Biography & Member Statements
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District 16: Paul Heathwood - Term ending 2026
Paul Heathwood has lived in Bronxville for 14 years, with three children who have attended or are attending the Bronxville School, including a Bronxville graduate and a current High School senior and sophomore. Paul is an investment management professional with Boston Partners Global Investors. Paul has a degree in Economics from the University of Colorado and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He has also volunteered extensively for the past seven years as a baseball and soccer coach for TYA and EYSA respectively. ​
In his own words, “The Bronxville School and the education our children receive is the centerpiece of our village. I would like to give back to our community by volunteering my time and efforts to help ensure that we continue to have a strong Board of Education. My wife, Jennifer Heathwood, has been active with the Bronxville School PTA, serving as President and in many other roles over the last 10 years. And, my sister, Jennifer Russo, is wrapping up 6 years of service on the Bronxville School Board of Education. I would like to continue our family tradition of volunteering for our school and giving back to the Bronxville community.”
District 16: Katie Delaney - Term ending 2028
Katie Delaney has been a Bronxville resident for 14 years. She and her husband have two children - a Sophomore at Bronxville High School, and a Freshman at the College of the Holy Cross.
Katie graduated from Boston College and Temple University School of Law, and is a retired attorney that specialized in advising and investigations related to anti-money laundering, white collar crime and other types of corporate fraud & abuse.
Katie has volunteered in the Bronxville School community in many capacities, as a member of the Bronxville PTA Executive Board, Memorial Day Chair (2 consecutive years), PTA Auction committee for the Library “Next Chapter” Benefit (2015), BOLD (9 yrs), Athletic Council (3 yrs), MS Council - Teen Center (2019/2020), MS Council - 6th grade chair (2020/2021), and Girl Scout Troop Leader for Troop #1506 (8 yrs).
In her own words, “I believe that The Bronxville School is the “crown jewel” of our small community and village. We are entrusting it to those who serve as Board of Education Trustees. I want to ensure that those candidates have a vision that aligns with the values of our Village, and are just as invested in its continued success - as myself and all the other volunteers of the PTA have been with our time, work and dedication to the greater Bronxville School community.”
District 17: Matt Christ - Term ending 2026
Matt and his wife Lindsey have lived in Bronxville for two years. They have two children at the Bronxville Elementary School and a six-month-old future Bronco. Matt is a debt investor for emerging markets and climate at Ninety One, where he invests in companies and projects that are leading to global decarbonization. He is a graduate of Middlebury College, with a degree in English and French, and holds an MBA from Columbia Graduate School of Business, with a focus on Value Investing. Matt's volunteer work has included being a Big Brother with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, serving as an alumni interviewer, reunion chair, and class agent for 15 years for Middlebury. He has also volunteered with the Good Dog Foundation in New York and Aspire, a tuition-free academic enrichment and leadership program in Cleveland for high-achieving students from under-resourced schools.
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In Matt’s own words, “Growing up the son of the head of a high-performing K-12 school, I have long understood the transformative power of accomplished academic leadership supported by a strong, dedicated board. For a school to thrive and excel, good governance is critical - and here that starts with recruiting, vetting, and electing Trustees who will work tirelessly to uphold the Bronxville Promise. The NPC is a unique institution, born of the community and committed to operating above politics to serve our common goal: an excellent school, that allows every child in the Village to grow and thrive. I would be honored to dedicate myself to this effort."
District 17: Rosie Amodio - Term Ending 2028
Rosie and her husband have called Bronxville home for nearly six years—after more than a decade in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Her daughter currently attends the Bronxville High School; her son is pursuing a degree in finance at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. Rosie studied Italian Literature and Journalism as an undergraduate at NYU. She then spent 20+ years working in editorial content across print and digital with leadership roles at Time Inc, XO (formerly The Knot), and Tommy Hilfliger. Regardless of where she has lived, she has been committed to her community. In Brooklyn, she held multiple roles with the Brooklyn Arts Exchange, an avant garde performance and education program and volunteered with the Prospect Park Alliance. In Bronxville, she has committed in multiple capacities within the Bronxville PTA including Communications Chair. However, her most meaningful community impact has been on the board of The Counseling Center, a non-profit that provides subsidized therapy to those in need.
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District 18: Katelin O’Rorke Gorman - Term ending 2026
Katelin and her husband Michael have lived in Bronxville for about two years. They have a four-year-old attending RCNS. Katelin is an attorney and partner at Clyde & Co LLP, and earlier in her career, served as a law clerk for the Hon. Charles L. Brieant, Jr. (US District Court for the Southern District of NY). She is a graduate of The Ursuline School, Boston College with a degree in History, and New York Law School. Within the community, Katelin has served this past year as the RCNS Asst Treasurer and will serve again as RCNS Treasurer next year. She has also held several mentoring and leadership roles, past and present, including as a member of Clyde & Co LLP’s Management Board, a Clyde & Co LLP Women's Initiative Founding Partner and Chair, a Fordham Law Negotiation Competition Coach, and the NYC Bar Association’s High School Pipeline Committee Co-Chair, among others.
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In her own words, Katelin would “like to volunteer on the NPC because I sense an earnest desire for discussion between trustee candidates and the community, and I want to help that engagement however I can. Providing opportunities to discuss the issues, trustee candidates’ solutions, and the principles and practicalities underlying those solutions are the hallmarks of what the NPC can offer, through respectful debate, information sharing, and dialogue. In my work and in life, I always try to build consensus through connection. Here, I would like to help our community and future candidates find as many ways as they can to connect on proposed plans for the continued excellence of our school.”
District 18: Kristen Howard - Term ending 2028
​A Bronxville resident for the past seven years, Kristen Howard is an active member of the community and a dedicated parent to children in both the Elementary and Middle Schools. Professionally, she is the Vice President of Sales at Catalyst Brands, bringing over two decades of experience in the fashion apparel industry, including 18 years at Ralph Lauren. Kristen co-founded Girl Scout Troop 02486 for Bronxville Elementary girls and serves as co-chair of the Elementary School Character and Community Committee, organizing student volunteer initiatives. She also volunteers with the Eastchester Youth Soccer Association as co-manager of the U10 girls team and actively supports the Killington Ski Club as a parent volunteer. In her free time, Kristen enjoys traveling, skiing, and spending time outdoors with her family.
District 19: Tshering Amdo, M.D. - Term ending 2026
Tshering (Jerry) has lived in Bronxville since 2019. He and his wife have three children currently in Bronxville Elementary School. Before that, the children attended RCNS.
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Tshering is an Associate Professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the Pulmonary and Critical Care Section Chief at NYU Langone Health-Brooklyn. He is concurrently pursuing an Executive Master's Degree in Health Administration at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
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In the past, Tshering founded a non-profit organization, Global Tibetan Professionals Network. GTPN is a volunteer-based networking forum consisting of Tibetan professionals from North America. The organization aims to connect and build a support network of Tibetan professionals in North America and globally. The organizational goals are to mentor aspiring young Tibetans through networking and sharing ideas, information, and resources.
In his words, "Bronxville Village is a great place to live and bring up your precious young ones. But we can make this place better and safer. We engage in efforts to make Bronxville a walk and bike-friendly town. We petition to keep our village safe for children and everyone to walk and bike around the village without traffic hazards. I am eager to collaborate with like-minded people to initiate and create change."
And regarding his desire to serve on the NPC, "Each of us has transcended from being individuals to life partners to parents. Our children and our school community are important aspects of our lives. I can contribute by using my innate leadership skill sets and participating in discussions and policy-making to build a better future for our children in the school and the community. I want to be an integral part of a dedicated committee that focuses on our children's growth while focusing on community engagement, collaboration, and innovation."​
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District 19: Yelena Ofengeym - Term ending 2028
Yelena Ofengeym and her husband, Yury Kholondyrev, have lived in Bronxville since 2017. They have three children: two are currently attending Bronxville Elementary and one is enrolled at Reformed Church Nursery School. Yelena serves on the board of the Reformed Church Nursery School as the Treasurer. Additionally, she is an active member of the Bronxville PTA Elementary School Council, where she holds the position of Treasurer for the Bronxville Elementary School Yearbook Committee. Yelena is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton, where she earned an MBA in Healthcare Management & Finance. She is also a Chartered Financial Analyst. Yelena has over 15 years of experience in healthcare strategy, finance and policy and is currently a director at Manatt Health, an interdisciplinary policy and business advisory division of Manatt.
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District 20: Jose Manuel Rodriguez - Term ending 2026
Jose Manuel Rodriguez and his wife, Dana, have lived in Bronxville since 2011. Their two children attend the Bronxville Middle School and the Bronxville Elementary School. Jose has been the sole proprietor of XMR Trading since 2012 and led a career in institutional investor sales. Jose recently completed an immersive software engineering program to pursue his interest in technology. He is a graduate of the University of Buffalo.
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Jose ran for re-election to his NPC District after serving the final one-year term of a previous NPC who left the NPC.
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​District 20: Aaron Shafer - Term ending 2027
Aaron Shafer was born and raised in Michigan and moved to NYC after college for law school. He lived in NYC until moving to Bronxville in 2015. His daughter has attended the Bronxville School since kindergarten and is currently in the High School. Aaron is a tax partner at KPMG focused on alternative investments and asset management. He was a member of the most recent NPC ARC, which reviewed the policies and procedures of the NPC to recommended areas of improvement. This experience created his desire to serve on the NPC as a way to continue supporting the school. Aaron previously served on the Superintendent DEI committee and regularly attends Board of Education meetings. Aaron enjoys being with family and friends, traveling the world, historical fiction, squash, backgammon, music and walking his dog
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District 20: Victoria Frost - Term ending 2028
Victoria Frost has been a proud Bronxville resident for nearly six years and is a mother of three, with two children currently at Bronxville Elementary. Formerly a luxury real estate professional in Los Angeles and New York City, she now devotes herself full-time to her family and community. Victoria is committed to preserving the school’s tradition of academic excellence and offering a thoughtful, practical voice in support of continued student success.
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District 21: Hugh Allan - Term ending 2026
Hugh and his wife, Andrea, have been residents of Bronxville since 2019. They have a daughter who attends Bronxville Elementary School. Hugh and Andrea are members of The Reformed Church of Bronxville and the Bronxville Field Club.
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Hugh worked in finance for 20 years and transitioned careers to become a mental health therapist five years ago. Hugh currently has a private therapy practice in Bronxville. Hugh works with patients who are facing mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. Hugh also works at The Parallax Center in New York which is an outpatient substance abuse facility.
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Hugh graduated from St. Lawrence University and received his Master's Degree at the NYU Silver School of Social Work.
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Hugh wants to serve on the NPC to participate in the process of finding the most qualified leadership to help ensure that the school and community provide an enriching environment for his daughter.
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​District 21: James Meehan - Term ending 2027
Jim and his wife Robyn have lived in Bronxville for the past 14 years, with two children attending Bronxville Elementary School and one attending Bronxville Middle School. Jim has a degree in Finance from Loyola University and an MBA in Finance from Adelphi University. Jim has volunteered in multiple roles within Eastchester Youth Soccer as well as helping coach in BYLA. He has had a career in Municipal Trading and Sales that has spanned more than twenty years and currently serves as Managing Director at PNC Bank.
He looks forward to working with the NPC and giving back to the community to make sure we give our students the best foundation possible to build for their future. It is important to engage with other residents to have an open and honest dialogue about pressing issues so we can maintain the high standards of the Bronxville School District. It is an honor to work with other volunteers on this committee and represent District 21.
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District 21: Sebastiano Manzan - Term ending 2028
Sebastiano and his wife, Noelia, have been residents of Bronxville since 2013 and are the proud parents of two children in the Bronxville School, one in Kindergarten and one in 8th grade. Sebastiano is a Professor of Economics at CUNY Baruch College and the Graduate Center. Before joining CUNY, he held academic positions in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. He earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Venice in Italy and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
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Sebastiano believes that the work of the Non-Partisan Committee is vital to the Bronxville community and, in particular, to the education and development of its children. He recognizes that identifying and supporting strong, forward-thinking candidates for the Board of Education has a lasting impact on the future of the district’s schools.
He would be honored to contribute to this effort and to help ensure that the district continues to benefit from thoughtful and capable leadership. Education has been a central part of Sebastiano’s life, from his early years as a student to his current role as a professor in higher education. This lifelong engagement has given him a deep appreciation for both the challenges and the transformative potential of learning.
Sebastiano believes the NPC would benefit from the perspective of someone with firsthand experience in the education system. With his daughter about to begin ninth grade and his son entering first grade, he feels a strong personal commitment to getting involved.
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District 22: Jamie Abruzzo - Term ending 2026
Jamie Abruzzo is a lifelong village resident and graduate of the Bronxville School. She is active in the community as a member of the Junior League.
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Jamie has worked in real estate since 2000 and is currently an associate broker at Julia B Fee Sotheby’s in Bronxville. Previously, Jamie was an international private banking relationship manager at Citicorp and Banco Santander. Jamie has a Bachelor of Science in Languages and Linguistics from Georgetown University.
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Jamie believes that her lifelong experience as a resident and Bronxville graduate can make a valuable contribution to the NPC.
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​District 22: Dale Frehse - Term ending 2027
We moved to Bronxville in 1977 for the Bronxville Schools, and our children began at the Bronxville School kindergarten. Over the years, I served as class mother, member of the Elementary, Middle, and High School Councils, Adult School Board, Co-Chair of the Memorial Day weekend celebration in 1980, past chair of the Hilltop Association, and two rewarding Non-Partisan Committee terms.
I have experienced gratefully the wonderful work of the Non-Partisan Committee as our school has grown in academic excellence and care.
Three of my grandchildren are in the Bronxville Schools, and I am most gratified hearing of their experiences, which I closely follow, currently in grades 4 and 10.
I volunteer at the Reformed Church of Bronxville, am a Director of The Pocono Mountains Music Festival, Young Audiences New York, Young Audiences, Inc. (national organization with 32 Affiliates), and emeritus director of The New York Philharmonic, and Member, Education Policy and Planning Committee.
I graduated from Smith College, Northampton, MA, and then was for a year a research assistant in the Harvard University Botany Department, researching medicinal plants of the Far East. For the next twelve years, I worked for the American Field Service, International Student Exchange Programs, becoming the Director.
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