JOANNA COMMANDER FOR NORTH SHORE SCHOOL BOARD

Received from Julia Brennan, Sea Cliff
May 13, 2014

To the Editor:

Joanna Commander spent her long professional career immersed in and continues in retirement to be engaged in an essential but lately increasingly undervalued area of education:   encouraging student potential beyond achievement in academic subjects.  An inspired educator in the areas of physical and health education, athletics and teacher training, Joanna has extensive experience as a teacher, coach and administrator in public schools and at the college level and is a proven leader on the county and state level in athletics administration.  

Joanna understands the challenges facting today's children and is devoted to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to maximize their potential as well-rounded individuals in a safe and nurturing environment. Among her proudest achievements are the development of programs that help young people master important coping, decision making and life management skills and combat substance abuse and eating disorders. 

A generous resident who volunteers her time and expertise where it can be put to best use, Joanna is a member of the Atheltics Booster Club and Arts Angels and serves with me on the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee.  Warm and caring,  Joanna has a rare talent for consensus building.  I encourage anyone who appreciates a fair and balanced approach to sorting out the sometimes contentious issues related to governing our schools to consider voting for Joanna Commander for North Shore’s Board of Education.  She’s got my vote!



Sincerely,

Julia Brennan

Sea Cliff NY

(The writer is a former member and president of the North Shore Board of Education)