Meet the Liverpool Board of Education candidates

LIVERPOOL — There are seven candidates running for three 4-year terms and one 1-year term on the Liverpool Board of Education.

Click here for info about the 2022-23 budget vote.

The Star-Review did not receive responses from Nicholas Blaney, Alicia Letta or Jason Sobotka.

Erika Adigun

Biographical details

My name is Erika Adigun. I have lived in the CNY community my entire life. My husband BJ and I moved to Liverpool nearly 20 years ago and have raised two daughters that have attended LCSD schools. Both daughters have benefited greatly by the educational and social frameworks within the district especially the music and athletics departments.

I have a BA with an HR certification which provided employment in the areas of employee benefits and corporate wellness. I’ve also worked in the fitness industry and owned and operated a small business in Clay.

I am a musician and currently serve in the worship ministry at Northside Church in Liverpool where our family actively participates and spends much of our time. I am also an active volunteer at Hope Café in Liverpool.

I am seeking the opportunity to serve the children, parents and taxpayers of this district in addition to offering support to teachers and administration. I seek your BOE vote as the district recovers in this “post-COVID” era and am committed to focusing on the whole individual, core tenets of learning (understanding NYS BOE curriculum), transparency of fiscal operations/stewardship and supporting staff and faculty.

How will your experience serve you on the BOE?

For 30 years I practiced and helped shape the idea of workplace morale and health excellence which create a strong infrastructure for any organization. In addition, I have learned the art of asking questions. This is critical because people want and need to be heard but often need help with communicating their ideas. Being a business owner has taught me these things. Serving in a volunteer capacity has taught me to serve selflessly instead of for selfish gain.

What is one major issue facing your district, and what actions would you take in addressing that issue if you are elected?

Transparency is key to moving forward in overall good health in Liverpool.

Where can people learn more about you?

[email protected]

Craig Dailey

Biographical details

Liverpool resident for 25-years
Husband to Tiffany and father of CJ, Nick, Griffin, Ben and our black lab Harry. One 2021 graduate and three working their way through.
Board member for six years; president for five of those years
NYS Licensed Architect; member of the American Institute of Architects, and a certified educational facility planner; focus on educational student-centered design for 27-years
A.A.S. from OCC, B.S. and M.S. from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry; major in construction engineering and management, minor in civil engineering
Grew up in East Syracuse – ESM Alum Class of 1987

How will your experience serve you on the BOE?

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve on the board of education as the community’s representative these past six years. My focus was, is and will remain to be on the students, supporting the staff, and representing the needs and desires of our community. Students are first in any decision on budget, program, and policy — and any other agenda is counter to the role of a board member.

My experience as a project manager focusing on school construction affords me the opportunities to work closely with school leadership and staff, manage the design process, and provide cutting edge student-centered design for my clients. I take the same approach to collaboration and team building to the table.

What is one major issue facing your district, and what actions would you take in addressing that issue if you are elected?

Our district is reorganizing our building and grade structure. The process is a couple of years in the making and fall 2022 will be the kick-off to the new plan. Like all things new, there is change, unknowns, and concerns. The goal this coming year is to build stronger relationships with our parents and community and maintain transparency is all we do as we navigate this monumental shift.

Where can people learn more about you?

If anyone has questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected]

Hayley Downs

Biographical details

I am a lifelong resident of Liverpool. I graduated from the district in 2005. From there I attended Syracuse University for my undergraduate and graduate studies. I received degrees in inclusive elementary education and secondary social studies education. This May, I received my certificate of advanced study in educational leadership from Syracuse University.

After graduating in 2011, I taught two years of third grade, then moved to middle school. Here I was able to teach English Language Arts and social studies. I was a middle school teacher for six years.

Currently, I am a disciplinary literacy coach in the Syracuse City School District. As a disciplinary literacy coach some of my responsibilities include to create and implement professional development, collaborate with teachers and provide specific strategies to support instructional delivery, data analysis that supports implementation of mission and vision, and curriculum creation.

How will your experience serve you on the BOE?

As a Liverpool resident, graduate, and educator in the Syracuse City School District, my experiences encompass what Liverpool Central School District needs. I have been a part of leadership changes, school improvement, and programs and systems that help develop the whole child. My classroom and leadership experience, as well as professional development prepares me to lead with an equitable, diverse, practical, and inclusive perspective. I work on several teams including School Leadership Team, Academic Leadership Team, and AVID Site Team that enable me to communicate with multiple stakeholders and participate in shared decision-making. On daily basis I work closely with teachers, building and district leadership to continue make decisions that best support and serve all students.

What is one major issue facing your district, and what actions would you take in addressing that issue if you are elected?

There is a disconnect between stakeholders. To help bridge the gap, I would work with all stakeholders by actively listening to all perspectives, support shared decision-making, promote open communication, build stakeholder relationships, and fully understanding the issues at hand through input from all members of the Liverpool community.

Where can people learn more about you?

To learn more visit Facebook: Hayley Downs for Liverpool School Board. Please do not hesitate to reach out at [email protected].

Kimberly Martin

Biographical details

I have lived in the district for about four years. I have two masters degrees, one in rehabilitation counseling psychology and one in marriage and family therapy. I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist here in NYS. I work as the director of a school-based mental health program through a local nonprofit agency. I have a 6-year-old daughter who attends school in the district in 1st grade and my partner is a 7th-grade math teacher.

How will your experience serve you on the BOE?

As a mental health therapist, I work with students who all have different levels of investment in their school futures and beyond and different environmental/bio/social studies that impact their ability to even learn; this has been a major area of focus regarding how we support kids with working towards a goal and creating small successes so their motivation for learning increases. I have partnered with families to help increase their engagement with school to feel a part of the mission. And through all of this have gained a stronger understanding of the challenges school staff are experiencing in the classrooms (and other areas) with students struggling academically, behaviorally, socially, etc and teaching students who are all learning at such different levels and in such unique ways.

What is one major issue facing your district, and what actions would you take in addressing that issue if you are elected?

I think the upcoming building restructuring transitions and change in Superintendent will be challenges this upcoming school year. I intend to focus how these changes are being communicated around, how feedback is being sought and responded to, and how administration is supporting the process of change. Child disengagement from school and disconnectedness another students and our school staff has led to a need for prioritizing mental health care for students and adults.