to Skaneateles in 2012, Sophie Keefer practiced law in Washington DC for 13 years, specializing in international data privacy and security issues. She has served on the board of Todd’s Fund for the past three years. She and her husband have daughters attending Skaneateles schools.

SEF is happy to welcome Chad Marsh as its new treasurer. Chad owns Marsh Consulting, an accounting and business consulting firm located in Skaneateles. He currently resides in Spafford with his wife and 1-year-old child.

John Mashia brings years of senior leadership experience in the areas of operations, finance, and business development to SEF. John is President and COO of IMS, Inc.; a fully integrated provider for print, electronic, and mail communication services. He also serves on the board of the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse. John and his wife Michelle have two children who attend Skaneateles Central Schools.

Nate Pepper is a marketing communications executive with 20 years of experience working with global Fortune 100 companies. He currently is the Communications Manager for GE in Skaneateles Falls. Nate and his wife Christy have two children attending Skaneateles Central Schools.

Molly Phillips is a former elementary teacher at Westhill School District, and Reading Specialist at Ballston Spa School District. She was the District Language Arts Resource for Fayetteville Manlius Schools (K-5) and has served as a Language Arts Consultant for other local districts. She and her husband Todd have two children in Skaneateles Central Schools.

Sandy Scott is a Process Engineering Consultant with Salt City Technical, and has also worked as a Product Development Engineer at Kodak. Sandy and her husband Paul have two children attending Skaneateles Central Schools. For the past four years, she has volunteered with Odyssey of the Mind as both a coach and a judge.

Dannie Taylor it is a former elementary school teacher at State Street School. She and her four adult children are all alumni of Skaneateles Central Schools. Dannie and her husband Jim of 40 years feel very fortunate to share this great community with their eight grandchildren!

With gratitude and heartfelt thanks, SEF bids farewell to board members Chris Bailey, John Bradley, Romy Callahan, Michael Glowacki, Wendy Kopley, Miki Mahood, Anna Murphy, Georgina Pinckney, and Vincent Schoonmaker.

Continuing to serve on the SEF Board of Directors in 2016-17 are Patti Carey, Stephen Chabot, Claudine Labeille, Todd Marshall, Aisha McConochy, Chris Neumann, Kristi Peterson, Andy Ramsgard, Tom Seeley, and current board president, Cristy Winkelman.

SEF is grateful for its ex officio committee members serving in 2016-17: Kelly Little Arroyo, Bill Dean, Kim Driscoll, Miki Mahood and Ashley Palmer.

Serving on the Jean Graham Fund committee are chair Connie Bohrer, Romy Callahan, David Graham, Jessica Murphy, Betsy Smith, Daniel Labeille, and Patty Weisse.

SEF’s district liaisons are Ken Slentz, Kerry Brogan and Curt Coville.

Heather Carroll begins her second year as xxecutive director.

Thank you all for your dedication and commitment!