Ray DiStephan
Board of Education
4-Year Term

Phone: 203-775-4807
Email: rdistephan@gmail.com

WHY I AM RUNNING

Like many of the young families in Brookfield, I moved here for the quality of life that exists in our suburban community with its “rural feel.” As a parent of young children, I was, of course, very interested in (and subsequently impressed with) Brookfield’s schools. This is a primary reason why many of us came to Brookfield and a primary reason why so many stay here to raise their own families. While I believe the recent Boards of Education in Brookfield have worked tirelessly to ensure that our school system remains of high quality, I have been concerned with recent budgets that have begun to chip away at the quality of these learning institutions. While I understand and agree that there must be fiscal responsibility, that responsibility includes producing a quality learning environment for Brookfield’s children, as well as a responsibility to preserve this enormous asset — our schools — for the town and for our children. It is my hope to help the Board of Education continue to meet these responsibilities through a collaborative effort and a cooperative, fact-based approach in an ever-changing world.

I contend that school systems must be managed as that — school systems. While we need to achieve efficiencies wherever and whenever possible, we should not lose sight of the fact that schools are not simply for-profit businesses. Schools create thinking minds, thoughtful citizens, productive members of society, and a good quality of life. School systems are governed by State and Federal regulations that are significantly different than private industry. Schools — like town governments — are service organizations, and we do best when we recognize the difference and focus on working collaboratively toward improved economies and results.

Finally, while I believe school boards are very important entities in the development and stability of school districts, I do not believe that individual board members have any individual authority. The authority lies in the board as a group and only in the areas of the responsibility that it has been charged with. Those responsibilities include: the hiring, managing and supporting of the Superintendent of Schools; the creation and oversight of a responsible school budget that holds the interests of the children and the taxpayer/resident in it’s foundation; the development of challenging and effective curriculum; and the establishment of school policies. Board members can only be effective by working to create consensus within the board and the community.

I am committed to doing what I can to help Brookfield and its schools move forward.

BACKGROUND

I have lived at 20 Ox Drive in Brookfield for the past 4 years with my wife, Andrea, and our two children Cawley Ann (4 1⁄2 and entering kindergarten), and Jack Michael (2 1⁄2). Andrea and I lived in Tarrytown, New York for 3 years prior coming to Brookfield, and I lived in Queens, New York for my entire life prior to moving to Westchester in 2001. For the past 14 years, I have worked as a clinical school social worker. The past 8 years have been in the Katonah-Lewisboro School District (KLSD) in Westchester County, New York. Prior to that, I worked in a school district on Long Island and a private school in Queens. As part of my work in schools, I work with students, teachers, administrators, parents, community members, outside service providers, and people from county and state agencies. I am deeply involved with special education students as well as mainstream students. In my time at Katonah-Lewisboro, I initiated a successful Peer Group Leadership program at the high school. This is a program where upperclassmen mentor freshmen students through weekly group meetings. This program was recognized when the district was distinguished by the Tri-State Evaluation Team 4 years ago.

I have also coached varsity golf when I was on Long Island, JV baseball for 3 years in Katonah-Lewisboro, and I am currently coaching my 8th year of JV and Varsity football in the KLSD. I believe this gives me a well-rounded perspective of what students, parents, teachers, coaches, and administrators want and what they deal with on a daily basis.

EDUCATION

• Archbishop Molloy High School — Queens, NY
• Queens College C.U.N.Y. — Flushing, NY: BA psychology
• Hunter College School of Social Work – New York, NY: Master of Social Work
  Current member of the National Association of Social Workers

MISCELLANEOUS

Aside from my interests in people and sports, I am also a life-long musician. I have played the drums for 27 years and currently play in the Pink Floyd tribute band Beyond The Wall, which opened this year’s Summer Concert Series at the Bandstand at Town Hall. Hopefully, this helps diversify my background and helps me relate to and work with people of all interests.