Dr. Matthew Watson, Trustee, Nyack School Board

It’s finally here!
First day jitters will hopefully melt away from the heartfelt welcome provided by volunteers who “Chalked the Walk” at our elementary & middle schools.
My thanks to the PTAs who orchestrated the events.

Are you a Nyack HS student interested in joining or you can’t wait to begin the journey all over again? Then come to the first meeting on 9/4 @ 2:30 at the HS!

It was a tremendous pleasure to attend and participate in the graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2024. Excelsior!

The people of Nyack voted in support of Trustees Marraccino, Goodman & Vasquez in an open election in May, 2023 in which former Trustee Marshall lost his reelection bid.

Trustee Vasquez has my respect and support as does longtime Board member Jen Marraccino.

It is truly a great thing to identify & express one’s true self & to be accepted and embraced by those around you. Creating and maintaining that space in our district is one of our strengths. Have PRIDE in your self all year long.

A touch late in coming, but congratulations to Elaine Philhower & Bryan Burrell for their election to the School Board. I look forward to working with you both!

From communication to collaboration takes a ringmaster’s skill sometimes but is rewarding for all.

Always a reason to celebrate!

What did you do this weekend?
I got to help Chrissy Knapp clear the garden beds at UNES so the kids could plant produce later this week.
Volunteers are always welcome!

Applause-Applause!!

I love seeing our students having opportunities to expand their audience. The Arts are an integral part of the Nyack Schools experience.

A huge thank you to Salonnière Coffee Bar for donating the coffee for tonight’s Coffeehouse!

Come out to hear some amazingly talented musicians and support Nyack MusicWorks lesson scholarship fund!

Thank you to our AP teachers for facilitating this brilliant exchange!

Achingly true, and destructive to all.

This alone should make us love each other that “we all are going to die”. 🥲

Neil Gaiman is easily one of my favorite authors & has fast become one of my daughter’s as well. (Along with Sir Terry Pratchett and Tui T. Sutherland.)

Reading counts! 📚

Congratulations to our student-scientists!

It’s tough to teach “to the box” and sometimes it calls for some real creativity between student & teacher to identify the best way to meet each kid’s needs. When you do though, it transforms looking out over your classroom into like looking into the night sky. See them shine!

What a powerful image! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Buy your tickets today: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/81537

I’ve had the privilege of meeting Ms. Didi Conn in the past and have always been struck by her enthusiasm and energy. I’m sure the cast was over the moon by her appearance.

Between the meeting on Tuesday & the Executive Session on Friday, I had the pleasure of attending the Red & Black recognition ceremony on Thursday, March 7.

It was refreshing to be at an event celebrating the accomplishments of our student athletes.

I participated in high school and college theatrical productions and found friends, self-confidence and freedom of expression in a joyful environment. Sure it was hard work at times, (I put the “chore” in choreography) but the end result created memories that sustain me to this day.

I’m proud of Nyack’s theatre tradition and look forward to supporting their work.

This post is a big THANK YOU to departing BOE Trustees, Beth Davidson and James Marshall. Your wisdom, wit and force of will is to be cherished. I look forward to celebrating your future success in whatever position you choose to serve as I know you both will continue to work for the betterment of our shared community.

On "endorsements".
It was just a year ago that I was going door to door in Nyack and Valley Cottage explaining my reasons for running for a spot on the Nyack School Board. There were two openings, and three candidates to choose from. I supported Michael Mark in retaining his seat, so I only had to focus on winning the second spot. Each of us was interviewed by the representatives of the Nyack Teacher's Association, and though I would have loved their endorsement, they explained that it was not their practice to endorse candidates. I don't recall the rationale, but it was explained to me by a veteran superintendent that a Union endorsement cuts both ways, and for all the good it may bring there would always be those who felt that the candidates endorsed would somehow be beholden to the Union. The NTA held fast to their practice then, and I worked hard to win my seat without their endorsement. (and if I haven't said it enough, Thank You for your vote.)

With that as history, I would ask you to consider the three candidates for School Board who similarly did not get the NTA endorsement this year.

Jessica Goodman has been a fixture at every public Board Meeting I have been to this past year and has been doing so for the past several years. Her summary of the meetings is a Facebook mainstay for many parents in our district. She's cultivated relationships with many of our teachers and administrators, and I believe she would be best able to contribute to the district and our children from Day One.

I met Benny Vasquez and his husband as I was campaigning last year and was impressed with his professional background in education. His experience dovetails neatly with our district goals in the pursuit of quantifiable results and developing the metrics to measure them in both educational rigor and equity. He will be a welcome addition whose skills will complement others on the board.

Jen Marraccino has proven to be a leader capable of building consensus over difficult decisions. She listens without judgment, admits when she's wrong, and places the team above her self. She coordinated our search for a new superintendent with our selected firm, handled thorny situations with candor and grace, and provides a consistent reminder that we are to be focused on the well-being of the children in our care. Jen has public service in her veins and I'm delighted to support her in her bid to remain on the school board.