PNW BOCES Board Member Cheryl Schwartz Loves Learning

This interview is part of a series inspired by the New York State School Boards Association "Do You Know Who I Am?" campaign. Here we meet PNW BOCES Board Member Cheryl Schwartz, a former attorney and current world traveler.

How long have you been a school board member?

I’ve been a PNW BOCES board member for eleven years and, before that, I was a board member in my home district of Katonah-Lewisboro for six years.

What made you decide to run for the school board initially?

I truly believe in public education, and I wanted to play a role in making sure that our school district was the best it could be.

What is your occupation?

I am not currently working, however, I was an attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York, in the Criminal Division. I was the third female attorney to ever work in that office.

What is special about serving on a BOCES board of education?

The quality of the faculty and staff is inspiring. Everybody is so dedicated to providing the best programs and services. It’s a wonderful atmosphere and everyone rises to the challenge, whatever it might be. I also have great respect for my fellow board members. It is a pleasure to serve with people who have great motivation to keep our BOCES functioning at its best.

What is the biggest challenge you face as a board member?

Right now the biggest challenge is keeping services and administrative costs affordable for districts that are facing enormous financial pressure. As a board, the issues we tend to deal with are business-related; therefore, another challenge is staying connected to the educational side of our organization. One of my goals is to keep up with the fast-paced changes in education.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

My husband and I love travelling, particularly when we can combine touring with education -- a trip we recently took to the Mediterranean region included both an archeological and culinary focus.  However, my very favorite thing to do in my spare time is to visit with my four grandchildren.

What qualities do you most value in a school board member?

Open-mindedness, diligence, curiosity and respectful behavior.

What qualities do you most value in an educator?

I most admire educators who are not only able to get the subject matter across effectively, but who also make a personal connection with their students. So often we hear about how influential a teacher or a coach has been over the course of a person’s life.

Who are your heroes in real life?

That is too complex of a matter to answer in a couple of sentences.

Who are your favorite writers?

Dostoyevsky, Jane Austen and Linda Fairstein.  Linda is friend of mine who writes mystery novels set in New York City. She was previously a prosecutor in the sex crimes unit of the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and brings to her writing a lot of fascinating research on interesting aspects of the city.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

I don’t want to tempt fate by answering that question.