Board Members
Board MembersClick here to learn more about becoming a member of the HCSD Board of Education.
President: Mark DePace | Term 7/1/2025 – 6/30/2028
I am a parent, entrepreneur, part-time educator, youth sports coach, and the current Vice President of the Hudson City School District Board of Education. I grew up in the Hudson Valley and graduated from Newburgh Free Academy. As the child of two teachers, I have been passionate about public education for as long as I can remember.
Since joining the School Board, my goal has been to continue the trend of academic improvement within our schools and ultimately, create a school district that all residents can be proud of. Academic excellence goes hand in hand with inclusion and equity and I want to continue to develop robust educational experiences that serve students of all backgrounds. Our schools should reflect the community that we live in and celebrate its diversity, rich history, natural beauty, and cultural institutions. This continued change will take an increase in morale, community participation, and positivity within the culture of our schools.
I believe all voices should be heard and that communication and collaboration are essential when trying to build a consensus and generate prompt, decisive action. By using the skills I have developed as an entrepreneur and educator I am confident I can continue to be an effective leader for our school community.
Vice-President: Matthew Mackerer | Term 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2027
A 2001 Hudson High School graduate, I hold degrees from Cornell University and Ithaca College. I am the parent of a current student and have witnessed HCSD’s efforts to prepare the next generation firsthand. I hope to leverage my professional knowledge as a Certified Public Accountant to serve the school community, working to increase transparent, effective financial management for the District. My prior board service includes the Columbia Children’s Center, Columbia County Habitat for Humanity and the Ithaca Public Education Initiative. I look forward to working with District administration, staff and families to secure a bright future for our students.
Member: Kjirsten Gustavson | Current term ends 6/30/2026
I have lived in Hudson since 2005, and I am the mother of two daughters in the Hudson CSD. For the past seven years, I have had to navigate a variety of special services there while supporting my girls’ education. I also volunteered in 2020 to help develop policies for returning to school safely in light of COVID-19 and recently have begun volunteering to help with the drama club during its annual performance. For eleven years, I worked on field trip programs as a museum educator at nearby Clermont State Historic Site. Now I develop museum exhibits that incorporate diverse history throughout New York State.
It is Hudson CSD’s recent adoption of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy that most inspired me to run for school board. I believe this policy is an important first step, and I look forward to hearing the voices of students and parents to help ensure that the policy is put into action thoughtfully and effectively. I support arts and culture for our students. Finally, I also bring experience working with state budgets, non-for profits, personnel, and facility management. I hope to use these skills and experience to serve the community on the board.
Member: Amanda Grubler | Term 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2027
Amanda Grubler is excited to run for school board and for the opportunity to use her experience to make a positive impact on the Hudson public schools. She is a mother of two students in the district, Henrietta in pre-kindergarten, and Dorothy in 3rd grade at MC Smith. Amanda has worked in public education for the past 19 years. She started her work in education teaching middle schoolers in both the Boston and New York City public schools. She taught for eight years before moving into school leadership serving as a Middle School Director in Brooklyn, NY. She currently works as the Senior Director of K-8 Academics for a network of schools in the Albany and Troy area. In this role, she supports school leaders with the implementation of strong literacy and math curriculum and instruction across six schools that serve over 1,000 students. She holds one Masters in Education from Harvard University and a second in School Building and District leadership from Hunter College. Amanda has previous board experience, recently serving as Vice President of the board of directors for Columbia Children’s Center, a local non-profit daycare. Amanda is excited to apply her insight as a parent, teacher, leader and regional curriculum and instruction expert to support the Hudson Schools.
Member: Diana Howard | Term 7/1/2025 – 6/30/2028
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 prior to retiring at the end of the 2024-25 school year. 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. 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.
Member: Maureen Sheridan | Term 7/1/2025 – 6/30/2028
As a recently-retired Hudson CSD 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.
Member: Michael Zibella | Term 9/17/2025 – 5/19/2026
I am committed to supporting student success, ensuring responsible fiscal management, promoting equity, and strengthening the connection between our schools and community.
I bring with me skills in facilities management, strategic planning, problem-solving, and collaborative leadership, along with experience in business and volunteer work. I believe these will allow me to make thoughtful, informed decisions and contribute positively to the board’s work.
Student Representative: Thomas Orbinski
Board Clerk
Leslie Coons
Phone: 518-828-4360, ext. 2118
Email: coonsl@hudsoncsd.org
Board Committees
See the Board committee meeting schedule here.
Audit Committee
Diana Howard
Mark DePace
Matthew Mackerer
Facilities Committee
Maureen Sheridan
Calvin Lewis
Kjirsten Gustavson
Policy Committee
Mark DePace
Amanda Grubler
Diana Howard
BoE Meetings Livestreamed Effective 12/12/23
Board of Education Meetings Also Livestreamed Effective 12/12/23