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Bronxville NPC Endorses Three Nominees for Bronxville Board of Education: Meet the Candidates Tonight

By Bronxville NPC

April 20, 2022: The Bronxville Non-Partisan Committee (“NPC”) is pleased to announce its endorsement of three nominees, Michael Brandes, Erin Bertocci Seuffert and Alexa Pappas Zannetos, for the upcoming election of Trustees for the Bronxville School Board on May 17th, 2022 in the Blue Gym at the Bronxville school. 

Meet our Candidates

To give the Bronxville Community an opportunity to meet Alexa, Erin and Michael, the NPC is hosting a reception on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at 7PM at the Bronxville Field Club (40 Locust Lane, Mount Vernon, NY). Bronxville residents are encouraged to attend, learn more and ask the NPC-endorsed candidates questions.

The NPC Nomination Process

The nomination of Michael, Erin and Alexa was the culmination of a process that began in October 2021 that included: i) collecting feedback from the community, as well as current and former Trustees to understand the needs of the School Board, ii) a thorough vetting process of each of the candidates and iii) reviewing community feedback on all the candidates.

This year, the school board faces the challenge of replacing three very experienced Trustees, who have served the maximum term of 6 years, as well as hiring a replacement for school Superintendent, Dr. Roy Montesano, who will be retiring this year.  Furthermore, our school district continues to work through challenging budget constraints, maintaining a dynamic curriculum, responding to evolving COVID challenges and upholding the Bronxville Promise.

While there are numerous desired characteristics of a school board Trustee, through the community feedback received and NPC member discussions, there were certain key attributes that were consistently articulated by all parties, which included the following: 

  • School Experience: Possesses familiarity with the Bronxville schools and local community
  • Skillsets: Brings unique and valuable skillsets to address school board issues
  • Governance: Demonstrates prior experience working in committee and board environments
  • Engagement: Communicates and collaborates effectively with others
  • Commitment: Makes time available to meet demands of the school board

With the NPC’s endorsement and support, Alexa, Erin and Michael will be placed on the ballot for the district-wide election on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 (polls are open 7AM – 9PM). The polling location is the Blue Gym at the Bronxville School (through the Meadow Avenue entrance). Further details about the election, including how to vote by absentee ballot, is available on the District website: https://www.bronxvilleschool.org/board-of-education

Please see below for more on each nominee:

To learn more about the NPC, or to contact us, visit www.bronxvillenpc.org follow us on Instagram @bronxvillenpc or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Michael Brandes

Professional Experience:

Michael is the former Chief Investment Strategist and Head of Research for the Private Bank at Itaú Unibanco, Latin America’s largest corporate and investment bank. He held various senior roles in research and capital markets at Citigroup and predecessor firms (Salomon Smith Barney, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney) for nearly 25 years, most recently as Managing Director, Global Head of Fixed Income Strategy at the Citi Private Bank. He is currently Managing Principal at Brandes Capital Management.

Local Experience

Michael is a 10-year resident of Bronxville Village.  Michael and his wife, Nadine, have two children who currently attend the Bronxville High School and previously attended the Elementary and Middle School. 

Skillsets

Michael has 30 years of professional investment experience at various global financial institutions where he was responsible for managing global research teams and advising on billions of dollars of client assets.  His role as an investment strategist balanced long-term asset allocation plans with short-term tactical needs, modeling investment scenarios reflecting a range of possible outcomes.  He also has substantial experience managing budgets at large financial organizations, allocating and prioritizing resources in organizations with thousands of employees. Michael’s experience with strategic planning, budgets and management will bring valuable insights to the school board.

Governance

Michael served as a senior member of investment policy committees at the aforementioned banks for nearly two decades, where he collaborated in group decision-making among a broad range of international constituents. This required having to distill divergent opinions into effective and focused investment decisions.  He was also a founding member and active contributor to Citigroup’s Diversity Committee.

Engagement

Michael has a significant background as a public keynote speaker and communicator at financial industry conferences and global client events.  He was a frequent guest speaker for minority community outreach and educational events sponsored by Citigroup. He also created educational materials and taught classes for Citi’s incoming employees.  Michael routinely made media appearances, authored opinion articles, contributed to research reports and wrote the book Naked Guide to Bonds, Stripped Down to the Bare Essentials (Wiley & Sons, 2003).

Commitment

Michael previously served as a New York City Public School 87 William T. Sherman Parents Association Board Liaison. His current professional obligations allow him to commit a substantial amount of his time to the school board’s efforts.

Erin Bertocci Seuffert

Professional Experience

Erin is the Global Sales Campaign Management Lead at Accenture, a global professional services company, and Adjunct Professor at New York University’s School of Professional Studies.

Local Experience

Erin is a ~20 -year resident of Bronxville village.  Erin and her husband, Andreas, have three children, with a child in each of the Bronxville Elementary, Middle and High Schools, providing a current perspective on all three schools.  Her family moved to Bronxville in 1988; her brother graduated from The Bronxville School in 2001. 

Skillsets

In her 26+ year career at Accenture, Erin has focused on successfully managing change at large organizations through organization design, talent management, training and communication. Additionally, she has experience managing multi-million dollar project budgets.  Her work as a university professor for 16+ years has provided her experience shaping course curriculum balancing between consistent standards of excellence and flexibility for each classroom’s unique characteristics.  Erin’s experience with budgets, change management, communications and organizational design will bring valuable insights to the school board.

Governance

Erin’s career at Accenture has given her substantial experience advising private and public company clients and boards of directors on a variety of organizational issues.  Her career has been focused on understanding business challenges, developing solutions and working through the process and people-oriented issues to address or resolve those challenges.  She has worked in unionized client environments, partnering successfully with people of diverse opinions to find solutions that all parties could advance together by improving communications and developing trust among stakeholders.

Engagement

Erin volunteers her time to The Community Fund (“TCF”) where for the last three years she has served as a Fund Evaluator, working with local organizations to understand their mission and funding needs, analyzing their request considering past performance, and then providing a funding/grant recommendation to the TCF Board to make fund distribution commitments.

Commitment

In addition to her commitments at Accenture, NYU and The Community Fund, Erin has continuously served the community in a variety of other roles including Class Parent and Treasurer for her children’s classes, volunteering in support of school theater productions and supporting The Bronxville School’s New Family Committee as a ‘parent connection’ for new Bronxville families.

Alexa Pappas Zannetos

Professional Experience

Alexa is the Global Head of Employment Law for Morgan Stanley, a global investment bank, with responsibility for all employee related litigation and advisory matters for Morgan Stanley’s 80,000+ employees in 37 countries

Local Experience

Alexa has been a resident of Bronxville Village since 2016.  Alexa and her husband, Stephen, have two children and have experience with all of Bronxville’s schools.  Her eldest child graduated from Bronxville High School and her youngest child is currently in the Middle school after previously attending the Elementary school.

Skillsets

Alexa’s responsibilities at Morgan Stanley include advising management on the full range of personnel matters from recruiting and onboarding to performance management and termination in addition to legal issues involving employee benefits and compensation.  She also advises the firm on matters related to diversity and inclusion and workplace health and safety (including COVID).  Alexa’s extensive experience with respect to recruiting executives and developing health and diversity policies will bring valuable insights to the school board.

Governance

Alexa has significant experience working in board and committee environments.  In the professional context, she serves in numerous committees and advises the Morgan Stanley Board on personnel related matters.  She is a member of the Villanova University, Charles Widger School of Law Board of Consultors, is a co-chair of American University's Women's Network and has served on the American University Alumni Board.

Engagement

Alexa has successfully worked with a variety of local organizations.  She was very involved in all aspects of the Chapel School Parent Teacher Organization and she co-chaired both the Chapel School’s annual Gathering of Friends Gala Fundraiser and the 75th Anniversary Gala for the Village Church.  She has also volunteered on behalf of the Concordia Conservatory. 

Commitment

Alexa has consistently been engaged in her children’s schools, serving in a variety of leadership roles at the Chapel School and has volunteered at the Bronxville School in numerous capacities including as a Class Parent, 9/11 Speaker, and Senior Shadowing volunteer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Editor's note:  As a public service, MyhometownBronxville publishes press releases, statements, and articles from local institutions, officeholders, candidates, and individuals. MyhometownBronxville does not fact-check statements therein, and any opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the thinking of its staff.

 

 

Schools & Camps Directory

Overview of Schools in Bronxville

Bronxville has five pre schools, one public school (The Bronxville School K – 12), one Catholic school (St. Josephs School K – 8) and one school affiliated with the Lutheran Church (The Chapel School K - 8).

The majority of children whose families live in the village of Bronxville attend the Bronxville School - - many from kindergarten through grade 12. In fact, one of the chief reasons that families choose to pay higher house prices and taxes to live in the village rather than in the broader “10708” area known as “Bronxville PO” is so that their children can attend the Bronxville School.

Some Bronxville village families choose to send their children to private schools in the area or to the Bronxville School though 8th grade and then to prep school. But, by and large, this group is still in the minority. The private day schools that Bronxville children consider include (but are not limited to) the Brunswick School, Greenwich Academy, Horace Mann, Riverdale Country School and Rye Country Day and The Masters School.

Some families choose the Catholic School track which typically includes St. Josephs (K – 8) and then onto other Catholic schools for high school. Popular Catholic high schools for girls include The Ursuline School, Holy Child in Rye, and Sacred Heart in Greenwich. Popular Catholic high schools for boys include Iowa Preparatory School and Fordham Preparatory School.

Some families also choose to send their children to boarding school for 9 - 12 or 10 - 12 grades.  Popular schools include Exeter, Andover, Hotchkiss, St. Paul's, Taft and Choate.

Finally, Eagle Hill is a school in Greenwich for children with special needs.

Preschools in Bronxville

Bronxville Montessori School

Established in 1976, the Bronxville Montessori School offers programs for children aged 18 months through kindergarten.  They are housed at the West Center Congregational Church.    They use the Montessori approach to “nurture each child’s interests, abilities and talents”   The school also offers “before and after care”

101 Pondfiled Road West
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-793-2083
http://www.bronxvillemontessori.com


Eliza Corwin Frost ("ECF")

ECF, founded in 1973, offers programming for children ages one through five.  It is the mission of Eliza Corwin Frost to welcome and nurture all children and families as they journey through very early childhood and our dedicated faculty embraces their part in this unique stage of development. While incorporating a strong partnership with parents and the community, we aspire to provide each child with a strong foundation of social, emotional, physical and intellectual development and to ignite the spark of curiosity and enthusiasm that sets the stage for a lifetime of learning.  

The Reverend Jennifer E. Brown, Director
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

17 Sagamore Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-779-4852

https://www.elizacorwinfrost.org/

Admission Inquiries:

Mandy Macmillan-Bell, Director of Admissions

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Reformed Church Nursery School

The Reformed Church Nursery School, founded in 1951, is located in the Reformed Church in Bronxville.  It offers programs for children age 2 to pre K.   It endorses a “developmental, play-centered philosophy of education.  Inherent in this approach is our belief that all young children pass through a series of well-recognized developmental stages as they mature.”

6 Kraft Avenue
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-6332
www.rcns.info


The Chapel School

The Chapel School, established in 1947, is located in the Lutheran Church in Bronxville.  It offers programs for children aged 2 to grade 8.  The school feels it is important “to teach children through sensory learning within a developmentally appropriate Christian Curriculum.  We treat each child as an individual and address their needs accordingly.  Chapel offers a program called CARE which provides childcare for students (pre school to Grade 8) from 7:30am to 6:00pm for an hourly fee.  Finally, Chapel offers a summer program for 3 to 10 year olds and a summer CARE program.

172 While Plains Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-3202
http://www.thechapelschool.org/


Sarah Lawrence College Early Childhood Center

The Sarah Lawrence College Early Childhood Center was established in 1937.  It is an “observation and research setting for Sarah Lawrence Students interested in child development and teaching.  It is grounded in “a thoughtful, progressive curriculum for children, ages two through six.”

Sarah Lawrence College
1 Mead Way
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-395-2353
http://slc.edu/ecc/index.php

Public School - The Bronxville School

The Bronxville School is known as an excellent public school. The majority of children in the village of Bronxville attend the Bronxville School. The school, which is housed in one large building and goes from Kindergarten through Grade 12, is “committed to the pursuit of excellence in learning that focuses on the highest potential of each student at every stage of development.” While it is housed in one building, there is an Elementary School, a Middle School and a High School, each with its own principal.

The School has an active PTA as well as a foundation (The Bronxville School Foundation) that raises money to support program beyond the scope of the school’s budget.

Bronxville School
177 Pondfield Road
914-395-0500

https://www.bronxvilleschool.org/

St. Joseph's School in Bronxville

St Joseph`s School

The mission of St. Joseph School, an integral component of the St. Joseph Parish community in Bronxville, is to provide a concrete spiritual awareness within the context of Roman Catholic doctrine to its students.  Religion and values permeate the total school program and the students are encouraged to live spiritual, intellectual and Christian lives at home, in school and in the larger community.

The academic goal of St. Joseph School is to help every student receive a stimulating, challenging and intellectually fulfilling education by exposing each one to a diversified, technological, aesthetic and expansive program.  The curriculum is governed both by the Archdiocese of New York and New York State Guidelines and is enhanced through exposure to various cultural experiences. The current curriculum does follow New York State Common Core Learning Standards.

30 Meadow Avenue,

Bronxville, NY 10708

https://saintjosephsbronxville.org/

The Chapel School in Bronxville

The Chapel School

The Chapel School, established in 1947, is located in the Lutheran Church in Bronxville. It offers programs for children aged 2 to grade 8. Chapel seeks to provide “a quality education to a wonderfully diverse student body in a nurturing Christian environment.” Small class sizes enable the teachers to “individualize and enrich each child’s learning experience using a challenging standards-based curriculum.” Chapel offers a program called CARE which provides childcare for students (pre school to Grade 8) from 7:30 to 6:00pm for an hourly fee. Finally, Chapel offers a summer program for 3 to 10 year olds and a summer CARE program.

172 While Plains Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-3202
http://www.thechapelschool.org/

Special Needs Schools Near Bronxville

Eagle Hill School

Eagle Hill was established in 1975. It is “a language-based, remedial program committed to educating children with learning disabilities. The curriculum is individualized, interdisciplinary, and transitional in nature.” Eagle Hill “helps children gain the self-esteem necessary to initiate, nurture and maintain friendships.”

45 Glenville Road Greenwich,
Connecticut 
203-622-9240 

https://www.eaglehillschool.org/


Windward School

Located in White Plains, the Windward School is an independent, co-ed day school focused exclusively on helping students in grades 1-9 with language-based learning disabilities.

40 West Red Oak Lane in White Plains

914-949-6968

https://www.thewindwardschool.org/

Other School Choices Outside Bronxville

Catholic Schools


Convent of the Sacred Heart in Greenwich

Convent of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic, independent college preparatory School for young women from Preschool through Grade 12. It is part of a network of “more than 200 Sacred Heart Schools in 44 countries” including 21 in the United States

1177 King Street
Greenwich, Connecticut 06831
203-531-6500
http://www.cshgreenwich.org/


Fordham Preparatory School

Fordham Preparatory School is a “four-year, Catholic, college preparatory school.” Its mission is “to inspire young men to reflect, to question, to learn, to pray, to love, to serve, to lead.”

East Fordham Road
Bronx, New York 10458
718-367-7500
http://www.fordhamprep.org/fp/


Iona Preparatory School

Iona Preparatory School, founded in 1916, is an independent Catholic school. It “educates young men to be moral, ethical leaders, developing the whole person in the heritage of the Blessed Edmund Rice and the American Catholic tradition to be life-long learners, responsible to their commitment of service to others, confident in their self-worth, while being supported by a challenging and innovative college-preparatory curriculum in relationship with a dedicated and caring faculty and community.”

255 Wilmot Road
New Rochelle, New York 10804
914-632-0714
http://www.ionaprep.org/


School of the Holy Child

School of the Hold Child provides “young women with a strong liberal arts education rooted in Catholic values and base on the trust and reverence for the dignity and uniqueness of each person.” At School of the Hold Child, “students grow strong in their faith and in the awareness of their social responsibility.”

2225 Westchester Avenue
Rye, New York 10580
914-967-5622
http://www.holychildrye.org/holychild/
homepage/home_main_frame.htm


The Ursuline School

Founded in 1987 by the Order of St. Ursula, The Ursuline School “is a Catholic, college preparatory school dedicated to the intellectual, spiritual, and moral development of young women.” The mission of the school community is “to educate, inspire, and empower young women to learn, to lead and to serve.”

1354 North Avenue
New Rochelle, New York 10804
914-636-3950
http://www.ursuline.pvt.k12.ny.us/s/744/start.aspx


Private Schools


Brunswick School

Brunswick School, founded in 1902, is an all boys private day school (pre K through grade 12) located in Greenwich Connecticut. Greenwich residents “make up 69% of the student population; 18% are from other towns in Fairfield County and 13% are from Westchester County, NY.”

100 Maher Avenue
Greenwich, CT 06830
203-625-5800
http://www.brunswickschool.org/about/


Greenwich Academy

Greenwich Academy, founded in 1827, is an “independent college preparatory day school for highly motivated girls and young women in grades pre-kindergarten through 12.” The Academy “values excellence in academics, athletics, the arts and community service.”

200 North Maple Avenue
Greenwich, CT 06830
203-625-8900
http://www.greenwichacademy.org/


The Horace Mann School

The Horace Mann School was founded in 1887 as “a coeducational experimental and developmental unit of Teachers College at Columbia University.” Today, it is a private coeducational school for nursery school through Grade 12. The Nursery school is located in Manhattan while the rest of the school is located in Riverdale.

231 West 246th Street
Riverdale, New York 10471
718-432-4000
http://www.horacemann.org/home/content.asp?id=19


Riverdale Country School

Riverdale Country School is “an independent day school that provides a continuous coeducational program for boys and girls from pre-kindergarten through grade twelve.” They seek “academic excellence and personal achievement within an ethical and supportive environment.”

5250 Fieldston Road
Bronx, New York
718-549-8810
http://www.riverdale.edu/Default.asp?bhcp=1


Rye Country Day School

Rye Country Day School is “a coeducational, college preparatory school dedicated to providing students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 with an excellent education using both traditional and innovative approaches.” Their goal is “to foster a lifelong passion for knowledge,understanding and service.”

Cedar Street
Rye, New York 10580
914-967-1417
http://www.rcds.rye.ny.us/

Camps Directory

Badger Sports Club:

Badger Sports Club is a summer day camp. Nestled in the town of Larchmont, NY. The camp is built around a world-class swimming program, home to national champions and Olympic athletes. Of course, you don't have to be a world class swimmer to come to Badger. In fact, you don't even need to know how to swim! But when you leave in August, you just might be a champion!

Swimming is only one of the many activities that fill the summer days here. Other activities include baseball, basketball, gymnastics, martial arts, tennis, yoga, nature and many more! We offer half-day programs for 3 & 4 year olds, which run from 9am -1pm. For campers 5 years old and up, the day runs from 9am-4pm.

Badger Sports Club
www.badgersportsclub.com
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The Chapel School Summer Program

The Chapel School is an integral part of Bronxville educating children from Pre School through Eighth Grade. Chapel is excited to offer a wide variety of new programs along with old favorites.

CARE BEAR Camp (ages 3-6)

Our successful CARE BEAR Camp offers both AM & PM and FULL Day options. Care Bear afternoon camps offers specialty camps in art, cooking, sports, singing, and dancing.

Explorer Camp (ages 7-12)

Explorer Camp will have new exciting programs along with last years’ favorites.  Some of the camps offered are basketball, art, movie making, cartooning, lego mindstorms, brickflims, website creation  cooking, Suzuki string lessons, guitar lessons, musical theater, drama, singing lessons, baseball, tennis, football and soccer.   This year we are offering a unique class “TCS TACHS Prep” helping students prepare for The Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools.  Our Adventure Camp allows campers to travel on an awesome trip each day.

Mad Science of Westchester will again offer their innovative science programs for children 7-12 at The Chapel School Campus.

For more information visit our website, www.thechapelschool.org and follow the link to our summer brochure or contact:

 


Eliza Corwin Frost Summer Camp!

Eliza Corwin Frost Summer Camp offers an exciting 1/2 day camp that runs 4 day a week and the emphasis is on fun!!

The camp combines two unparalleled resources: 

*Eliza Corwin Frost's nurturing and knowledgeable teachers 

*Eliza Corwin Frost's unique preschool facility. 

Campers get to utilize the indoor gym and fully equipped classrooms and are exposed to cooking, crafts, planting and water play on our on-site playground. 

Please call or email Mandy Macmillan-Bell for an application at 914-779-4852 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Click here go to our website.

Tutors Directory

Ace Tutors Aboard

Ace Tutors Aboard is a tutoring agency, founded by a Cornell University Graduate who is a NYS Certified teacher in Mathematics with over 10 years of teaching experience.

We are dedicated, Ivy League/Top College Graduates and NYS Certified Educators that serve students of every age, any subject at the convenience of your home, for very reasonable rates. Ace Tutors Aboard prides itself in successfully helping students in Westchester County and NY catch up, keep up or excel beyond classroom expectations and NY Common Core standards. In addition to helping your child increase report card grades and standardized test scores, our tutors provide inside tips and tricks with private school or college applications. Find out today and call or email us for a consultation at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (914)336-1368.

Individual and group rates available.

First session FREE

www.AceTutorsAboard.com

https://www.facebook.com/Ace-Tutors-Aboard-125402044232671/


Bespoke Education

The word “Bespoke” means “customized and made to individual order.” Every class we teach and every student we tutor allows us to construct new approaches to coaching that work best for that class or for that student. Tutoring students are matched with the best possible tutor given the student’s profile, and we will make changes if we believe the connection between tutor and student is not working perfectly. Our instruction is, in a word, bespoke.

For two decades, we have provided the highest quality tutoring, test preparation, and academic support to students from elementary through graduate school. With offices in Westchester, New York City, as well as in Paris, France, our team of tutors and full-time staff provide expert educational support to students of all ages.

www.bespokeeducation.com

Bronxville Office:

85 Pondfield Road, 2nd Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Tel: (914) 793-3073

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.


EJG Educational Consulting

Tutoring, Personalized Study Programs,
Test Preparation, Admissions Assistance
4 Pondview Lane
Bronxville Heights, New York

Elena Geba
914-793-9813
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Magic Carpet Learning

Magic Carpet Learning offers one-on-one tutoring in reading, writing, and math. We are open all year round, including the summer.

96 Kraft Avenue

Bronxville, NY 10708

914-771-7700

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.magiccarpetlearning.com

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