Our Team
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Maureen Is a resident of Cayuga County in Auburn and is a mother and grandmother. She received her B.S. from SUNY Buffalo in psychology with a minor in fine art. She spent numerous years in mental health management at both residential and outpatient facilities advocating for the youth of our community. She was a founding member of a local private school and served on the board of that school. In addition to being the lead applicant for FLCACS, she provides the organization and coordination needed to keep moving forward with the application and start-up process.
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Bruce MacBain has 3 kids who graduated from the Auburn City School District He retired from being a 21-year Middle School Principal in the area. His school received numerous state and national awards, including being designated in the first cohort of schools into the Schools to Watch Program. Over 35 schools visited his school to learn what he was doing so successfully. He was named New York State Middle School Principal of the Year in 2012. He currently teaches the Supervision of Curriculum course at SUNY Cortland, where he trains future educational leaders. He earned his BA in Arts and Sciences from Cornell, his JD in Law and his MA in Education from Syracuse University, and his CAS in Educational Administration from Cortland State University. Bruce has raised his children in Cayuga County and is committed to the growth of our community.
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Susan served 5 times as the Cayuga County Clerk, from 2004-2023. She was a Congressional District Office Manager from 1994 to 2004 and has been a community fundraiser, business owner, and landlord. Her community involvement and recognition is extensive and continuing. She served on the board of Directors/served as President (for some) of the following not-for-profit human service agencies in Cayuga County: Hospice of the Finger Lakes; Evergreen Heights Adult Home; Cayuga County Youth Bureau; United Way ; Auburn/Cayuga Counseling Services; Women’s Career Mentor Program at the Harriet Tubman Auburn Residential Center; Chair of the Salvation Army Kettle Driver; Co-founder of the Human Services Coalition Annual Directory; Chair of the Children Families Committee of the Human Services Coalition; Phi Beta Lambda Business Sorority at Cayuga Community College; Zonta Club. She has also served on the following committees: Status of Women, Scholarships, and the Soup Kitchen; member of 1st Amendment, 1st Vote; and chosen to serve on the Military Academy Boards for three members of Congress.
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Martha grew up in Cayuga County in the Southern Cayuga School District and completed her student teaching there. She has five children and homeschooled all of them. She graduated from Hillsdale College with a BA in History, a Spanish minor, and a K-5 teaching certificate. She was the Director of Veritas Homeschool Cooperative for five years, where she also taught. She is currently Co-Director of Redeeming Mondays and Thursdays Cooperative in Baldwinsville, NY, the largest co-op in upstate New York. As a leader and life long teacher, she provides the knowledge and experience needed to develop a classical scope and sequence and assist in its implementation in the classroom.
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Roberta, a resident of Cayuga County for over a decade, is currently the Deputy Commissioner of the Board of Elections, Past President of the Women’s Republican Club and Chair of the County Republican Committee. She also homeschooled her four sons K-12 with a classical curriculum and remains an advocate of school choice and classical education. Her vast community contacts have been an immeasurable asset in the area of public outreach.
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Nikki grew up in Onondaga County and graduated from Bishop Ludden Jr./Sr. High in Syracuse. She attended Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY and earned a BA in English and a BA in Psychology. She moved to Long Island and joined Teach for America in NYC. She taught full-time at John Adams High School (a Title I school in Queens) while completing an MA in Secondary ELA Education at Brooklyn College. Nikki relocated to Wayne County in 2007 where she currently resides with her husband and three children. She taught high school ELA at Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES and Geneva City School District. She spent her last 2.5 years with Geneva CSD as a Teacher on Special Assignment managing the before/after school program and over $8 million in grants. She was recruited by the CFO of Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School in Rochester and has spent 3.5 years as a Teacher on Special Assignment Senior Accountant and is currently the CFO/Finance Manager at that charter school. She provides the knowledge and experience necessary to apply for grants and to develop and implement a balanced budget.
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As a teacher for almost 20 years, Holly taught mathematics to kindergarteners, professional engineers, and everything in between. Her doctoral dissertation on partial differential equations spanned topics in numerical methods, parameter estimation, and asymptotic analysis. Currently, she uses data analytics to investigate the Foundation Aid Formula to find equitable funding options for all students in New York. Holly has taught U.S. Citizenship classes for Catholic Charities, volunteered at National School Choice Week’s legislative days, and administered support to organizations in Syracuse, NY that help provide basic needs for young children. As a mother of four young children, her commitment and dedication to education, school choice, and the families of the Finger Lakes area is invaluable to our mission.
Our FOUNDING BOARD is growing and looking for members who have a passion for education, are community-focused, and have strong decision-making skills.
Qualities of a good school board member:
Passion for education: Care about students' futures and want to improve schools
Clear communication: Listen actively and demonstrate a willingness to collaborate
Integrity: Be honest, trustworthy, and committed when making tough decisions
Community connection: Know your community and listen to concerns
Decision-making skills: Weigh options, consider consequences, and choose wisely
Open-mindedness: Be open to new ideas and willing to adapt
Collaboration: Work with other board members to set goals and take action
Please contact us at fingerlakfesclassicaledu@gmail.com
