The BSEF is a volunteer, not-for-profit corporation, incorporated under the laws of the State of New York and registered with the Office of the New York State Attorney General, Bureau of Charities and has a 501(c)(3) designation by the IRS. This organization's success is due to the dedicated group of volunteers that donate their time, energy and skills to raising and distributing funds for educational enrichment outside the realm of the daily operational needs of the Ballston Spa Central School District.
If you or someone you know would be interesting in serving on the Ballston Spa Education Foundation Board, please contact Ellen Mottola at 885-3715 , emottola@nycap.rr.com. We are always interested in adding board members with their skills, talents and enthusiasm. Our monthly meetings are at 7:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month and are held at the District Office at 70 Malta Avenue. If you would like to be a volunteer, without joining the board, please contact Ellen at the above phone number or email address.
Chair, Christine Richardson - Chair
Christine has been a resident of Malta for 12 years. She works for Biogen Idec in pharmeceutical sales. Christine recently was President for the Malta Avenue Intermediate School PTA and still serves on committees. She also participates on the Shared Decision Making Team at Malta Avenue. Christine and her family are active in the Arthritis Foundation. Christine and her husband, Todd, have three children in Ballston Spa Schools. Christine has been a member of the board since November 2007.
Cheryl Sovern - Vice-Chair
Cheryl has been with the law firm of Berger, DuCharme, Harp & Clark, LLP, since 1991. She graduated from Albany Law School in 2006 and is now an associate attorney with the same firm. She is the past president and treasurer of the Malta Ridge Volunteer Fire Company Auxiliary. She is a member of the American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, Saratoga County Bar Association and the Adirondack Chapter of the Women's Bar Association. She is an active community volunteer having participated in events sponsored by Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Saratoga. In her spare time, she teaches 6th and 7th grade catechism at St. Mary's Church in Ballston Spa. Cheryl and her husband, Chuck, have two children Amanda (BSHS 05) and Andrew, an 8th grader. Cheryl joined the board October, 2007.
Linda Gorham, Recording Secretary
Linda has been a resident of Ballston Spa since 1992 and a member of the BSEF since the spring of 2007. She has been the Public Programs Director at Saratoga County Historical Society (Brookside Museum) for 10 years. She and her husband Roger have two daughters, Adrienne and Sarah, both graduates of Ballston Spa High School. Linda also serves as secretary for the Ballston Spa Cemetery Association.
Matt Williams, Corresponding Secretary
Matt is a Field Supervisor for Chemcept, Inc., a small environmental services firm. He lives in Malta with his wife Jaime and their new baby girl. Matt graduated from Shenendehowa HS and received his bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from Plattsburgh State. He has previously worked as an educator in South Carolina through Clemson University, and has also developed and implemented enrichment programs for children in New Hampshire. Matt joined the board in February 2008.
Cynthia Young - Treasurer
Cynthia , a self employed bookkeeper, has on the BSEF board since 2006. She lives with her husband, Doug, in Malta and her three children, Jim, Andy and Emily, are all graduates of Ballston Spa High School. Cynthia is Chairperson of the Malta Youth Commission and a member of the Malta Sunrise Rotary.
Kim Lambert
Kim joined the BSEF board in September 2007. She is a 1994 graduate of BSHS. Kim is head of the Imprintable Sportswear Division at Walton’s Sport Shop in Saratoga Springs, NY. She received her BS degree from Rochester Institute of Technology in Environmental Management and Technology and is working on her MRP in Urban Planning at the University of Albany. Kim is very active in the Saratoga Springs Junior Chamber, where she was the 2007 Chapter President. She is also on her second year on the National Awards Committee with the United States Junior Chamber, founding member of Junior Chamber International. Kim became Vice Chair of the BSEF in December 2007. She was elected chair May 2008 and is on the grants review and public relations committees.
Martina Bantham
Martina has been a resident of Ballston Spa since 1991. She works for State Farm Insurance as a Credit Union Manager. She has 2 boys in the Ballston Spa school district, and enjoys the outdoors and reading. She chairs the Grants Review Committee. Martina has been on the board since September 2003.
Tom Buckley
Tom, a retired Niskayuna elementary school principal, joined the board in December 2004. He and his wife, Maureen, who taught at BOCES, have lived in the Ballston Spa school district for 26 years. They have two children, Jennifer and Christopher, who attended BSCS from kindergarten to graduation.
James Curley
James is the founder and CEO of the Saratoga Springs, NY based eCommerce development company, Mountain Media. Mr. Curley served on the board of directors for the St. Jude Retreat House, from 2001 thru 2005. James lives with his wife Susan and two children Kira and Hayden in Ballston Spa, NY. He enjoys skiing, hiking and volleyball. Mr. Curley sits on the Strategic Planning Committee and serves as the web developer since joining the BSEF in March of 2006.
Erik LaChance
Erik joined the BSEF Board in February 2007. He is a 2002 graduate of BSHS. Erik graduated from Siena College in 2006 with a Bachelors Degree in Marketing/Management. He works as a Marketing Analyst at State Farm Insurance, regionally located in Malta, NY. He enjoys spending time with family and friends in addition to playing sports, camping and skiing in his spare time. Erik currently resides in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Lisa Lengyel
Lisa is the branch manager of the Ballston Spa branch of Adirondack Trust Company. She has four years of service with Adirondack Trust. She resides in Clifton Park with her husband and stepdaughter. Lisa also sits on the board of CAPTAIN and is on their development and program committees. Lisa became a member of the BSEF board in September 2005.
Andrew Menzie
Andy is a Social Studies teacher at the Ballston Spa High School. Prior to this, he taught, coached, and supervised a dormitory for sixteen years in boarding schools in Connecticut and southern New York. He took two years off from teaching to complete his Masters and rebuild an old barn, and then came to Ballston Spa last year. His wife teaches math at Amsterdam, and their two boys go to school in Ballston Spa.
Ellen Mottola
Ellen chairs the Membership Committee. She has been an active volunteer in Ballston Spa schools, including past PTA president at the Middle School and at Milton Terrace Primary School, past district PTA Council Secretary and also participates in several districtwide steering and interview committees. She is the Executive Administrative Assistant for the Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association. Ellen and her husband, Bill, have three children Amy (BSHS 99), Michael (BSHS 04) and Megan, a middle school student. Ellen joined the board April 2003.
Laurie Sickles
Laurie joined the Board in the Fall of 2007. She is the vice president of the Milton Terrace South PTA and sits on several of the Foundation's committees as well as chairs The Taste of Ballston committees. Laurie received her B.A. from SUNY Oswego and her Masters in Education from the College of Saint Rose. Laurie is a consultant for Storm King Strategies and lives in Malta with her husband and two daughters.
Kelly Pilkey
Kelly has been a resident of Ballston Spa for 12 years and is new to the Ballston Spa Educational Foundation. Kelly is employed by Glens Falls Hospital as the Manager of a grant-funded health education and outreach program to improve the health of communities in the Northeast Region of New York State. Kelly and her husband have one child in the Ballston Spa school district and is currently serving as an officer in the Malta Avenue PTA.
Susan “Sue” M. Filburn
Sue is an Associate Budget Analyst for the New York State Division of Budget in Albany. She received her Bachelor’s of Science degree from the United States Military Academy and served in the United States Army for eight years, resigning as a Captain. After her military service, Sue attended the Syracuse University Maxwell School earning her Master’s of Public Administration. At present, she serves as Milton Terrace North’s PTA Treasurer, a board member for the Saratoga County Concerned Citizens for Mental Health, a member of Congressman Murphy’s Academy Selection Committee and continues to support West Point in her positions as a Class Advisor and Class Officer. Sue and her husband, Troy, have lived in Ballston Spa for eight years, with their daughter Molly, who is a first grader at MTN. Sue joined the board in 2009.
Graig Carbino
Graig joined the BSEF Board in September 2009. He is a 2002 graduate of BSHS. Graig graduated from Siena College in 2006 with a Bachelors Degree in Marketing/Management and is working on his MS in Adolescence Education at the College of St. Rose. He works as a Senior Staffing Specialist for Manpower, Inc. in Albany, NY. Graig is a resident of Ballston Spa and has coached youth soccer in the village since 2006.
Mike Laudicina
Kyle Noonan
Joseph Pelletier (junior student)
Alexandra Van den Heever (senior student)
