Three candidates run for three open seats on GJSD Board of Education
On Tuesday, May 21, the community will vote on the district’s proposed spending plan for the 2024-2025 school year. They will also elect three candidates to serve on the board of education for three-year terms beginning July 1, 2024.
Polls will be open from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. on May 21 in the auditorium lobby (JPAC) at Johnstown High School.
Board members whose terms are expiring this year include current vice president Jennifer Sponnoble, and board members Arthur Schrum Jr., and Ronald Beck.
Three community members turned in petitions to run for the three open BOE seats. This is the order in which the candidates will appear on the ballot:
Jennifer Sponnoble
Jennifer Sponnoble from Johnstown is running as an incumbent candidate for the Board of Education. She is a lifelong resident of the District and is a 1992 graduate of Johnstown High School. Sponnoble received her B.A. from SUNY Albany, her M.S. Ed. in school counseling from Sage Colleges, and her SBL certificate from SUNY Plattsburgh. She has worked as a school counselor at HFM P-Tech for ten years.
She currently serves as the Vice President of the Board of Education, and is on the board’s extracurricular/academic committee, and wellness committee.
Locally, she is a vestry member at St. John’s Episcopal Church and a member of the “100 Women Who Care” initiative.
She is married to her husband Bill Ackerbauer. They have three children, Liam (JHS ‘20), Carter (JHS ‘22), and Finnegan, who is currently in fifth grade at Knox Middle School.
Personal Statement: Serving on the BOE has been a rewarding experience, although stressful at times. When I was elected to the board, it was important to me and my family to support and strengthen our district. Our schools are the center of our community. They are where we come together to learn, to participate in musicals, games, concerts, plays, awards ceremonies and other activities – where our children learn about themselves and others. Our schools are where our children will spend a majority of their days for 13-14 years of their lives. We owe it to them to continue to make our schools exciting environments where they will continue to learn, and grow into productive young men and women who raise their own families here.
Leslie Buggeln-Bosworth
Leslie Buggeln-Bosworth is running as a candidate for the GJSD Board of Education, a position that she has previously served.
Leslie is a retired elementary teacher and has lived in the Greater Johnstown School District for 45 years. She attended Louisville High School in Woodland Hills, CA, received her B.S. in education at Lake Erie College, and her masters from SUNY Oswego. She is married to her husband David. They have two children, Matthew and Ryan.
Personal Statement: I have served on the GJSD BOE for two past terms. I believe my past experiences on various levels will help me to serve the school district going forward.
Elizabeth DeRosa
Elizabeth DeRosa of Johnstown is running for an open seat on Johnstown’s Board of Education. She has been a member of the Johnstown community for 30 years. She is a retired elementary teacher and taught grades K, 1, 2, 4, and reading at the Gloversville Enlarged School District. She currently works for the College of St. Rose as a supervisor for student teachers. She said she hopes to continue that role at Russell Sage College in the fall.
She is a 1986 graduate of Gloversville High School. She received her Associate’s Degree in Arts from FMCC, and her B.S. in Elementary Education, N-6, and English 7-9 from the College of St. Rose. She received her M.S. in developmental reading K-12 from SUNY Albany.
Personal Statement: I have been an elementary educator in the Gloversville School District for 32 years. Even though I have recently retired, I want to stay connected to my life’s work in some new and challenging ways. A seat on the Johnstown School Board would offer me a way to support our community and students in the field of education, which I am still very passionate about. I believe I have the knowledge and skill set to work together with other board members and see all sides of the various issues we will encounter. I am respectful of other’s viewpoints an am willing to compromise for a fair outcome for all which, in turn, will help our community and district thrive.