Meet The Clarkstown School Board Candidates: Chris Conti

were asked to provide background information and their positions on issues facing the school district. Chris Conti provided today's responses. 

Name:
Christopher Conti 

Age:
41

Marital status:
Married to Kathleen 

Age and gender of children:
We have three sons, who are eight, four and three years old and a daughter who is one year old.

What community do you live in?
Congers

How long have you lived there?
Since 1978

What is your educational background?
B.S. in Mathematics and Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from St. Thomas Aquinas College
Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Iona College 

Where do you work and what is your occupation?
Math teacher in the high school alternative program, Community Based Instruction Tech, at Rockland BOCES for 19 years

I have been a staff developer for four years with NYS United Teachers (NYSUT) and teach three courses: Cyber bullying, Response to Intervention (RTI) and Showing the Evidence (course on APPR). I also run workshops and seminars on those subjects.
Chief negotiator for three years for BOCES Staff Association, which is affiliated with NYSUT
Head Coach for Clarkstown North Boys Cross County team for 13 years
Head Coach for Clarkstown North Boys Spring Track & Field Team from 1999 to 2009

What is your spouse’s occupation?
Kathleen teaches social studies to emotionally handicapped middle school students at Rockland BOCES.

 Are you a member of any professional, union and/or volunteer organization/s? If yes, please list them and if you held any official position within the group/s.
Chief negotiator for three years for BOCES Staff Association, which is affiliated with NYSUT
Congers Little League coordinator for minor leagues and manager of Rivercats minor league team for eight to 10 year olds for more than three years
Clarkstown Stars Baseball junior commissioner and assistant coach for 8 and under team
St. Paul’s Basketball League assignor for 24 years

Have you received any awards/recognition?
No

What unique skills/experience would you bring to the board?
I am a very good listener who wants to hear the concerns of the community. I feel I am a person who can make decisions and be able to compromise when needed. I have an educational background, so I can offer additional insightful information on current issues within the district; such as but not limited to Cyber bullying, Response to Interventions and the negotiation process of APPR.

Have you run for elected office before? If yes, please explain.
I have never run for public office.

Why are you running for the school board?
I have been living in the community for a long time. Next year I will have two children in Congers Elementary and one in early intervention at a Starting Place. I want to make the Clarkstown School District a place where people talk about how great our schools are. I want to put our children and their needs first. If I had to sum up my candidacy in one word it would be peace. If I had to pick three words to describe me: passion, commitment and communication.

Which, if any organizations endorsed you?
Right now no one has endorsed me.

How do you think you can help the board work more effectively and cooperatively as a whole and with the administration?
I am a very positive person with a lot of energy. I have been on a team my whole life, which has given me the skills to work cooperatively with other people. I believe that one person can make a difference and I want to be that person.

What do you see as the single greatest challenge facing the Clarkstown School District?
The greatest challenge is looking at the two schools, Felix Festa Middle School and the Birchwood School, that have been identified as “schools in need of improvement” and getting them the resources and/or interventions to help our students succeed. This connects into the two percent cap, which is where I foresee the challenge.

How did the board’s decision to hire a new superintendent influence your decision to run?
I cannot comment on what the board did or did not do. I am hopeful with the support of our community that I will be able to influence the board in the future.

Do you have a campaign web site or Facebook page?
My Facebook page is Elect Chris Conti for School Board.

How will you handle your coaching duties and volunteer work if elected to the board?
I plan to give up most of my volunteering and coaching to commit time to the board.

Two school board candidates' forums have been announced. The Clarkstown Taxpayers' program takes place on Thursday, April 26 at the Nanuet Library from 7 to 9 pm. The Clarkstown Council of PTAs holds it program on Monday, April 30 at the Felix Festa Middle School in West Nyack at 7 p.m.