About
Mission
The New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence supports our school system and its extraordinary, diverse student body through advancing equity, excellence and inspiring all public school students.
Vision
The New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence partners with the City School District of New Rochelle and engages the broader New Rochelle community to develop, fund and implement high-quality educational and enrichment programming that enhances the school experience and helps students thrive and succeed along their educational journey.
History
The New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence was established in 1998 in a cooperative effort by the Superintendent of Schools, members of the Board of Education and community leaders to preserve the New Rochelle tradition of excellence in education. This group decided to join over 3,000 communities nationwide that had established private foundations to address the dramatic increase in the cost of public education. As in other communities, the Fund sought to support that aspect of the public educational system that falls outside the normal operating budget. With the exception of two part-time paid staff members, the Fund’s work is carried out entirely by volunteers. The Board of Directors is comprised of parents, staff, community leaders, the Superintendent of Schools, a Board of Education representative.
Board of Directors
Stephen B. Silverman ’80, Chairperson
Hon. Deirdre Polow, Vice President
Sari Dweck, Secretary
Derek Deutsch, Treasurer
Meredith A. Hilton '72, Chairperson Emerita
Nelson Boyce
Latisha Burgos
Matthew J. Costa, Esq.
Iliana Fleischman
Todd V. Kern
Suman Kumar
Tilden J. LeMelle
Maggie McGovern
Gregory A. Merchant ’75
Shawn Nagpal '06
Brian G. Osborne, Superintendent of Schools
Lauren Pekats ’85
Hon. Chrisanne Petrone, Board of Education
Matthew H. Phillips
Richard S. Relkin
Jasmine Rice ’98
Reginald Richardson, Principal, New Rochelle High School
Jonathan Stark
Stephanie L. Tomei
Ilissa Warhit
Emeritus Board
Donald Bakalor ’48
Hon. Noam Bramson ’87, Mayor of New Rochelle
Scott Cohen ’84
Hon. Barry Fertel, Member, City Council
Sonny Hagendorf
Linda E. Kelly
Audrey Mlotek
Brian Rosner, Esq.
Hon. Albert Tarantino ’69, Member, City Council
Marlene Tutera
Staff
Andrea Berman, Executive Director
Laura Heiss, Director, Museum of Arts & Culture