dear neighbors

For the past three years, it has been my privilege to serve on the board of the Chappaqua Central School District, including this year as President.

For those who may not know me, I've lived in Chappaqua since 2015 along with my wife, Meredith Grauer, and our two children, who both went to Roaring Brook Elementary and are now at Bell Middle School and Greeley High School.

I grew up in Oregon, where my father was that high school math teacher you probably didn’t want at the time (sorry dad!) but came to appreciate later (see I made up for it!). He taught multiple generations algebra and geometry in his 30+ year career. And my summer jobs growing up were spent painting classroom walls, waxing gym floors, and changing hundreds of fluorescent light bulbs, so I have a great appreciation for the effort it takes to maintain the wonderful facilities we benefit from in Chappaqua.

I'm a former university administrator and faculty member who taught educational design courses to pre-service teachers and science to undergraduates. I’m an expert on technology-enhanced learning having directed a research center focused on education innovation. More recently I've worked in educational research, philanthropy, and nonprofit leadership, offering grants and technical assistance to colleges to help them make strategic improvements needed to better serve students and their communities. My work requires active listening, consensus building, budget and strategy analysis, and advocacy for those who have often been historically marginalized. I came to New York to attend Teachers College after graduating from Santa Clara University with a Biology degree (and a minor in Theatre!) and spending two years running an afterschool tutoring center for k-8th grade students.

I'm running for a 2nd term on the school board because…

I want to continue to use my expertise to support our district team and community in our collective effort to continuously improve our schools at all levels. Over the last three years, I have learned firsthand that experience and institutional knowledge on our board matter for achieving our long-term collective goals. Experience and continuity are important because of the strategic multi-year nature of much of the board’s work, most of which takes place behind the scenes. Some examples:

• the partnership we recently made with Northwell Health to improve access to mental health services at a very reasonable cost to the district starting later this year;  

• capital improvements approved in 2022 that are bringing improved safety elements, upgraded HVAC and fiber optic in all buildings, better tennis court lighting and a middle school baseball field, new roofs, and a fully functioning (and weekend accessible!) outdoor bathroom at Greeley;

• world language instruction for K-4 starting this fall and going forward, the exploration of adding the International Baccalaureate to our offerings.

To accomplish initiatives like the above, it takes several years of consistent committed leadership aligned to the district’s strategic plan and the needs of our community.

Being an effective board member also requires knowledge about education policy, New York state education law, our role as a fiduciary, and a real feel for the total experience of going to school in Chappaqua from the elementary schools up through Greeley and beyond. In addition to my time on the board, my ten years as a parent in this district gives me valuable insight into what our district families benefit from and what they need going forward at all levels.

We currently have 17 years of combined board experience spread over the five people on the board today, with a good mix of veterans and new perspectives. However, if Hilary Grasso and I aren’t both re-elected in May, four of the five board members going forward will have two years of experience or less. And we need continuity and stability in these times.

Our increasingly globally connected world creates both more opportunities and more challenges for every school district that I am well prepared to help us navigate together. My experience as an education innovator and my insights into what leading universities are seeking from prospective students adds valuable perspective for key decisions our board makes.

It would be a great privilege to continue to serve our schools as a school board member and I want to thank you for considering supporting me with your vote on May 20th.

Warmest regards,

Ryan