Candidate Profile: Gomez Seeks Seat On Ossining Board Of Education

OSSINING, NY - New Yorkers will go to the polls May 16 for the school board election and budget vote in their districts.

In anticipation of the election, Patch asked candidates in Ossining's contested race to answer questions about their campaigns and is publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Quratul (Annie) Gomez was born in New York City and raised in upstate New York's Albany County. After high school she went to Northeastern University in Boston, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Economics with a minor in Business Administration. She worked as a financial analyst until her oldest was born, after which she became a stay at home mom so she could care for his complex medical needs.

Gomez and her husband have three children, who are 5.5, 4, and 1.5 years old. Her oldest is currently in kindergarten and her middle child will be entering pre-K in the fall of 2023. She and her husband had been dreaming of moving back to New York and in 2020 they chose Ossining for its diversity, rich culture, and accessible education.

Gomez works part time as an accountant for a local Westchester woman-owned business. She is the current secretary of the Ossining Early Childhood PTA, class helper, chaired the Park School sweetheart dance, and is a frequent board meeting attendee. She is an active member and participant of ENU Builds, a youth and community outreach initiative based in Ossining that is also involved in work with the district. She also created the Ossining/Briarcliff Manor Playgroup where she has worked closely to host events with local businesses such as Mike Risko Music, the Ossining fire station, and Ossining police department.

In her free time she enjoys running, reading, gardening, and stressing out her husband with new DIY house projects.You can learn more about her at www.gowithgomez.net and https://www.facebook.com/gowithgomezboe

Check out Patch's full Q&A with Annie Gomez:

What is the best thing about the district, and what do you believe should be improved?

There are so many great things about our district but I'd have to say the best thing is the dedication to inclusivity! Ossining is not a district that discusses DEI and checks it off the to-do list, but actively works at it every day. Because of our racial and social diversity, DEI is particularly important for our community and Dr. Sanchez really works to cultivate a culture of care. Some examples of this can be found in how SROs have been implemented in our schools and how sensitive they are towards students of color, especially based on national news on law enforcement incidents with people of color, particularly Black Americans.

Another example is the focus on restorative justice when it comes to discipline, and yet another is the addition of a day off the school calendar next year for a Muslim holiday. This sounds contradictory, but while this is one of our strengths, it is also the place we could improve. Because we have so much diversity of all kinds in our district, there are barriers to accessing programming that we may have to think about that other districts don't. That includes students with disabilities, and if elected I would love to bring more conversations to the table on how to make our programming even more accessible.

What makes you uniquely qualified to serve on the board?

I am the only candidate with a background in finance and budget analysis. I feel that is very important expertise to have when so much of the role of the board revolves around how finances are being spent. We all want the very best for our students, and to give them every opportunity. I want to find a way to do that while also being fiscally responsible. Westchester taxes are high, and at least for my family, we expected that when we moved here. We were okay with it because of what we got in return for our money and we have not been disappointed. However, there are ways we can look at the budget and rework it to reduce the impact to taxpayers. Where are we spending the most money but not seeing the return on investment? Where should we prioritize spending? What are ways we can get the same quality for our students but cut costs? The budget is not a simple yes or no, it's a nuanced topic, and those are all conversations I look forward to being a part of if elected.

If you had to vote for candidates out of the current field, NOT counting yourself, who would you choose, and why?

In Ossining we are very lucky to have a contested debate. It says a lot about our community's commitment to our children that we have more people interested in running than we do seats. I encourage readers to educate themselves on all of the candidates and make the choice that best suits them as we all have something unique to offer.

What would your priorities be if elected?

My priorities lie entirely on our students having a positive and fulfilling school experience. That seems a little vague, but it's the lens through which I look at everything. Bullying, for example, is an issue in our middle school. I'm certain this is already in progress, but I want to get to the root of why that is happening and how we can provide support and safety for both the kids being bullied and the bullies themselves. There is almost always a need being unmet that leads to situations like bullying and as adults with fully formed frontal lobes, it's our responsibility to find ways to help these children through it, especially when they themselves are at a really difficult time developmentally.

Another example is listening to the community. The Board is comprised of only seven seats and that means that not every child in every situation may be represented. That's where listening to parents about their experiences and those of their children is really important. It brings us closer to inclusivity and closer to every child having the wonderful schooling they deserve.

I am so excited for my kids to go through Ossining schools, so far my kindergartener is having a wonderful time in the district, and I would be honored to be a part of the governing body that actively works towards making this already amazing district even better for our students.