Candidate Bios – May 17, 2023 Election
Nominations for PA Executive Board, One Year Term, 2023 – 2024
Co-President (3)
Jennifer Allen-Cheng, Co-President
My name is Jennifer Allen-Cheng and my youngest daughter is a sophomore at Bronx Science. I recently retired after a 32-year career as an educator, serving as a social studies teacher, a guidance counselor, an assistant principal and a school principal.
My retirement has facilitated my increased involvement in the Bronx Science community. Last and this year, I served on the Gala Committee, volunteered at a variety of PA and school functions, and served on the PA Executive Board as a Co-Vice President. In that capacity, I have utilized my strong organizational, collaborative and leadership skills and my understanding of how schools function to support the PA and school’s goals. With these skills and the experience I have acquired this year as a Vice President, I believe that I can make an even greater contribution as a Co-President. I believe in public education and have been privileged to support the growth and development of thousands of children throughout my career. I have successfully led schools for decades and believe that my experience will allow me to contribute greatly to the PA, our students and Bronx Science’s administration and staff. I look forward to continuing to serve the entire school community.
Christine Kattan, Co-President
My name is Christine Kattan, and I am running for re-election to serve as PA Co-President alongside Elizabeth Polkovitz and Jennifer Allen-Cheng. It has been a privilege and honor to serve on the Bronx Science PA Executive Board these past three years as a Member-At-Large, Co-Vice President, and as Co-President. This year was about rebuilding our in-person community and we are committed to continue this work and fully support our Bronx Science community. This position would continue over a decade of work supporting my children’s previous schools. At PS/IS 276, I was actively involved in the PTA for seven years, including three on the Executive Board and two as Treasurer. Currently, I also serve on the Executive Board at West End Day School, where I work with school administration and families to foster a strong community. Outside of these roles, I have served as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of NYC Kids Project, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating children on differences and diversity. I hold a BS in Biology, an MBA, and worked as an IT business consultant. Thank you for your support!
Elizabeth Polkovitz, Co-President
Elizabeth Polkovitz is the parent of Ian Polkovitz, who is a rising Senior. She lives in Rego Park in central Queens with her family. She has been active on Parents’ Associations at several schools since Ian was a first-grader. She served as a Co-President on the Bronx Science PA board this past year, and has served as a Co-President at PS 144 and on the executive board at PS 174. At Bronx Science, prior to serving as a Co-President, she served as a member of the Transportation Committee and assisted with the transition to online elections. Additionally, she has served this year as the Recording Secretary of the Bronx High School Federation Presidents’ Council. Elizabeth brings a knowledge of central Queens, DOE rules, regulations, and parent organizations, and the logistics of running a large, active Parents’ Association to the Co-President team. Professionally, Elizabeth is a senior patternmaker at a large costume shop in Manhattan, and is also an adjunct professor at Marymount Manhattan College. I look forward to the opportunity to continue serving this fantastic community with Christine, Jen, and the rest of the board.
Co-Vice President (2)
Ernie Sander, Co-Vice President
I am Ernie Sander and I am running as a Co-VP of the Parents’ Association, along with Yan Yu. My daughter is a freshman, and I’ve been so impressed with the way everyone works together to make the school such a special place, from the principal and the teachers to the staff and the volunteers. So far, I’ve been helping with the tech during the monthly PA meetings–to make the experience smooth for both in-person and remote attendees—and working with the merchandising team, which will lose some of its volunteer leaders this year. Beyond that, I’ve been volunteering at debate tournaments as a judge and helping to serve food. I am eager to play a bigger role in all of these areas—and anywhere else I can be of use. I was an active volunteer at my children’s elementary and middle schools as well. My professional background is in media and publishing, at big companies as well startups, managing teams of writers/producers, launching new products and overseeing content strategy. More recently, I’ve moved into executive communications, where I help leaders of all kinds build their personal brands. I hope those experiences and that expertise will be beneficial to the PA.
Yan Yu, Co-Vice President
I am the current vice president for fundraising, and this is my second year serving as a committee member at the Bronx Science Parent Association. My son is a sophomore, and I would like to have the chance to serve one more year as the vice president for fundraising. In the 2022-2023 academic year, with the help of all our BxSci families, we achieved our very ambitious fundraising goal for the year. In 2023-2024, I hope to utilize the experience I have gained in the past two years and the passion I have for our Bronx Science community to bring us all together again to support our school and to support your child. Besides being an educator and a researcher, I have leadership experience at the local and state level in my profession. My recent contributions to the community include being the co-founding director of a free summer camp, serving as a committee member for two international academic organizations, and guiding our very own BxSci students as a research mentor. I hope to have the opportunity to work with our wonderful BxSci families to have another successful year in fundraising for our school!
Treasurer (1)
Kai Lu, Treasurer
My name is Kai Lu and I am running for Treasurer. I have been the treasurer for Bronx Science’s PA since July 2022. In that time, I moved the PA’s financial records, including its budget, to Quickbooks Online. I’m a CPA with 20 years of related experience. I’m currently working as the controller of a fast-growing New York City manufacturing and retail business. I also have some auditing and tax experience. Over the years, I also worked as a consultant providing accounting and financial services to various small and medium size businesses. My wife and I are so proud that our son is a sophomore at Bronx Science. I admire the parents who contribute their valuable time and effort on behalf of the PA and would like to continue utilizing my time and skills to make the school an even better place for the students to excel.
Co-Assistant Treasurer (2)
Ram Halder, Co-Assistant Treasurer
My name is Ram Halder and I am running for Assistant Co-Treasurer for the 2023-2024 school year. I have two sons at Bronx Science, a sophomore and a senior. Working with the Bronx Science PA for the last 3 years has been very rewarding. This year (2022-2023), I am serving as the Assistant Treasurer. Before that, I have served as a Member-at-Large for two terms, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. Over the years, I have ensured that the messages being discussed in the PA are distributed in the correct language to my community. I have a masters of accounting and have many years of work experience in accounting, auditing, finance, and costing. I have operated accounting software such as Quickbooks for more than five years. I enjoy volunteering in the community. In addition to my work on the PA, I am a member of the Bronx Community Board, the Youth and Education Committee and a volunteer at the American Red Cross. I am so pleased that Bronx Science was ranked 4th for public high schools in U.S. and am eager to continue serving our school.
Amy Xue, Co-Assistant Treasurer
My name is Amy Xue, the parent of a 9th grader at Bronx Science. My older son graduated from Bronx Science this summer. I hope to serve the Bronx Science community as Assistant Treasurer of the PA Board for the 2023-2024 school year. I am passionate about helping to ensure Bronx Science provides an excellent education for all of our students. As a proud parent of a Bronx Science graduate who was well-served by our school system, I know what Bronx Science can deliver. I want to contribute my skills and time to help our school and kids. I have an MS in Accounting and have over 20 years experience working in accounting and financing. I am currently working for the New York City government with a flexible working schedule. If elected, I will utilize my accounting experience to serve our community.
Co-Recording Secretary (3)
Jennifer Courtian, Co-Recording Secretary
When my son, currently a junior, started at Bronx Science in Fall 2020, school was operating virtually. As a first time BxSc parent, this was not ideal. Thanks to the PA, I had a way to learn what was happening at school, the resources available, and how to navigate the various processes. The PA’s virtual meetings provided me with a sense of comfort, confidence and community. As a product of a selective NYC public school, I understand the importance of a strong PA to help families access the opportunities offered by such schools. I have enjoyed attending social events planned by the PA and the Annual Gala as a sponsor/attendee. I would like to serve on the PA to help carry forward its important mission. My skills will enable me to make a positive contribution as Co-Recording Secretary. I have been a litigator at Jackson Lewis P.C. for over 30 years, and a partner since 2000. On a daily basis, I attend meetings at which I need to take accurate and thorough notes, as this is crucial to my success. I am able to listen carefully, screen information for what is most important, and record it.
Katia Kubicek, Co-Recording Secretary
I am running with Jennifer Courtian and Wendy Stryker as a slate for the three Co-Recording Secretary positions open for the 2023-2024 school year. As the mother of a current junior, next year I will also– gasp– “age out” of Parent Association eligibility. (It’s true: The days are long and the years are short.) The ‘23-’24 school year would be my second year as a “RecSec.” The official Recording Secretary job is taking minutes at Executive Board and general Parent Association meetings. Other than a willingness to serve, I can say my attention to detail and appreciation of the written word make me suited to this role. Although minute-taking is a slightly dizzying task during hybrid meetings, to be honest, I fully advocate this “new normal” because it means increased parent participation. My child may view it as “cringe” that I still volunteer in school (and is relieved we have different last names) but while I am still a part of the Bronx Science and NYCDOE community, I would like to continue fostering communication among the large and far-flung parent body. Thank you.
Wendy Stryker, Co-Recording Secretary
My name is Wendy Stryker, and I am the parent of both a Bronx Science freshman and a Beacon School junior. I have enjoyed getting to know the Bronx Science parent community this year by attending events and serving as a member of the Gala Committee. I have been continuously impressed by the skill, enthusiasm and organization of the parent community, and am thrilled to have this opportunity to potentially contribute further by running for the role of Co-Recording Secretary of the PA Executive Board. Professionally, I am the co-chair of the employment practice at my law firm, Frankfurt Kurnit. I also serve as the President of the Board of Directors of the New York Civil Liberties Union. In these positions, and on various professional committees and associations, I have had the privilege of learning how to bring groups together, engage in clear and transparent communication, listen closely, and take accurate and detailed notes. I look forward to the opportunity to apply these skills for the PA.
Corresponding Secretary (1)
Xia Li, Corresponding Secretary
My name is Xia Li and my daughter is a freshman at Bronx Science. I am honored to run for Corresponding Secretary of the Parents’ Association. I believe that my strong organization skills, fluent communication skills in Mandarin and English, attention to detail, responsiveness, and dedication to our school community make me an excellent candidate for this position. Throughout my year as a member-at-Large, I have consistently demonstrated a willingness to get involved and make a positive impact. I have volunteered at various events including Project Accepted, co-chaired the Open House in March, will be volunteering at the Spring Gala, and will serve on the audit committee. As Corresponding Secretary, I will be committed to ensuring that all the volunteer events are well planned and implemented through SignUpGenius, and all members of the Parents’ Association are kept informed on important information. In addition, I am eager to work closely with the other members of the Parents’ Association, collaborating to create meaningful initiatives and events that support our school and the needs of our students. In addition to my parent role, I am an associate professor at a CUNY college. I hope to have your support!
Member at Large (5)
Nicole Allen, Member-at-Large
Nicole Allen currently works at the London Stock Exchange Group/Refinitiv as a product director focusing on textual analytics. Her studies include a Master’s degree from The Australian National University, which she attended on a Rotary Ambassadorial scholarship, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, East Asian and International Development Studies from McGill University in Montreal. Nicole’s secondary studies include an International Baccalaureate diploma from the Armand Hammer United World College in New Mexico after having spent her junior year of high school in Liège, Belgium, as a Rotary exchange student. Nicole speaks fluent French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. A resident of Greenpoint/Williamsburg in Brooklyn, she regularly volunteers with the North Brooklyn Parks Alliance, the local affiliate of the American Youth Soccer League (AYSO) and the Greenpoint Girl Scouts. This fall, Nicole will have a senior, Adrienne Cui, and an incoming freshman, Egan Cui, both at Bronx Science. Given she is embarking on her second four years with a Bronx Science student, Nicole is looking to give back to the school. She is running for a member-at-large position and believes she can contribute her solid organizational and communication skills to various projects of need.
Maggie Gao, Member-at-Large
My name is Maggie Gao. I’m the parent of a 9th grader and a 7th grader. My 9th grade daughter Chloe attends Bronx Science while my 7th grade daughter attends Hunter College High School. I am applying to be a member at large because I want to have a larger role in the Bronx Science community. Bronx Science has a great environment that fosters a sense of camaraderie between the students. The education that our children receive at Bronx Science is top-notch, and the extracurriculars offered are numerous and engaging. As I get to know Bronx Science better, I believe that I will be able to contribute suggestions and I will help in whatever way I can. I am fluent in both Mandarin and English and I am familiar with Microsoft Excel. If there are any skills that I am currently lacking, I am eager to learn and I will do my best. I want to give back to the Bronx Science community, especially since it has helped my daughter so much this year. I believe that I have a lot to contribute as a member at large and I would like to thank you for the opportunity.
Dorie Paparo, Member-at-Large
Dorie Paparo is currently serving as a third of your Bronx Science PA co-recording secretaries as well as co-webmaster of the PA website. Dorie is a native New Yorker, specialized high school grad, and mom of a Junior. Her background is in publishing and content development, and when she isn’t writing/editing, she spends way too much time on social media connecting people and information. Dorie has always been a super-volunteer at her kids’ schools, running benefits, spring picnics, fall festivals, book fairs, or the PA itself. Before serving on the Bronx Science executive board, she was a Downtown Freshman Parent Volunteer, volunteer on the 2021 Spring Gala committee, and worked alongside the then PA vice president to facilitate Bronx Science’s website redesign last year. Dorie’s career includes stints as Managing Editor at a local magazine, copy editor at Scholastic, editor at Condé Nast, copywriter, and Director of Content at an interactive agency that specializes in pharma. But her absolute favorite and most rewarding role over the last decade-and-a-half is Type-A Mom, juggling freelance projects and volunteering at non-profits and scion-adjacent institutions of learning. Dorie would be honored to continue serving on the Bronx Science Executive Board as Member-at-Large.
Helen Qiu, Member-at-Large
Hello, my name is Helen Qiu and I am running for Member-at-Large of the Bronx Science PA. I am the mother of twin boys, who are currently in the 9th grade at Bronx Science. I also have an older daughter who is studying at Brown University. I have been a Member-at-Large for the 2022-23 school year, and I enjoyed participating in fundraisers, open houses, and merchandise sales. At these events, I had a great time connecting with prospective and current students and their families. Before this position, I had extensive experience in ordering, sales, and customer service. I would love to continue using the skills I have gained to help the school community and improve the student experience. Additionally, in the coming year, I look forward to taking on more responsibility to assist in event planning and fundraising. I hope to increase student and parent engagement so that families can maximize their time at Bronx Science.
Paul Sinclair, Member-at-Large
My name is Paul Sinclair and I am a finance and accounting professional who has spent the last 15 years in the investment banking industry. Currently, I am a director at the French investment bank, Natixis. I also serve as an adjunct professor at Bronx Community College. This blend of experience in banking and education will allow me to add value to the board, as well as share real-life experiences with our students. Given the right exposure, I believe that our students will be best placed to make thoughtful and educated decisions about their future careers. My desire to continue serving in the capacity of Member at Large is therefore an extension of the work I do in and outside of the classroom. It is an opportunity to help our students bridge the gap between the classroom and the path they will take as they pave the course towards their professional development. I am encouraged by the opportunities that are available to our “knowledge seekers,” and their desire to succeed in an ever-changing world. Their success is partial to the support given at home, at school, and in a huge way, through programs enabled by the parent organization.
Nominations for School Leadership Team (SLT), Two Year Term, 2023 – 2025
Joshua Cahan, SLT
I am the parent of a current 10th grader and have lived in the Bronx since 2010. I am a writer and educator and spent the last 11 years teaching at a private high school in Westchester. Serving on the SLT would be an exciting opportunity for me to get to know the school leadership and a broad spectrum of fellow parents, to learn about the complex workings of the institution, and to bring my perspective as an outsider who understands high school education. I would love to be part of a team of stakeholders thinking creatively about how to raise the level of the academic and social experience of all of our kids. I want to be in a position where I can hear people’s concerns and amplify their voices to make sure they are heard, but also to see how individual problems fit into broader, school-wide challenges. It is also important to me to preserve a sense of collaboration, to help everyone remember that we all, parents, teachers, and administrators, share the goal of giving every student a great experience.
MJ Islas, SLT
My name is MJ Islas. I am a teacher by profession, certified in Visual Arts, Spanish and Computer Science. My husband, Angel, and I have three children, the eldest of which is a freshman at The Bronx High School of Science. I have enjoyed the opportunity to participate as a parent judge at the Speech and Debate tournaments that my child has participated in. While doing so, I had the pleasure of meeting Ellen Goldberg. She spoke of her involvement with the school’s parent organizations, which I am eager to join. I believe there is a direct correlation between students’ success and parental involvement. My 15 years of experience as an educator gives me unique insight into the systems and practices that affect our children each day. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you in continuing the exceptional progress of Bronx Science.
Date of Submission (Candidate Slate) : Tuesday, May 2, 2023.