Volunteering and philanthropy have been part of Connie Curran’s life for the past 40-plus years. Moving to New York in 1970 and starting a family, she began volunteering in organizations and activities involving her children – Classroom Mother, Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scout Den Mother, member of the Westchester/Putnam Girl Scout Council, and several ad hoc committees for the Lakeland School District.  Today she continues offering her time, talent, and skills to various nonprofit and community organizations throughout the tri-state area.

She has served on the Board of Directors of the Clear View School, The Thursday Club, the Broadview Condominium Association, and the Session of the Scarborough Presbyterian Church. She also served for many years on the Phelps Champagne Ball Committee, co-chaired the Scarborough Presbyterian Church’s Capital Campaign and sat on the Ossining Children’s Center Task Force. Connie currently serves on various committees with Teatown, the Jacob Burns Film Center, Open Door Foundation, Cardinal McCloskey Community Services, and Phelps Hospital.

She is an ordained Deacon and Elder of the Scarborough Presbyterian Church and currently is a member of its Finance and Personnel Committees. In 1994, she was instrumental in establishing the Scarborough Presbyterian Children’s Center and is the acting Chair and Secretary of the SPCC Board.

In 1997, Connie and her husband, John, established the Curran Charitable Foundation. For 20 years she managed the Foundation as its Administrator as well as serving as Secretary on its Board of Directors.

Connie attended the University of Pittsburgh’s Presbyterian University Hospital, earning her Radiologic Technologist degree in 1964. She worked for the next six years in Pittsburgh for a private radiologist. Fond memories of those years include being part of the medical team for the annual pre-screening physicals for the Pittsburgh Steelers football team.  To this day she is still an avid Steeler fan!

Currently, Dr. Raymond Sanchez is the Superintendent of the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns. Previously, Dr. Raymond Sanchez served as the superintendent of the Ossining Union Free School District, a position he held since 2013. Dr. Sanchez was an integral member of the district staff since 1998, starting as a fourth-grade teacher and serving in various leadership positions before he was appointed superintendent.

Dr. Sanchez led the district of more than 5,000 students during a period of tremendous growth in student population. He has been widely applauded for his efforts to develop partnerships with community organizations, achieve educational equity, and meet the needs of all Ossining children and their families. These endeavors have positioned Ossining as a leader in the educational equity movement. Dr. Sanchez and other staff members provide presentations and training to districts across the state and nation on this and other topics, such as early childhood education and using data to identify disparities. Dr. Sanchez is also leading the way in developing partnerships with local agencies, organizations and educational institutions.

Dr. Sanchez received several awards and honors in 2020 for his leadership, vision and outreach, including the Distinguished Service Award from his peers in the Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents. He also earned recognition from Latino U College Access; the Ossining Children’s Center; and the Hanami Foundation, which works with the immigrant community. He received the 2017 Champions for Children Award from the Child Care Council of Westchester; the 2017 Partnership Award from Pace University; the 2016 Excellence in Educational Leadership Award from the University Council for Education Administration; and the 2016 Government Service Award from the Westchester Community Opportunity Program Inc. In 2017, he was named a “Superintendent to Watch” by the National School Public Relations Association. He is a past recipient of the Raymond Delaney Award from the New York State Council of School Superintendents.

Dr. Sanchez is a veteran leader among his colleagues, serving as president of the Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents for two terms. He currently serves on the boards of Feeding Westchester, 914 Cares, Jacob Burns Film Center, and was a member of the Food for Life Council. He was President of Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES, and is currently a Regional Delegate for NYSALAS, member of the AASA Governance Board and serves on the Executive Board of the New York State Council of School Superintendents. His previous leadership positions include serving as president of the Lower Hudson Council of School Personnel Administrators and Lower Hudson Council for School Superintendents, president of the Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES Curriculum Council, member of the Teatown Nature Preservation Board of Trustees, and member of the Future School Leadership Academy advisory board. He also has shared his expertise as an adjunct professor at Mercy College, Manhattanville College and Bank Street College of Education.

Dr. Sanchez received his doctorate in Educational Leadership from Manhattanville College, earning the Doctoral Outstanding Leadership Award in 2019. He also holds advanced education degrees and certificates from Fordham University, Columbia University and Long Island University. He earned his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Geneseo.