On Tuesday, May 19, alongside the budget vote, residents of the Guilderland Central School District will elect three members to the Board of Education and two members to the Guilderland Public Library Board of Trustees. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Altamont, Pine Bush and Westmere Elementary Schools.
Meet the 2026 Board Candidates
There will be a “Meet the Candidates Night” on May 11 at 6 p.m. in the LGI, which will also be livestreamed on the district’s YouTube channel.
The Guilderland Central School District Board of Education has the power to develop policies, rules and regulations for the operation of our school system. Nine residents serve, without pay, on the district’s school board. Individuals are eligible for election to the Board if they are qualified voters of the district (district resident for the last year, U.S. citizen, 18 years of age and older) and can read and write. New York State Education Law does not limit the number of terms of office a member may serve.Candidates must meet all of the requirements to run for the Board. Learn more about the Guilderland Central District Board of Education.
Candidates are listed below in the order they will appear on the ballot:
Rebecca Butterfield
Rebecca Butterfield is running for a third term on the board. She serves as a pediatrician at Albany Medical Center, where she is the division chief of general pediatrics and section chief of child abuse pediatrics. In addition to her clinical work, she is a faculty member, teaching and mentoring medical students and residents.
Butterfield holds a bachelor’s degree in U.S. history and biology from Union College, earned her doctorate from Albany Medical College, and completed her pediatric internship and residency at the Golisano Children’s Hospital at the University of Rochester. She and her husband have lived in the district for 20 years, and they have a college-aged son who recently graduated from Guilderland High School.
Peter Stapleton
Peter Stapleton began his tenure on the board in July 2025 to fill a vacancy and is now seeking his first full term. He currently holds the position of assistant provost for strategic initiatives and dean of the Esteves School of Education, where he supports students, faculty, and the institution through program development and system enhancement. His efforts include cultivating strategic partnerships with community organizations that support the institution and create opportunities for students, as well as managing special projects.
Stapleton is an experienced educator with a bachelor’s degree in music industry from The College of Saint Rose. He holds a Master of Science in physical education and a Ph.D. in physical education, teaching, and administration from Springfield College, along with initial teaching licensure. A dedicated member of the New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Stapleton is currently the president-elect of the Capital Zone of NYSAHPERD.
Residing in Guilderland for more than five years, Stapleton and his wife, Lindsey, are parents to two children who attend GCSD schools: Matthew at GHS and Abigail at FMS.
Nancy Cavillones
Nancy Cavillones is seeking her first term on the board. A proud alumna of Guilderland Central School District, class of 1997, she has a background as a teacher and now serves as a program support specialist for innovation and entrepreneurship programs at the University at Albany. Her position is within the Office of Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, and Industry Partnerships, part of the Division for Research and Economic Development. Cavillones plays a crucial role in supporting entrepreneurial programming, contributing to state economic development initiatives, and providing vital operational assistance. As a key contact for entrepreneurial programming at UAlbany and regionally, she supports the UAlbany Innovation Center incubator program, Innovate 518 Innovation Hot Spot, and other economic development initiatives.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in teaching and learning from New York University and holds a Master of Science degree in urban policy analysis and management from Milano at The New School.
Cavillones returned to Guilderland three years ago, where she and her husband, Henry, are raising their three children in the Guilderland school district: Alice and Stella at Guilderland High School, and Micah at Farnsworth Middle School.
Guilderland Public Library Board of Trustees
Antonio Rivera
Antonio Rivera has called Guilderland home for more than 13 years and is pursuing a second term on the Guilderland Public Library Board of Trustees. As a committed member of the community, Rivera believes libraries are vital safe havens for all, providing services at no cost and ensuring free access to information, park passes, notary services, and programs for both adults and children.
“The Guilderland Public Library is a community hub that has seen significant growth in the past several years, and I would like to help continue this progress,” he said. Rivera’s connection to the library is filled with great memories; when his children were younger, they took part in numerous library programs that brought joy and learning into their lives. Now, his older son and wife are enthusiastic readers who regularly borrow books, with each visit to the library sparking fond recollections. His family also enjoys borrowing games from the library, creating cherished moments together.
In addition to his community contributions, Rivera is a pharmacist with more than 18 years of experience at the Albany VA Hospital. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychobiology from Binghamton University, a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and a healthcare MBA from Clarkson University.
Matthew Grunert
Matthew Grunert has been a resident of Guilderland for 17 years and is pursuing a second term on the Guilderland Public Library Board of Trustees. Grunert views libraries as his refuge, having relied on them for learning and entertainment in childhood and volunteering there during summers. University libraries offered the same calm in young adulthood, and they remain a significant part of his adult life.
“This past year I’ve worked to modernize our library’s policies, negotiate contracts with our members’ labor unions, facilitate development of our physical building, and build stronger ties between the town and school boards. However, there’s still more work to do as we build our library into Guilderland’s living room; our community’s quintessential third place: calm, comfortable, and accessible; publicly funded, and for the public,” Grunert said.
Grunert is an information technology consultant for a local nonprofit supporting New York’s governments, managing enterprise software projects. Previously, he was a systems administrator for the New York State Office of the State Comptroller and served as a firefighter and fire commissioner. He is a certified therapy pet team member with his dog, Oatmeal, involved in Paws2Read, and actively participates in local YMCA activities and curling at the Albany Curling Club. He holds an MBA, a bachelor’s degree in computer science, and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from SUNY Albany.