BEDFORD, N.Y. - On Tuesday, May 20, voters in the Bedford Central School District will be tasked with approving the 2025-26 budget of $160,905,500 and deciding four open seats on the Board of Education.
A crowded field of candidates will by vying for three 3-year terms, as well as one 1-year unexpired term.
Seeking re-election will be current president Gilian Klein and trustees Amal Shady, Blakeley Lowry, and Robert Mazurek. They will be challenged by newcomers Eric Florio, Prasad Krishnan, and Leo Sposato.
Before the election, The Mt. Kisco-Bedford Times offered the candidates an opportunity to address district voters and explain, in their own words, their qualifications and what they see as the most pressing issues facing the school district. (Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.)
Eric Florio
Please list your career and educational accomplishments.
Career: Sergeant Supervisor of Detective Squad, NYPD – Intelligence Division, with over 18 years of service. I am a highly decorated professional with over 70 department recognition awards including the department’s third highest honor, the Medal of Valor. Specializing in Intelligence Driven Criminal Investigations, source cultivation, clandestine operations, and criminal group analysis.
Education: Masters of Public Administration Degree from CUNY at John Jay College. Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and History, with a minor in Women’s Studies from SUNY at Stony Brook.
What other leadership positions have you held locally?
I have earned a Graduate Certificate in Police Leadership and am currently a proud classroom parent at MKES. Aside from serving at my local church, I have also served on executive level reengineering/reimagination committees in a 50,000 plus governmental agency.
What are the most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education?
The most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education are how to balance and support the needs of the students while maintaining a fiscally responsible budget and not being afraid to do more with our available finances when possible. The district is on the right path, but we can do better. We have seven schools, all with their own needs. By working in partnership with all the stakeholders, our students, the teachers, parents and the community at large, we should try to address these needs. The time is now.
My whole career/life has been public service. I don’t have other motivations or aspirations other than wanting all the students in our district to succeed. I am not afraid to apply our resources to them, so they not only have the tools they need to succeed, but that they feel that they have our support. I plan to do this with integrity and transparency, so our community knows that we have the means to get things done.
Gilian Klein
Please list your career and educational accomplishments.
I have been a school psychologist for 26 years, holding a doctoral degree in community/clinical psychology. My career began in NYC schools supporting underserved communities. As a Pace University adjunct professor, I taught psychological assessment, school psychology and ethics. I served as a CSE/CPSE chairperson and currently act as a Dignity for All Students coordinator. I am well versed in the operational functioning of schools at every level within the public education system having worked with students across kindergarten through post high school.
What other leadership positions have you held locally?
I am the current President of the BCSD Board of Education, chair of the Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment committee, on the Special Education committee, and have served on the Finance and Facilities committee. As a proponent for literacy, I made the motion culminating in the adoption of new research-based literacy curricula currently being implemented in all five BCSD elementary schools which has improved reading proficiency rates across all elementary schools and the middle school according to district STAR assessment data. Additionally, I am a member of the Inclusive Initiative, SEPTO, BVESA, and FLMSA.
What are the most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education?
Continued academic, curricular/programmatic, data driven analysis and improvement: implement PCG special education action plan, DLBE program assessment, secondary literacy, MS/HS schedule.
Continued improvements in climate, culture, inclusion, access and student social emotional/ physical safety.
Organizational stability – strategic standardization of systemwide operational procedures. Improvement in facilities maintenance and 3-year financial forecasting/allocation analysis.
Continuation of collaborative/transparent, balanced leadership at BCSD.
With decades of experience in public education professionally and three years of service on the BCSD Board of Education, I bring the skills necessary to be a collaborative and effective leader. I am committed to fostering continuous growth districtwide. I am dedicated to ongoing evaluation and refinement of effective and equitable districtwide systems and programs. I will advocate for fiscally responsible, long-term budgeting that supports all students districtwide.
Prasad Krishnan
Please list your career and educational accomplishments.
With over 17 years of experience as a financial services professional at leading Wall Street firms, I bring a strong background in financial analysis, strategic planning, and corporate investing—skills that translate directly to responsible fiscal stewardship and long-term planning in public education. My experience has focused on helping organizations meet complex financial and strategic goals through data-driven decision-making and thoughtful investments to support future outcomes.
I hold a Bachelor of Science from The University of Texas and an MBA in Corporate Finance from St. Edward’s University.
What other leadership positions have you held locally?
I’ve called Mount Kisco home for over eight years, and during that time, I’ve been involved in our community—supporting local initiatives, fostering meaningful connections, and actively participating in youth sports with my children. Being engaged at a grassroots level has given me a strong appreciation for the values, needs, and aspirations of the families in our district.
What are the most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education?
I believe the two most pressing issues facing our district and the BoE today are the allocation of financial resources and the need for comprehensive, long-term budget forecasting. With over 17 years of experience in corporate finance, I will bring a data-driven, unbiased perspective that will ensure our resources are allocated effectively and transparently—always with the goal of maximizing educational opportunities for every student in our district.
But fiscal responsibility is only one part of the equation. I believe our district needs to start thinking more strategically about the future—not just in terms of budgets, but also in how we plan for future student education needs, evolving safety standards, and the staffing and programming needed to support a robust, modern, high-ranking school district. By taking a longer-term, holistic view, we will better prepare our students not only for high school, but for life beyond the classroom.
Blakeley Lowry
Please list your career and educational accomplishments.
I am a global public health professional with over 20 years of experience working to improve the health outcomes of women, children and other marginalized populations. Having worked for leading organizations such as The Legal Aid Society, Gay Men’s Health Crisis and Health Right International, I hold a deep background in special education advocacy, community engagement and developing sustainable and cost-effective programs. Currently serving as a curriculum chair and professor of community health at Westchester Community College, I develop and implement effective teaching methodologies for a diverse student population.
What other leadership positions have you held locally?
I’ve served on several non-profit boards, including Open Door Family Medical Center and Family Services of Westchester. I was appointed to the Town of Bedford Health Working Group and assisted in putting together a community-wide health fair that provided residents with health-related trainings, activities and connections to resources in the area.
What are the most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education?
The three most critical areas facing the district that need to addressed are improving academic outcomes, establishing long-term financial planning, and strengthening operations.
During my first term on the board, to address academic achievement gaps, we invested in implementing a new literacy curriculum, building out a Multi-tiered Systems of Support framework across all grade levels, and funded an external review and action plan for improving the provision of special education services. As a Board, we continue to advocate for standardized procedures and financial forecasting to assist in our crucial role of overseeing a fiscally sustainable budget and effectively allocating resources to meet district needs. Board member continuity and expertise in these areas will be important for driving and evaluating academic outcomes and stronger processes and procedures in the next school year.
Rob Mazurek
Please list your career and educational accomplishments.
Georgetown University, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Corporate finance and investment experience with Coopers & Lybrand, Microsoft, FGIC, and NY State Office of the Comptroller.
What other leadership positions have you held locally?
Bedford Central School District Board of Education Trustee, 2021 – present. Board President, 2024. Finance Committee Chair, Policy Committee, Bond/Construction Committee, Communications Committee, Budget Advisory Committee since 2017.
What are the most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education?
I joined the board in 2021 to apply my skills in finance and budgeting to promote improvement in data transparency, budget planning, and management competency.
Over the course of four years, I witnessed strong financial growth and improvements in fiscal responsibility. To continue this improvement, we must avoid a culture of false scarcity and improve data communication.
Some of our failings in transparent planning risk are hampering our growth again. Measuring to manage will promote thoughtfulness and kindness in the best decision-making for all.
I have a child who graduated from Fox Lane last year and another there now. Over 19 years in the district, I have witnessed the impact that a culture of scarcity has on students, families (including community taxpayers), faculty, and staff. The Bedford Central community is ready to embrace a bright future. I hope to lead in that achievement. Vote "yes" on the budget. Voice "no" to a culture of false scarcity.
Amal Shady
Please list your career and educational accomplishments.
I am an operational risk and resiliency specialist with over 20 years of experience in the private sector. I have worked for firms with global footprints in multiple industries to identify resilience related risk and remediate to the best of their abilities within their agreed upon risk tolerance levels. I have spoken at multiple international conferences.
I graduated from the United Nations International School in NYC. After which I attended the University of Rochester, majoring in Religion. I have obtained several certificates over the years; including Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP), Member of the Business Continuity Institute (MBCI), ISO 22301 (International Standard for Business Continuity Management System / Resilience) Senior Lead Implementer & Instructor.
What other leadership positions have you held locally?
I was a member of the Bedford Hills Elementary School Parent Association (BHESA) Steering Committee. I currently sit on the Town of Bedford Ethics Committee, as needed. I was a member of the Board for the Foundation for the Bedford Central School District. I have also been involved in several grass roots groups focused on getting out the vote in support of the school budget and trustee elections.
I have been a BCSD community member, just shy of 21 years, and a BCSD parent, just shy of 20 years.
What are the most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education?
Our district requires additional strategic planning techniques, forecasting and district wide standardization. We have built a solid foundation over the last few years, but now we need to create a structure for efficient sustainable long-term planning and growth.
I believe we are in a good place to begin building upon this new foundation. As such, our collective focus should be standardized processes & procedures for all administrative tasks, long-term financial planning and forecasting (minimum 3 years), data-driven, risk-based analysis, and risk-driven decision-making in relation to our educational programming and its’ required support system.
As an operational risk and resiliency specialist, I am keenly qualified to assist in the development and implementation of an effective, risk driven strategic and tactical model.
I would cherish the opportunity to serve the district for another term and utilize my skills in raising and lifting all our students.
Leo Sposato
Please list your career and educational accomplishments.
● Masters in teaching English
● Masters in School Administration and Leadership
● Director of Communications
● English teacher - high school and college
● International teaching experience
● Bilingual
What other leadership positions have you held locally?
While I do not have other leadership positions in local clubs or organizations, I have been an advisor to several clubs at Yorktown High School including Film Club, Midnight Run and Amnesty International. I have been the school newspaper advisor for nearly a decade, and I have coached girls AYSO soccer for the last four years.
It is worth adding that when I served as Director of Communications at Yorktown Central School District, I worked directly with the Superintendent and Board of Education. I led district-wide initiatives, built teams, and collaborated with various groups to solve problems and communicate effectively with the public. I was awarded tenure.
What are the most important issues facing the district and the Board of Education?
● Title 1 and Special Ed funding
● Literacy Interventions/Literacy and reading programs
● Mental health
● Safety and security
● The Dual Language program
● Technology
● Sustainability and promoting the environment
● Extracurriculars - art, music, theatre, writing etc.
● Operations and Facilities
I am one of the most qualified to address these issues because I am the only candidate who brings a lifetime inside the classroom and a professional career dedicated to education. With 30 years as a high school English teacher, two master’s degrees in teaching and educational leadership, and experience working directly with superintendents and boards on district-wide communication initiatives, I understand how policy decisions impact real classrooms, real teachers, and real students.
I am also a 14-year resident of the Bedford Central School District and a bilingual parent of a second grader with an IEP, who is in the dual language program. I have witnessed, firsthand, her growth in both languages and I am excited about her progress. Much of her growth is categorically attributed to the literacy interventions and the new reading programs instituted this year in 2nd grade at Mt. Kisco Elementary.
I truly believe the Board needs an educator’s voice — someone who knows both the heart and the mechanics of schooling — to make thoughtful, informed, student-centered decisions.
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