The board of education may, as needed, establish committees whose membership will consist of members of the board. (BOE Policy 2250). The president of the board shall serve as an ex-officio member of all committees to which he/she is not appointed. Board committees shall undertake studies and make reports as charged by the board but shall not act on behalf of the board. Also, any existing standing board committee (i.e., audit, business practices, communications, and policy) must comply with the Open Meetings law which includes providing public notice of such meetings, holding meetings in public, and utilizing executive sessions if applicable.
2024-25 Board of Education Committees
Please note that schedules, agendas and minutes of board of education committee meetings can be found on the district’s online board portal which provides community members with comprehensive information regarding board activities.
Contact the GCSD Board of Education
You can email individual board members at the emails listed below. Email the full GCSD board and superintendent at boardofeducation@guilderlandschools.net
For public comment, please write “public comment” in the subject line of your email.
Members of the GCSD Board of Education for the 2024-25 School Year
Blanca Gonzalez-Parker, President
gonzalezparkerb@guilderlandschools.net
Term: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027
Blanca Gonzalez-Parker is serving her third term on the board. She is employed as the Program Associate for Safety and Health at the NYS & CSEA Partnership for Education and Training. Blanca has volunteered for the Pine Bush Elementary School and Farnsworth Middle School PTAs, FMS Mask, the Guilderland Central School District’s Safety and Security Committee, the Western Turnpike Rescue Squad and the Albany County Medical Reserve Corps. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Utica College, a Bachelor of Arts in English, Masters in Public Health with a major in Social Behavior and Community Health and Maternal Child Health. Blanca also earned a Graduate Certificate in Disease Surveillance and Emergency Preparedness from the University at Albany. She and her husband Michael are graduates of Guilderland High School; classes of 1996 and 1993 respectively. They have lived in the district for more than 40 years and have three children; Lucia who attends FMS, Sofia who attends GHS and Isabela who attends Binghamton University.
Board Committee Membership: Business Practices Committee, DEI Committee, Communications Committee (Alternate)
Board Liaison to: Guilderland High School, Farnsworth Middle School (Alternate), NYSSBA Advocacy Liaison (Alternate)
Kelly Person, Vice President
personk@guilderlandschools.net
Term: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2025
Kelly Person is serving her second term on the board. Kelly works remotely from home as an Air National Guard Inspector General Investigations Officer for the National Guard Bureau based in Washington DC. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University at Albany and a master’s degree in military operational art and science from Air University Command and Staff College. Kelly is a 2022 graduate of Air University Air War College. As needed, Kelly volunteers for classroom activities and is a member of the Guilderland Elementary School PTA. She and her wife, Melinda have been Guilderland residents for 10 years and have four children; Andrew and Thomas are in third grade and Jude is in kindergarten at Guilderland Elementary School, Lindy is two years old. Kelly is also a member of the 2018-19 Leadership Tech Valley Class.
Board Committee Membership: Audit Committee, Business Practices Committee, Communications Committee
Board Liaison to: Farnsworth Middle School, Guilderland Elementary (Alternate)
Kim Blasiak
blasiakk@guilderlandschools.net
Term: July 1, 2023-June 30, 2026
Kim Blasiak is serving her second term on the board. A native of Syracuse, she holds a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management from Syracuse University. She is heavily involved in the New York State PTA, serves on the board of KKC Cares and is the booster club president of the Guilderland indoor track team. Kim also serves on the Pine Bush Elementary School building cabinet and as the Pine Bush Elementary School PTA treasurer, the Guilderland Community Special Education PTA co-president and the Guilderland PTA Council vice president. Kim and her husband reside in Schenectady with their four children, all of whom attend Guilderland schools.
Board Committee Membership: DEI Committee, Policy Review Committee, Communications Committee (Alternate)
Board Liaison to: NYSSBA Voting Delegate, Pine Bush Elementary (Alternate), NYSSBA Advocacy Liaison (Alternate)
Rebecca Butterfield
butterfieldr@guilderlandschools.net
Term: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2026
Rebecca Butterfield is serving her second term on the board. She is a pediatrician at Albany Medical Center as the Division Chief of the General Pediatrics division and the Section Chief of Child Abuse Pediatrics and also teaches and mentors medical students and residents. Rebecca has a bachelor’s degree in U.S. History and Biology from Union College, a doctorate degree from Albany Medical College, and earned a post doctorate (serving her pediatric internship and residency) at Golisano Children’s Hospital with the University of Rochester. Rebecca and her husband have resided in the district for 16 years and have a son, who is a student at Guilderland High School.
Board Committee Membership: Audit Committee, Policy Review Committee
Board Liaison to: Westmere Elementary
Katie DiPierro
dipierrok@guilderlandschools.net
Term: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2025
Katie DiPierro is serving her first term on the board. She is employed as a special education teacher for Capital Region BOCES, teaching a self-contained program at Pine Bush Elementary School. Katie began her teaching career in 2000 and previously taught at Lynnwood Elementary School. She is the secretary for the Guilderland High School PTA, a member of the cross country booster club and a member of the costume committee for FMS Mask. Katie previously served as vice president of events and activities for the PBES PTA and coached the Just Run third grade team for PBES for five years. Katie earned a special education degree and a master’s degree in literacy education from the College of Saint Rose and has lived in GCSD since 2007. She and her husband, Jason, have two children; Samuel, who attends GHS and Alaina, who attends Farnsworth Middle School.
Board Committee Membership: Communications Committee, Policy Review Committee
Board Liaison to: Pine Bush Elementary, Altamont Elementary (Alternate), NYSSBA Advocacy Liaison
Nina Kaplan
kaplann@guilderlandschools.net
Term: May 22, 2024-June 30, 2027
Nina Kaplan is serving her first term on the board. She is employed by the South Colonie Central School District as a social studies teacher, where for 21 years, she has taught grades 8-12 in general education and co-teach classrooms. She has experience teaching students with special needs and has knowledge in pedagogy and social emotional development. Additionally, Nina works for the New York State State Education Department Office of Assessment as an Education Specialist. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in History from University at Albany and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Union College.A district resident for 22 years, Nina is married to Brian Kaplan and has three children — Eliana, a junior at Guilderland High School, Julia, an eighth grade student at Farnsworth Middle School and Harrison, a first grade student at Voorheesville Elementary School.
Board Committee Membership: Audit Committee, DEI Committee, Policy Review Committee
Board Liaison to: Altamont Elementary, Lynnwood Elementary (Alternate), CPSE/CSE
Tara Molloy-Grocki
molloy-grockit@guilderlandschools.net
Term: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027
Tara Molloy-Grocki is serving her first term on the board. Employed by the Guilderland Central School District as a Guilderland Elementary School teacher for 31 years, she retired on June 30, 2024. Currently serving on the GES DEI Committee, Tara makes a practice of volunteering at school events; through the Guilderland Teachers’ Association, she has participated in food drives as well as National Night Out. Tara received a Bachelor of Music degree with a major in Music Education from Westminster Choir College and a Master’s in Elementary Education from CUNY Queens College. A district resident for 22 years, Tara and her husband Tony have three children — Conor and Sean, Guilderland High School alumni, and Clare, a GHS junior.
Board Committee Membership: Business Practices Committee, DEI Committee
Board Liaison to: Guilderland Elementary Westmere Elementary School (Alternate), CPSE/CSE (Alternate)
Peter Stapleton
stapletonp@guilderlandschools.net
Term: May 21, 2025-June 30, 2026
Peter Stapleton is serving his first term on the board. He is the Assistant Provost for Strategic Initiatives at Russell Sage College; where he also holds the faculty rank of Associate Professor of Physical Education. A tenured teacher and advisor, Peter earned a bachelor’s degree in music industry from The College of Saint Rose. He has a master of science in physical education, initial teaching licensure and a PhD in physical education, teaching and administration, both from Springfield College.
A member of New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NYSAHPERD) for more than eight years, Peter is the President-elect of Capital Zone of NYSAHPERD.
A resident of Guilderland for nearly five years, Peter and his wife have two children who attend GCSD schools, Matthew in eighth grade and Abigail in fifth grade.
Gloria Towle-Hilt
towle-hiltg@guilderlandschools.net
Term: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2025
Gloria Towle-Hilt is serving her sixth term on the board. She is a past board vice president, serving from 2011-13 and 2020-22. Gloria holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social studies education. A former Farnsworth Middle School social studies teacher from 1971-2007, she taught abroad for two years, in Zambia, Central Africa, from 1976-78. Gloria has been a resident of Guilderland since 1984. She and her late husband, Robert Hilt, raised two children, both graduates of GCSD.
Board Committee Membership: Business Practices Committee, Communications Committee
Board Liaison to: Lynnwood Elementary, Guilderland High School (Alternate), NYSSBA Voting Delegate (Alternate)