Read below to find out more about the six (6) candidates who will be running for three (3) seats on the Hudson City School District Board of Education! The 2025-26 Hudson City School District Budget Vote and Board of Education Election takes place on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. at various voting locations. For information and presentations on the 2025-26 proposed budget, please click here.
Click here to meet the current Hudson School District Board of Education members!
The following order of candidates is how the names will appear on the ballot.
Mark DePace, Candidate:
Mark DePace is a parent, entrepreneur, part-time educator, youth sports coach, and the current Vice President of the Hudson City School District Board of Education. A lifelong Hudson Valley resident, he graduated from Newburgh Free Academy before earning a BFA from New York University. As the son of two teachers, Mark developed a deep appreciation for the power of education to transform lives and strengthen communities — a belief that continues to guide his work today.
Since joining the Hudson City School District Board in 2021, Mark has worked to strengthen academic excellence, advance equity and inclusion, and build a school district that every resident can be proud of. He believes our schools should reflect and celebrate the diversity, history, natural beauty, and cultural richness of the community they serve.
Mark’s leadership is rooted in community, service, and collaboration. He believes all voices deserve to be heard, and that building consensus through open communication is essential to moving the district forward. He is passionate about strengthening morale, increasing community participation, and fostering a culture of positivity and pride across the schools. Mark remains dedicated to ensuring that Hudson’s schools are a vital resource for students and families — a place not only for learning, but for support, growth, and opportunity.
Michael Zibella, Candidate:
I’m a graduate of the Hudson High School Class of 1988 and am proud to be a Bluehawk. I hold a degree in Architectural Engineering Design from Columbia-Greene Community College. I have been self-employed for over 29 years in Columbia County and am a lifelong resident, having always lived within the boundaries of the Hudson City School District.
For many years, I have been involved with volunteer organizations, including the Hudson High School Booster Club, Scouting America (formerly known as Boy Scouts of America), and the MRA (a semi-professional racing organization), where I served as President for five years. I was also actively involved with the HHS Class of 2024, of which my son was a graduate, assisting them with their many fundraising endeavors, including spearheading the first annual HHS car show.
I’m a strong supporter of the public education system and am excited for the opportunity to work diligently with fellow board members, district administration, staff, and families to help provide a safe and stimulating learning experience for all students.
Christine Sweet, Candidate:
My name is Christine Sweet, and I am very excited to run for the school board. I have two children in the school district, and I believe that my personal and professional background have given me the experience to assist the Board with meeting their visions and goals for the students, staff, and community. I am a 2010 graduate of the Hudson City School District. I attended Columbia-Greene Community College, where I received my Associate of Science in Individual Studies and Wilmington University in Delaware where I received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. I’ve worked for the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and, most recently, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. During my time in these agencies, I have served on many committees and boards that serve to bridge the gap between the agency, staff, and stakeholders. I believe in giving back and being an active member in the community that supported me in becoming the person I am today, which is why I volunteer for organizations such as the Hudson Little League and the Hudson Children’s Book Festival, just to name a few. I believe my passion for the school and the community makes me a great candidate to assist the board in reaching their goal and vision of inspiring all students to do their best by providing them with the means necessary to achieve their goals while ensuring an inclusive environment that brings together the community, the school district staff, and students.
Diana (Doto) Howard, Candidate:
I am a proud 1988 graduate of Hudson High School. I hold degrees from Columbia Greene Community College, The College of Saint Rose, SUNY New Paltz, and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
For the past 25 years, I have been grateful to work in the Hudson City School District. I began my career as a substance abuse and violence prevention educator for Catholic Charities in Hudson. I then taught math and science at Round Rock School on the Navajo Reservation in Four Corners, Arizona, science and social studies at Broadview Middle School in Burlington, North Carolina, and biology at Guilford Middle School in Greensboro, North Carolina.
In 2000, I came home to Hudson and began teaching 7th grade science. I was grateful to do this important work alongside other teachers, janitors, secretaries, bus drivers, maintenance workers, aides, monitors, nurses, cafeteria workers, and administrators that I have been with since we attended John L. Edwards Elementary School together. Additionally, I now proudly work with some of my former students. This year, I will be retiring after the completion of my 25th year in this position.
Some will claim to be a Bluehawk. I am a Bluehawk. We are a family.
I’ll treasure these past three decades in the classroom. I’ll forever be happy to run into my former coworkers and students while out and about in our community. I look forward to continuing my relationship with our educational community as a board member. I hope to be the voice from within the walls of the classroom. I look forward to this opportunity to lift up our people.
Jim (James) Jacoby, Candidate:
My name is Jim Jacoby, and I’m proud to call Hudson my home. With over 25 years of experience in education, I have dedicated my life to supporting students and fostering their success. Before retiring and relocating to Hudson, I spent 20 years teaching mathematics at Kearny High School in Kearny, New Jersey. During the process of transferring my teaching certification from NJ to NYS, I served as a substitute teacher here in Hudson. Currently, I am a Mathematics Teacher with the Schenectady City School District.
My academic journey began at Monmouth University, where I earned my BS/MS degrees in Mathematics. I went on to complete an M.Ed. in School Administration at Saint Peter’s University, and more recently, I earned an advanced graduate certificate in Students with Disabilities, Grades 7-12 from SUNY Plattsburgh. I am now working towards National Board Certification in Mathematics Education for Grades 7-12, continuing my lifelong commitment to professional growth and excellence.
Throughout my career, I have been an advocate for all my students, tailoring my teaching to their individual interests, strengths, and learning styles. I firmly believe that trust and positive relationships between teachers and students are the foundation of a safe, welcoming, and enriching learning environment. Education is deeply personal and lifelong—it is not a “one size fits all” process.
As a candidate for the Board of Education, I am passionate about prioritizing the success of all students and teachers. I believe that to advance the intellectual, social, and emotional development of ALL students, we must expand or reinstate educational and athletic programs that cultivate learning and foster school pride through extracurricular activities. Transparency is key; we must ensure that all stakeholders understand how we provide these resources while minimizing the expense to taxpayers. Ultimately, we are here to serve our kids, and I am committed to making their futures brighter.
Maureen Sheridan, Candidate:
I am excited to announce my candidacy for a seat on the Hudson CSD Board of Education. As a soon-to-be retired Hudson Special Education Teacher, I bring a unique and valuable perspective to the board. I have lived in the City of Hudson and the Town of Greenport for the past 25 years. My son was a BlueHawk. My daughter, Abigail, is a Little Hawk at MC Smith Elementary. I have spent the last six years of my career at the Junior HS. Ten years prior to that, I taught at MC Smith Elementary/Intermediate and the Greenport Elementary School. From the moment I walked through the drafty doors of Greenport, back in 2008, and was greeted with smiles and words of encouragement, I fell in love with this district. Hudson offers more than any other district for miles around. Long before ‘diversity’ became a household word, for better or for worse, Hudson provided a plethora of programs, resources, and support for all of our students at all levels during the school day, as well as after. We epitomized diversity and inclusion. We weren’t perfect, and we often struggled, but we never gave up or gave in. We persevered.
Prior to the Pandemic, our school was on a positive trajectory. We worked hard to improve test scores and graduation rates, and move out of the status of a district under state review. We were unified and proud. We had heart. I believe that with the right leadership, we can achieve that status again. I look forward to working for the school district in a new capacity and continuing to support our staff and students as a member of the HCSD Board of Education.
There will be a “Meet the Board of Education Candidates” night on Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 6 p.m. in the Hudson Junior/Senior High School auditorium, moderated and sponsored by the Hudson Senior High School Student Council.