East Irondequoit CSD Lancer Pride
I have been married to my wonderful husband, Robert, for 37 years. We have two sons, Michael, 32 years old and Brandon, 24 years old. I work for Wegmans as an e-commerce team leader in the Customer Care Center and absolutely love what I do! My husband, myself and our sons are all lifelong Lancers! One of my most memorable moments as a Lancer was being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
What's one thing you've always wanted to do or try?
One thing I would love to do is go on a volunteer trip and help build a school in a third world country or help with an educational project that impacts children in a positive way!
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
If I had a superpower, I would like to be able to see into the future. I would use it to make impactful decisions to help shape the future to be a peaceful, loving place in time!
What do you want to be remembered for?
I hope people remember me as someone who loves life. Someone who loves her family and friends with all of her heart. Someone who loves children and believes the best investment you can make is in children, as they are our future! I hope they also remember how much I love being a Lancer!
What is your favorite thing about East Irondequoit?
My favorite thing about East Irondequoit is the people. They are so willing to support and help each other unconditionally!
When you first became a BOE member, what’s something that was unexpected about the role?
I was surprised by how much I had to read and learn to be able to make informed, thoughtful decisions.
I have been married to Robert Watt for 42 years. My daughter Jamie (2000) and I (1975) are both proud alumni of Eastridge High School. I currently work part time as a personal cook. I am proud to have served on the Board of Education and to volunteer in many ways for our school community.
What's one thing you've always wanted to do or try?
I have always wanted to travel to Egypt, as I find the country and its history absolutely fascinating.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?
I love to read, research recipes and travel.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
I would want to be able to cure diseases.
What do you want to be remembered for?
I would want to be thought of as a good person who loved and gave back to their family and community faithfully and with passion.
What is your favorite thing about East Irondequoit?
I love that in many ways East Irondequoit has a small town feeling and we all care about each other.
I am married to my high school sweetheart. I attended East Irondequoit kindergarten through seventh grade. I have a bachelor's degree in Environmental Design and Planning from the University of Buffalo. I have four children that all graduated from Eastridge High School.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?
I enjoy reading, running, spending time with my family and traveling.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
If I could have any superpower, I would want the ability to cure what ails the world.
What do you want to be remembered for?
I would like to be remembered for being kind.
What is your favorite thing about East Irondequoit?
I love East Irondequoit because it is a close-knit community.
When you first became a BOE member, what’s something that was unexpected about the role?
I didn't expect the magnitude of information to learn and be knowledgeable about.
I have a wonderful husband, Todd, as well as 2 awesome kids. Ada is a sophomore at Eastridge, and Zag is a 7th grader at EIMS. I am in my 21st year as an elementary physical education teacher. My first degree is in accounting and sports management from Nazareth College and my second degree is in physical education from Brockport College.
What's one thing you've always wanted to do or try?
I have always wanted to travel across the United States in an RV with my family.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?
I enjoy walks with my 2-year-old chocolate lab, Charlie and cheering on and supporting my kids in their extracurricular activities and sports. My Kids call me MUber, AKA mom Uber!
What do you want to be remembered for?
I want to be remembered for my character and the way that I treat people with respect and kindness.
What is your favorite thing about East Irondequoit?
My favorite thing about East Irondequoit CSD is the emphasis placed on the importance of building relationships, both peer to peer and staff to student and its goal to meet students' academic and social emotional needs.
When you first became a BOE member, what’s something that was unexpected about the role?
I knew that being elected to a Board of Education position was an honor, and I was grateful for the support from the community. I did not anticipate the pressure that would come with it. The pressure to make the best decisions for our students, teachers and community as a whole, while functioning with fiscal restraints and parameters. I have come to realize that if I am doing my best at this job, that the pressure is never going to go away, I have just learned to navigate it better.
My wife Pam and I have been married 28 years and have 4 grown children (3 of whom graduated from Eastridge). I have a BS degree in Music Education, but work for UPS, as well as working with non-profit arts organizations.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy cooking and gardening.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
If I could have any superpower it would have to be teleportation!
What do you want to be remembered for?
As somebody who worked hard, had plenty of fun, and was a good friend.
What is your favorite thing about East Irondequoit?
I love the diversity of the community.
When you first became a BOE member, what’s something that was unexpected about the role?
I can't think of anything that was unexpected. I will say that there is so much going on in our schools that I regret not being able to attend more events in support of our amazing students and staff.
I am married to my wife Lori; I have 4 children and 3 grandchildren. I have been in software development for nearly 50 years and owned my own company for 10 years. I am lucky to have a lot of friends and family in my life.
What's one thing you've always wanted to do or try?
I have always wanted to learn how to fly a helicopter.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?
in my free time I enjoy music and building and fixing things.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
If I could have any superpower, it would be time travel. I find history interesting, so to be able to go back and see what actually happened at different points in time would be fascinating.
What is your favorite thing about East Irondequoit?
I love that East Irondequoit feels like a small town in a bigger city.
I am a life-long resident of East Irondequoit and attended East Irondequoit schools growing up. I earned a bachelor's degree from St. John Fisher College and a master's degree in education from Nazareth College. I am currently a sixth-grade special education teacher and have 15 years of teaching experience.
What's one thing you've always wanted to do or try?
I have always wanted to travel abroad to enhance my understanding of different cultures and to become a more globally minded citizen.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?
During my free time I enjoy biking, swimming, relaxing at the beach, and reading. Recently, I read The Growth Mindset Coach which provides tools and activities to help empower students to take ownership in their achievement.
What do you want to be remembered for?
I want to be remembered for being an effective educator and advocate for my students and for giving back to my community.
What is your favorite thing about East Irondequoit?
I love the people in East Irondequoit. East Irondequoit is a diverse, multi-generationally community whose residents are deeply invested in the present and future success of their town.
When you first became a BOE member, what’s something that was unexpected about the role?
I was surprised by the variety of ways that I am able to contribute and grow in this role by being a liaison to the schools and being part of committees within and outside the district.
I grew up in the Southern Tier, Vestal, New York. I graduated from SUNY Brockport and Nazareth College with degrees in education. My husband was also a teacher for 30 years in the Rochester City School District and 8 at Monroe Community College. Our one daughter, Sara, has been a chemical dependency counselor for 15 years. Sara’s husband is also a teacher. They have one daughter, Emma, a fourth grader in Webster. Growing up I played teacher and always wanted to be a teacher. Substituting was my first teaching experience here in EICSD. I also worked in the Laurelton-Pardee Library as a library clerk. Finally in 1996, I was offered a full-time teaching job at Laurelton-Pardee as a fourth-grade teacher. Those were the best years of my life. I finally could be what I always dreamed of. Five years ago, I retired after a 20-year career.
What's one thing you've always wanted to do or try?
I have always wanted to take a trip around the world. Not a hiking trip, but a train and cruise trip.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?
I love to read in my spare time. Usually, mysteries or stories about World War 1 and 2. I also enjoy designing gardens. My husband does the digging and planting, while I give suggestions and directions.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
If I could have any superpower, it would be to change people's lives. I’d want to take all the sadness and hate from their hearts and replace it with compassion and love. I would focus on families who are in crisis, because helping families helps children.
What do you want to be remembered for?
I would like to be remembered for kindness.
What is your favorite thing about East Irondequoit?
I love East Irondequoit because of the kids and the people who work here.
I have been married for 32 years. I have two kids, Natalie, a dance teacher for students in pre-k through third grade, and Danny, a website designer.
What's one thing you've always wanted to do or try?
I have always wanted to ride the chair lift at Bristol Mountain in the fall. I rode the lift many times in the winter, but I think seeing the changing colors of all the leaves would be magnificent.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your free time?
I enjoy camping, campfires and walking my dog. I also love being a board member.
What do you want to be remembered for?
I would want to be remembered for my love of the students in East Irondequoit. Helping students in the marching band, drumline, at concerts and in the musicals makes me so happy.
What is your favorite thing about East Irondequoit?
I love the teachers, staff and students. East Irondequoit is a wonderful community.
When you first became a BOE member, what’s something that was unexpected about the role?
I am also amazed at how much I have learned in this position.
