Candidate Profile: Leveille For Ossining School Board

OSSINING, NY - New Yorkers go to the polls May 16 for the 2023 school board election and budget vote in their district.

In anticipation of the election, Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Kelly Leveille is a lifelong Westchester County resident. An entrepreneur, she has spent 25 years in coaching and health, including Lotus on Main in Tarrytown and Lotus Off Main in Ossining. She was introduced to Ossining by her wife, Stephanie Leveille, who has been a lifelong resident, a record-holding, hall of fame alum and a teacher. As a parent of four children, three with special needs, she was part of SEPTO and is working to revive it. She has volunteered as a class mother and in the Ossining youth lacrosse program.

You can learn more about her on her Facebook page.

Check out Patch's full Q&A with Leveille:

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

The best thing about our district- I would say the diversity, original sense of community and the actual teachers and staff drawn to Ossining. When I first moved here 13 years ago and felt the sense of community/ family that I had always longed for. I experienced that in Ossining for the first time and marrying a lifelong Ossining resident who is also an educator in the community witnessing the depth of this experience was incredible.

The biggest need for improvement is in the literacy, reading, writing and math. We are measuring very low in those areas and I know it is not because of lack or non-effort on the teachers end. I believe a lot of the decisions made in the past few years at the administrative level has caused a big impact. I also think there are issues not being addressed in regards to bullying and the social ongoings in our community is a major concern of mine.

What makes you uniquely qualified to serve on the board?

I am a mother of 4 in the district, 3 of whom receive services through IEP and a 504. My wife is a teacher in the district and I am a concerned community member who feels like changes need to happen in the district and not seeing it has inspired me to step up to the plate. I have been an entrepreneur for over 25 working in the healing/ coaching industry with clients all over the world and understand the importance of listening as well as management. I think I bring a unique perspective and also am open to creative ways to take action, not just speak about the important things.

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

Rob Melstein- I believe he has done his due diligence in diving deep into research and really understanding the ongoing of our district. I believe he also looks for the “solve” or action oriented resolution in his points of interest of which we have similar views and priorities.

What would your priorities be if elected?

First and foremost to create a committee for teachers to be heard. We have a big disconnect in communication between the administration and what is happening day to day in classrooms. I think the conversations and feedback without recourse with teachers, children and parents is a must to get a real understanding of what is happening and what is needed in the community- whether it’s a forum, survey or committee I think hearing from the people we serve on the board, the community voice, is missing. I would also join the code of conduct committee and other committees in regards to policys that concern bullying, equity and really dig into our budget in regards to where money is being unnecessarily spent.