Schools

Meet the School Board Candidates: Pamela Lotito

West Hempstead's Board of Education president is running unopposed for re-election.

After 12 years of serving on the West Hempstead school board, Pamela Lotito is ready for more.

The Board of Education president (and former VP) is seeking an additional term on May 17, when voters head out to the polls to weigh in on and the school board candidates on the ballot.

Lotito and current board vice president Walter Ejnes are both running unopposed to retain their seats. (In Malverne, board president Dr. Patrick Coonan is in the same boat.) Although residents do have the ability to write-in names, more than likely the two will swiftly be re-elected to the board.

Find out what's happening in Malverne-Lynbrookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Still, it's important to know who you are voting for and who will be charged with setting the course for where education is going in West Hempstead.

Therefore, from now until May 17, Patch will include in its coverage of the school budget, profiles of the people who will also be appearing on the ballot.

Find out what's happening in Malverne-Lynbrookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

So who is Pamela Lotito?

A 34-year resident of West Hempstead, Lotito has raised two children in the community. Her son, Alan, attended , Kellenberg Memorial High School and Loyola College, while her daughter, Kristin, was a student at George Washington School, West Hempstead Middle and High Schools and Cornell University.

Lotito's background is in education, having taught elementary school in Rockville Centre and obtained a Masters Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education.

When the district formed its first Strategic Planning Council in 2007 she was one of the original members, serving on the Curriculum Development Committee. Then, in 2010, she continued joined the second coucil, this time devoting herself to the Curriculum Data Committee.

"I participated in developing an action plan for Continuous Improvement Using Data," she told Patch. "To see the implementation of the work done by the members of the Strategic Planning Council is one of the reasons I want to continue on the Board of Education."

She adds, "It is exciting to see the great strides our district has made in technology!" 

Over the years, she pointed out that the district has embraced iPods, iPads, whiteboards with Internet, laptops and netbook carts, and digital microscopes.

"[These] all enhance our curriculum and provide opportunities for numerous teaching strategies," she said.

Over the next few years, she said the district will undoubtly continue to face financial challenges due to the economy as it struggles to provide the best educational experience for students while keeping costs under control.

"Cuts in state and federal aid, possible tax certiorari judgments, sewage taxes, and unfunded mandates, challenge us on the expense side of our budget each year," she said. "Providing a well rounded academic and extracurricular program for our children while recognizing the financial burden on our whole community will also continue to challenge the Board of Education every year."

Lotito said she hopes the district's leaders will be able to tap into her 12 years of experience on the school board as they navigate their way through these difficult times.

"To balance wise stewardship of public funds with the educational needs of our student population is the most important role of a school board trustee," she added.


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