SCHOOL DISTRICT: Western Suffolk BOCES

I have Union in my blood.  As the granddaughter of one of the very first Union Organizers in NY, I have always believed in the strength and power of Union representation. It is as natural to me as breathing. As a mother and as an adult daughter, I have learned to understand the laws and rules of many organizations and programs to advocate for my family. Whether it was elder care, health care or special education services. To protect and defend them from mistreatment, neglect or intimidation. These experiences allow me to bring these skills to everything I do. Including my job here at Western Suffolk BOCES since March 2010. I registered to be a CSEA member the day I started working here.  I am an Information Technology Help Desk agent. I have gotten to know and support hundreds of our members and co-workers with access to their work communication platforms, use of electronic programs, their benefits, medical insurance and payroll.  I have been on the Clerical Unit’s Executive Board since 2017. I started as the 2nd Vice President where I assisted the President and membership as an advocate and representative to our members. I attended many of the CSEA provided workshops to better understand how to advocate and represent you.  In August 2019 I became the Vice President and in July 2022 became the President of the unit. In this last decade as part of the Executive Board, I have welcomed all members to count on me for support, representation and guidance. I have organized and hosted many meetings, and provided insurmountable beneficial information, resources and support. Including retirement information and Civil Service titles and rules.  I take my involvement with supporting our members very personally and treat you all as if you were my own family. Working for and protecting you like the mama bear I am. 

My proudest accomplishments are winning challenges on behalf of our members. Of course, adding better pay, more benefits or vacation days to a contract is wonderful. But winning the challenge of representing a probationary member on the verge of termination speaks volumes of why the union matters. This stands out most to me, a clerical member on her final week of probation. She had three impeccable evaluations.  Her last week of probation, a senior co-worker decided to use her as a scapegoat to take the brunt of his own misdoing. Suddenly, an evaluation with a completely opposite review was submitted and she was about to be fired. I communicated day and night with administration, presented the facts and brought to light the truth. Her job was saved! She is now happily here more than three years.  Another standout was working with a member who believed she was working out of title and deserved to be promoted to the next Civil Service Title. This is usually a very challenging task to make Civil Service agree with you.  I guided and worked very closely with this member and educated her how to submit for a Title Reclassification, (most call this a Desk Audit). It was the quickest review I had ever seen take place.  She starts her new title this month!  Representation and truth matters.   

I want to serve because I CARE! I truly care. I deeply believe that we, as employees, deserve to be treated as equal parts of the entire picture. We each have our part in making the entire agency work and without us then the agency doesn’t work. We deserve rewarding compensation for that and to be regarded as equals as we deserve for the loyalty, dedication and work that we do.  It matters to me that we have that voice and use it to speak up and I do, it is our voice!  I have been doing this for my Western Suffolk BOCES Clerical Unit for years and now I want to do this for the entire Local.