.
The
Mohonasen
Foundation for Excellence, Inc.
P.O. Box 4207
Return
to the Mohonasen Foundation Homepage
OUR BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
The
Board of Directors is composed of members of the Mohonasen community who
wish to actively contribute to the education of its students. Directors
must be at least 18 years of age and may not be employees of the
district.
The
insight of district parents and alumni interested in advancing the
quality of their children’s educational experiences benefit students
and the foundation. Past Mohonasen Board of Education members and
individuals that represent the ethnic and cultural diversity of the
community are encouraged to bring their unique perspectives to the
board. The Foundation benefits from the
Directors’
terms are for two years which are served without compensation. Sharing
your valuable time and skills the Mohonasen Foundation for Excellence is
The
current Board of Directors is
composed of eleven members who meet
Joe Anderson began teaching Social Studies at Mohonasen High School in 1957 and retired after 34 years of service in 1991. He graduated from Albany State where he earned a BA and MA in Social Studies. At various times in his career he coached Junior Varsity basketball, freshman basketball, volleyball and golf. He married a district art teacher, the former Annette Thisse. They have six children and nine grandchildren. Joe enjoys camping, fishing, golf and his gym membership. Joe joined the board of directors of the Mohonasen Foundation in 2007.
BILL
BAKER
Mr. Baker was
educated in the Schenectady School System, graduating from Mont Pleasant
High School in 1951. He continued his education, graduating from
Springfield College with a bachelor's degree in physical education and
from SUNY Albany with a master's degree in school administration. He is
married to Lois Sigsbee
Baker. They have four children: Deborah Baker Wilday, a teacher and
coach in the Galway School District; Dennis, a manufacturing engineer
for Focus Golf in Greenville, SC; Kim, a manager for the Times Union in
Albany; and Roger, a policeman in New London, CT. Mr. Baker began his
teaching career at Mohonasen in 1957 (the first year of centralization),
teaching health, physical education and driver education classes. While
at Mohonasen, he coached varsity basketball for 24 years, varsity
baseball, varsity golf, varsity volleyball and varsity girls soccer. He
was also athletic director at Mohonasen from 1972 to 1986, serving as
president of the regional athletic directors association in 1974.
Mr. Baker retired from Mohonasen in 1988. Other activities include
working as a soccer referee at both the scholastic and college level for
20 years. He is a member of the Belllevue Reformed Church, serving as
vice president of the church Consistory. He also enjoys woodworking,
golf, and chairing the Foundation's annual
golf tournament, it's major fundraising event.
Chip (Norman) Cornish has been highly visible in the Mohonasen community since 1968 when he began as a teacher at Bradt School. As a sixth grade science teacher at Draper Middle School, Chip was known for using the school's observatory to maximum advantage when integrated into the science curriculum. He conducted special observatory programs for his students, science club members and curious parents. Since Mr. Cornish retired from Mohonasen in 2002, he has directed his time to family, community service, and a coin business. As Grants Director of the Mohonasen Foundation, Chip feels right at home when he visits teachers who have applied for Foundation grants.
PAUL DELORENZO
Paul E. DeLorenzo Esq. is a practicing
attorney with the Schenectady- based Delorenzo Law Firm. The firm has
been in existence for over 50 years and has allowed Paul to participate
in many of our community groups, such as Rotterdam Girls Softball. His
father played a big role in starting the softball league and as such,
Paul likes to be involved and help the league in any way he can. Paul
also served as a Rotterdam New York Town Attorney, Board Member of
Campus Life, and Event organizer for Toys for Tots, Make-A-Wish
Foundation, and regularly lectures on many facets of New
York State Law. Paul became involved with the Mohonasen Foundation for
Excellence because of his young son
beginning to reach school age. It brought a further awareness of how our
future depends on the education, culture, and moral framework of our
community’s youth.
Paul joined the foundation in January 2010 and is the foundation’s
treasurer.
JOHN
GAHAN
John Gahan, currently president of the
Foundation, joined the Foundation in 2006 after a long history with
Mohonasen, which started in 1961 in the first grade at the John Bigsbee
Elementary School and culminated with graduation from Mohonasen in 1973.
John received his BS in Accounting from Bryant College in 1977 and
started with the NYS Health Department after graduation. Currently he is
the Director with the Bureau of Primary and Acute Care Reimbursement
with the Department of Health. He renewed his involvement with Mohonasen
as a volunteer when his daughter Christina started school. She has
recently received both her undergraduate and MBA degree from Union
College. John is married to Denise (D’Arcangelo – Class of 1974). He has
been chairman of the budget review committee, co-chair of Elementary
Reorganization Committee, initial member of Goals the 2000 Initiative,
as well as serving on the Board of Education for 11 years, three years
as its president. His goal as a member of the Foundation is to help it
increase its exposure and money raising ability so that it can provide
grants to support unique academic initiatives to further the educational
experience of our Mohonasen students.
MARY
KAY KOMARINSKI
Mrs. Komarinski
serves as the Mohonasen Foundation's secretary. She was raised in
Toledo, Ohio and received a bachelor’s degree in political science
from Wheeling Jesuit University. While attending college, she met her
husband, Peter. In 1973, her family moved to the Capital District,
settling in Rotterdam. In 1988, Mrs. Komarinski received her master's
degree in special education. Since then, she has been a special
education teacher in the Shenendehowa Central School District. All five
of her children; Mark, Derrick, Scott, Allen and Kathleen, graduated
from Mohonasen. The four oldest have all graduated from college, with
Scott receiving his MBA from the University of Delaware.
Kathleen is a sophomore at Catholic University of America. Both
Mr. and Mrs. Komarinski have been involved in community activities. Mrs.
Komarinski has been a volunteer with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. She
is very active at St. Gabriel’s Church, serving on the parish council
for many years and as a religious education teacher.
For the past ten years, she has assisted with the youth choir.
She has served on several committees at Mohonasen, including as a
facilitator for the EPIC parenting program.
PAULA MARSHMAN
Paula was elected to the Mohonasen Foundation for
Excellence in August 2009. Prior to this, she has volunteered in several
capacities with the Mohonasen community: as a homeroom parent, co-chair
of CommUnity Day – an event used to showcase and celebrate the district
and the community at large, and as a member of the Budget Advisory
Committee. Professionally, Paula works for the NYS Office of Temporary
and Disability Assistance as a Project Manager overseeing primary
training portfolios for the agency. She has also had a career as a
community and waterfront planner for the State Coastal Management
Program and Brownfield initiative. While she enjoys volunteering with
different community projects, her “pride and joy” are her daughters,
Becca and Hannah. Paula received her M.S. degree from Michigan State
University and B.A. degree from SUNY College at Plattsburgh.
PATRICK
MCGRATH
Biography coming soon...
PATRICIA
NOVAK
Mrs. Novak was elected to the Foundation’s
Board in 2000 and is currently serving as president.
In that capacity, she
orchestrates the foundation's grant program, development activities and
alumni relations. She considers her participation on the Board as an opportunity
for continued involvement in maintaining the excellence of education for
Mohonasen students.
CRAIG
W. RADLIFF
Mr. Radliff
is the Foundation's vice president. He grew up in the Schenectady area and graduated from Mohonasen High School
in 1976. He continued his
education and received his associate's degree from Alfred State College
and his bachelor of science degree in industrial technology from Buffalo
State College. Mr. Radliff joined General Electric in 1980 and has a
held a variety of positions at different locations.
In 1991, he returned to the area and is currently the manager of
the Schenectady Facilities Operations for Power Systems. In June 2005, Mr. Radliff received the Mohonasen Board of Education's
Board Recognition Award. Craig and his wife, Elsa, have two children, Casey
and
Christopher. They
reside in Rotterdam.
|
Learn more about... |
|
