Bedford School Trustee Resigns From Seat, Cites Personal, Career Demands
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Bedford Board of Education Trustee Kristine Stoker resigned from her seat last Wednesday, citing career and family demands that she had hoped to balance.
Stoker, a Pound Ridge resident who was elected last year and began serving on July 1, said she was unable to juggle all of her responsibilities. She works for a large bank and has significant fiduciary responsibilities connected to the job.
“Sometimes there are a variety of personal things that could not have been foreseen when I ran, and I do need to think about my family, in particular my son who has special needs, and thinking about his future and what’s best for him and also my livelihood. It was really that,” Stoker said. “I was really trying to make it all work.”
Despite her short time on the board, Stoker said she was happy to have pushed for the new reading curriculum that is aligned with the science of reading that the district will implement for the 2024-25 academic year.
She’s also pleased that the district is conducting a study on its special education program, which has been maligned over the years for not meeting the needs of the students and their families. Stoker anticipates that the report will be completed before the end of the calendar year.
Another obstacle that Stoker faced was how the vast majority of committee meetings were held during daytime hours, which made it difficult and often impossible for her to attend.
Although Stoker had a little more than two years remaining on her term, she said her decision became more evident to her in recent weeks. She hopes the board takes to heart the need for vigilance regarding being open and straightforward with the public.
“I don’t have all the answers on where the board needs to go,” Stoker said. “I think it’s transparency, more accountability. I think these are these are the areas where we really need to go, just like every board in America.”
It is not yet known how the board intends to fill the seat. A message to the community stated that the board will discuss the next steps to fill the vacancy at an upcoming meeting.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
