Meet the Board of Education
Meet the Board of Education
Back row from left to right: Steven Philbrick, Jason Gagnon, Dominga Lent, Bruce Tryon.
Front row from left to right: Susan Emerson Strasser, Maxwell Horning, Aimee Yorke.
The board is responsible for establishing the quality of education in the district. As elected officials, they represent the public in:
- defining the philosophy of the district;
- setting goals and objectives to achieve educational progress;
- establishing policies for the operation of the school district;
- evaluating the effectiveness of district programs and services;
- developing a budget consistent with educational needs and community resources.
Board of Education Candidate Election
Residents interested in being a candidate for a seat on the Cobleskill-Richmondville Board of Education may obtain nominating petition forms at the District Office during regular office hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning March 1, 2026.
Petitions must bear the signatures of at least 25 qualified voters of the district and be received by the District Clerk by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 20, 2026. There are three seats for 3-year terms to be filled. They are the positions currently held by Steven Philbrick, Susan Strasser, and Bruce Tryon, whose terms will expire June 30, 2026. All nominations for Board of Education seats are considered “at large” rather than for a specific seat.
Voting for board of education candidates, propositions, and the district's 2026-2027 school budget will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Call the District Office at 518 234-4032 for additional information about petitions and the annual election/budget vote.
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C-RCS Board of Education meetings are normally held in the William H. Golding Middle School library at 6:30 p.m. Board of Education meetings are videotaped by Schopeg. Livestream information will be posted to the district website prior to each meeting. Past Board of Education meetings can be found under the Board Meetings tab.
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Bruce Tryon, President, tryonb@crcsd.org
Dominga Lent, Vice President, lentd@crcsd.org
Susan Emerson Strasser, strassers@crcsd.org
Jason Gagnon, gagnonj@crcsd.org
Maxwell Horning, horningmax@crcsd.org
Steven Philbrick, philbricks@crcsd.org
Aimee Yorke, yorkea@crcsd.org
Ex Officio:
Patrick Maillard, Student Representative (Lead)
Danielle Hughes, Student Representative (Alternate) -
Board of Education members serve on many district committees to help ensure representation and transparency across district operations. Below is a list of C-RCSD committees on which BOE members serve.
Audit: Bruce Tryon, Steven Philbrick
Board Policy: Maxwell Horning, Susan Emerson Strasser, Bruce Tryon
Facilities: Steven Philbrick, Aimee Yorke
Health and Safety: Dominga Lent
Professional Growth: Dominga Lent
Strategic Planning: Jason Gagnon, Aimee Yorke
Technology: Jason Gagnon, Bruce Tryon
Wellness: Susan Emerson Strasser -
Left to right: Danielle Hughes (Alternate), Patrick Maillard (Lead)
As of July 1, 2025, the Cobleskill-Richmondville Board of Education includes two non-voting student representatives (one lead, one alternate) who offer insight and feedback on behalf of the student body. These students attend Board meetings, participate in discussions, and help ensure that student voices are represented in district decision-making.
2026-27 Board of Education Trustee Election
C-R resident will consider 4 candidates for three seat on the Board of Education. C-R Board seats are “at-large”, so the three candidates receiving the most votes will serve three-year terms beginning July 1, 2026.
Kayla Mahoney is seeking her first term on the board. She is a life-long resident and alumni of C-RCS and currently works as a school counselor at Fort Plain HS. She holds an Associates from SUNY Cobleskill, a B.S. in Child and Family Studies and an M.S in Education in School Counseling K-12, from SUNY Oneonta. She and her husband, Zachary, have two children enrolled at C-RCS: Hannah (9th) and Andrew (5th). She is an active member of C-R’s CBC and Friends of Music. She is also involved in C-R Little League and other youth sports programs. “I care deeply about the quality and future of our schools. I would like to serve as a liaison between community members and the school district to understand and respond to the concerns of the community. I believe strong communities build strong schools and in return, strong schools aim to shape students into creative, engaged, and productive citizens. As a graduate of C-RCS, I feel that it is my obligation to give back to the district that helped shape me into who I am today.”
Amy Kennedy is seeking her first term on the board. She has been a resident of the district for 7 years. She is a graduate of West Babylon Sr High School and Suffolk Community College. Her son, Tiernan, started at C-RCSD in 2nd grade, and now attends C-RHS. Upon moving to the district from NYC in 2018, she immediately began volunteering for CREST and Friends of Music. She began substituting for the district in 2020. She works part-time at The Studio for Art and Craft in Cobleskill. In her free time, she’s a Sunday School teacher at United Methodist Church, and helps coordinate the youth group there. “I am devoted to improving the students’ experience in our schools. For the past 7 years, I have volunteered for book fairs, picture days, bake sales—I have been in our schools to experience what goes on in the day to day. I discuss issues with teachers and students about our district policies. My ultimate goal would be to bring joy into every classroom and foster a love of learning.”
Angela Clapper is seeking her first term on the board. A life-long resident and alumni of C-RCS, she owns and operates Pig Out Bakery out of her home in Cobleskill. She homeschools her two sons, Dalton (12th), and Larson (7th). She holds an A.S in Child and Family Services and a B.A.S in Leadership Administration in Early Childhood from SUNY Cobleskill. She is a former employee of Berkshire Farms assigned to Radez, a former CREST member, and an active supporter of C-R FFA. She also serves as Pro Ed. Chair for NYS Farm Bureau and Treasurer for Wheels for the Community. “I am a proud member of our community. I serve on several boards to help me better understand the needs of our town. I wish to put my experience and devotion into the school board and make our schools a better place for our students and staff. As a community, we need to come together to listen, learn and live together.”
Sarah Nies is seeking her first term on the board. She and her husband, Jeff, have one child, Francesca (9th). She’s lived in the district for 12 years and currently works as Director of the Office of Community Services for Schoharie County. She holds a Bachelor’s from St. Bonaventure University, where she studied History, Philosophy and Theology. She then earned her Master’s in Franciscan Studies and an MSED in Clinical Mental Health. Nies has been a Citizens’ Budget Committee member. She previously served as Secretary and Chair of the Country Classroom School Board for 6 years. “I believe in giving back to the community. Every young person equally deserves a high-quality education. I believe that school board members should be bi-partisan because they must work for what is in the best interest of students. Schools are the heart of our community and the places where students learn to become citizens.”