Letters of Support
Please check back as we receive and publish more letters of endorsement
To the Editor:
I am writing in support of Omer Wiczyk and Kevin Ziegler for the Scarsdale Board of Education.
I have had the opportunity to work with Omer through the Scarsdale Forum and the Citizens Nominating Committee. In both settings, I have seen his strong judgment, professionalism, and deep respect for civic responsibility. Omer approaches complex issues carefully and thoughtfully, and he understands the importance of balancing differing viewpoints while keeping the broader interests of the community in focus.
As a participant in the Citizens Nominating Committee process, which vets candidates for Village Board positions through Scarsdale’s long standing nonpartisan system, I also strongly value and support the similar process used by the School Board Nominating Committee. These systems depend on thoughtful community participation and careful evaluation of candidates, and I believe that process worked well in identifying strong candidates this year.
As a Fox Meadow parent and Kevin’s neighbor, I have also seen firsthand the kind of person he is and how he engages with the community. Kevin is thoughtful, practical, and genuinely invested in Scarsdale schools. He listens carefully, values different perspectives, and approaches issues with a steady and collaborative mindset. In addition to being deeply engaged in the community, Kevin brings significant business experience through his work at a global company and his MBA background — exactly the kind of practical financial and strategic perspective that is valuable for the district at this time.
Omer and Kevin bring complementary professional experience, sound judgment, and a collaborative approach that will benefit the district as it navigates increasingly complex educational and financial challenges. I encourage residents to support them for the Scarsdale Board of Education by voting on May 19 at Scarsdale Middle School.
Allison Zolot
17 Circle Rd
Scarsdale NY 10583
To the Editor:
We are Fox Meadow parents writing in strong support of Kevin Ziegler and Omer Wiczyk for the Scarsdale Board of Education.
As Fox Meadow parents, we know Kevin personally through our children and school activities. He is approachable, collaborative, and deeply engaged. He listens carefully, asks thoughtful questions, and is consistently present. His desire to serve is rooted in a sincere commitment to strengthening the educational experience for all students.
We have also been impressed by Omer’s calm, measured approach and his clear appreciation of the responsibilities of public service. He brings intelligence, integrity, and a collaborative mindset to every conversation.
Over the course of this campaign, we have followed both candidates closely. We watched the League of Women Voters forum, attended community events, and have seen Kevin and Omer engaging thoughtfully and respectfully with residents throughout Scarsdale. What stands out most is their genuine commitment to our schools, our children, and our community.
We respect both the process and judgment of the 30 community members who serve on the Scarsdale Board Nominating Committee. It is clear that this year’s thoughtful and thorough process yielded two outstanding candidates whose professional experiences and perspectives complement one another in meaningful ways. Kevin brings significant business and financial experience, along with a practical and strategic approach to problem-solving. Omer contributes deep legal expertise and a strong understanding of governance and policy. Together, they offer skills that will be highly valuable as the district navigates increasingly complex educational and financial challenges.
Kevin and Omer are prepared, thoughtful, and committed to preserving the excellence of Scarsdale schools. We encourage our neighbors to support them for the Scarsdale Board of Education.
Sincerely,
Drs. Rupa and Viral Juthani
29 Church Lane
As current leadership Chairpeople of the Scarsdale School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC), we wanted to express to the community the true mandate and value that SBNC brings to Scarsdale with its non-partisan approach to candidate selection for the Board of Education trustees (BOE).
As a group totaling 30 individuals elected from all 5 neighborhoods serving staggered 3-year terms, the SBNC plays an integral role in shaping the excellence of Scarsdale schools through recruiting, vetting, and selecting the most qualified nominees for the BOE from amongst a pool of candidates self-selecting to choose to come before this committee. This includes a rigorous process that starts with an open call to the public encouraging all eligible community members to consider applying to the SBNC for consideration. Candidates then present to the SBNC, expressing their motivations, relevant experience, background, and skills through a three-part method of presentation, differentiated questions unique to each candidate, and finally any additional follow up clarification questions. The SBNC carefully vets all candidates in confidential, respectful, and thorough deliberations. The committee conducts thorough interviews with multiple references for each candidate by committee members in pairs, ensuring parity, accuracy, and confidentiality in this due diligence. By offering candidates a confidential evaluative forum, the non-partisan system can foster greater participation. Each candidate knows that their full application is given consideration. Decisions made to suggest slated names for a limited number of open seats is one of the most challenging aspects for SBNC members, but ultimately, as per the SBNC Resolution, the slate can only put forth to the Scarsdale Community the exact number of candidates as there are BOE seats open for election. This means that in any given year, there can be strong candidates that do not get chosen because SBNC has determined that different candidates make the most sense with the composition of the current BOE.
Below are characteristics that the New York State School Boards Association provides as guidance for evaluating effective board members:
Effective Communicator: Can describe what he or she wants and describe what others want; a good listener
Consensus Builder: Capable of working toward decisions that all can support and willing to compromise to achieve goals
Community Participant: Enjoys meeting a variety of people, can identify the community’s key communicators and reaches out to the community
Decision Maker: Is comfortable making decisions and can support group decision-making
Information Processor: Can organize priorities and schedules to handle large amounts of verbal and written information
Leader: Willing to take risks, be supportive of board colleagues, district staff and community
Team Player: Helps promote the board’s vision and goals
Noticeably missing from this criteria framework is a background based on certain professions or prerequisites around prior experience with and active engagement in the School District. In fact, limiting the pool of candidates to only those that fit this specific background prioritization would significantly hinder the robust composition of the Scarsdale School Board which is meant to be a balanced collaboration of trustees representing many stakeholders in the entirety of the Scarsdale Village.
SBNC has always highly prioritized PTA/PTC experience on our BOE trustees, as demonstrated by its nominations of Suzie Hahn and Colleen Brown in 2022 and again in 2025, Leah Dembitzer in 2024, and Laura Liu in 2025. With Amber Yusuf ending her 6th year as BOE member, this perspective has clearly been and will be well represented on our Scarsdale Board of Education for many years and will be for many more into the future. This is not, however, the only priority.
As SBNC deliberations are confidential, neither the discussions nor the reasons for the decisions are made public. However, year after year this staggered-term committee with new members each session represents a range of views to enhance discussion of and deliberation about the merits of each candidate, both as an individual and as a potential member joining an existing body of trustees already serving on the BOE. Beyond first-hand experience hearing from the candidates, SBNC members also speak to others in the community to learn about the nominees and identify candidates that are the best fit for the board in a given year. This additional level of due diligence is often absent from election campaigns. This provides critical, confidential insight into candidates from people who know and have worked with the candidates. The Scarsdale community should have confidence that the two candidates SBNC selected to run for the BOE will represent all constituents and uphold the responsibility of being stewards of the excellence of the Scarsdale Schools.
We encourage you to learn more about all the candidates and think about the current composition of the BOE and vote on Tuesday, May 19th at Scarsdale Middle School between 7am – 9pm.
Jenny Simon Tabak and Jennifer Zola
26 Myrtledale Road and 12 Carstensen Road
SBNC 2025-26 Chair and Vice Chair
Dear Neighbor,
I write to enthusiastically endorse the School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC) selected candidates, Kevin Ziegler and Omer Wiczyk and I encourage you to vote for them on Tuesday, May 19 at SMS from 7am-9 pm. I urge you to take this election seriously.
The SBNC is a community-elected, nonpartisan, 30-person Committee representing each of our five elementary school neighborhoods, that has an important and respected 96-year-old history in Scarsdale. I currently have the honor to serve on this committee.
Scarsdale voters have a history of supporting SBNC’s nominated Board of Education candidates because this system prioritizes qualifications, temperament, and a commitment to community over politics or popularity.
When I joined the SBNC this year, I took on my role with integrity and focus. The SBNC utilizes guidelines recommended by the NYS School Boards Association (NYSSBA) in assessing candidates, as well as reviewing the current composition of the Scarsdale BOE. The SBNC undertakes a detailed and thorough vetting process of all candidates who run before our committee, and partake in extensive due diligence interviews with references as well as listen to candidate presentations and their answering of questions.
A review of our current Board indicated a need for greater diversity of professional and civic skill sets, and community representation. A vote for Kevin and Omer collectively ensures that the Board will be gaining two Scarsdale parents with combined civic and professional expertise in the fields of law, finance, corporate executive leadership, public relations, civil rights, athletics, communications, negotiations and grant allocation. These are vital gains for our Board, especially now.
Kevin holds an MBA and as a Corporate Executive, currently oversees a global team across multiple offices and is accountable for high-stakes negotiations with substantial value. Prior to this, Kevin worked for a decade in public relations, including in roles in media and crisis management. Kevin also has extensive civic board experience. He served for five years on an appointed committee for the allocation of millions of dollars annually of federal grant dollars to a combination of community agencies and infrastructure priorities.
Omer has practiced law dedicated to the public sector for the past 20 years as a prosecutor in New York City and now at the Brandeis Law Center, which focuses on education and civil rights. Omer has been active in the community, serving as Chair of the Citizens’ Nominating Committee and as President of the Scarsdale Forum. Much of his work has been in group settings—bringing people together, hearing different perspectives, and building consensus. He would be the only attorney on the board once Jim Dugan’s term expires next year.
Given Kevin and Omer’s credentials and the extensive SBNC vetting and nomination process they both went through, I strongly endorse their candidacy and hope that you will join me in voting for them.
Jennifer Kahan
54 Butler Road
To the Editor,
Scarsdale’s civic tradition has long emphasized thoughtful, nonpartisan leadership grounded in judgment, public service, and a commitment to the broader good. The School Board Nominating Committee process is not incidental to that tradition—it is central to preserving it. For more than half a century, since its governing structure was first established in 1965, the SBNC has provided a deliberate, community-driven process to identify and vet Board of Education candidates based on their qualifications, judgement and readiness to serve the entire community.
That standard matters. The SBNC’s role is not simply to fill seats, but to evaluate who has the judgment, temperament, and wide-ranging experience to govern well on behalf of the entire district. The Committee’s own process asks candidates to demonstrate not only why they seek to serve but also what qualities, civic experience, and past judgment prepare them to contribute effectively to the work of the Board.
The SBNC is not a closed body appointing its successors. It is a representative committee elected by all of us Scarsdale residents, with members chosen by voters from each elementary school district. Those members are our neighbors, selected by the community to do the hard work most voters cannot realistically do alone: recruit broadly, interview meticulously, deliberate extensively, and seriously assess which candidates have what it takes to represent us on the Board of Education.
And importantly, the SBNC does not decide the election. It recommends a slate. Voters still decide whether those candidates earn their support.
What the SBNC provides is the benefit of a serious, structured, community-based vetting process before that vote is cast. It is one of the few remaining civic mechanisms designed not simply to reward visibility or past volunteerism, but to assess who is best prepared to govern this particular board at this particular moment.
Kevin Ziegler and Omer Wiczyk emerged from a thorough vetting process as candidates with complementary backgrounds, deep commitment and experience with Scarsdale schools, and the ability to work collaboratively with fellow Board members and district administration in service of students and families. They also bring the qualities the SBNC process is meant to surface. They understand that effective school board leadership requires listening before reacting, balancing competing priorities, and making decisions not for applause or ideology, but for the long-term health of the district and the continued excellence of Scarsdale’s schools.
On a personal level, I have seen both Kevin and Omer as kind, thoughtful, and deeply considerate parents, as well as generous volunteers in the life of this community. Those qualities matter not because they are valid personal virtues alone, but because they reinforce the judgment, character, and sense of responsibility that public service demands.
This election is an opportunity to affirm two exceptional candidates based on their valuable experience and strong character, and at the same time, the enduring civic process that produced them. I am voting the SBNC slate because it produced two candidates that only strengthen my trust in the process Scarsdale has built—and sustained—for decades.
This is why I am voting for Kevin Ziegler and Omer Wiczyk on May 19th at Scarsdale Middle School.
Toby Milstein-Schulman
We are pleased to support Omer Wiczyk and Kevin Ziegler, the School Board Nominating Committee slate for the Scarsdale Board of Education.
We have had the opportunity to work with Omer over many years through the Scarsdale Forum and the Citizens Nominating Committee. In his role as President of the Forum, and in his service on the CNC and other civic bodies, Omer has demonstrated a rare ability to bring people together, especially in moments when opinions differ and the stakes are high. He approaches issues with intellectual rigor, careful listening, and a genuine respect for differing viewpoints—qualities that are essential for effective school board leadership.
What stands out most about Omer is not just his thoughtfulness, but his effectiveness. He does not allow important issues to stall in discussion. Instead, he works to move conversations toward clear, practical outcomes. He has a steady temperament, a strong analytical mind, and the skills to build consensus and help a group move forward. In our experience, people trust Omer because he is fair, even-handed and focused on what is best for the community as a whole.
Omer’s nomination by the School Board Nominating Committee reflects the strength of Scarsdale’s non-partisan process. The SBNC conducts a thorough and thoughtful vetting of candidates, selecting individuals based on their qualifications, experience and commitment to public service. Omer’s record of civic involvement and leadership makes him exceptionally well-suited to serve in this role.
We also met with Kevin Ziegler and support his candidacy He impressed us with his professional background and training. As the father of two children attending Fox Meadow, he displayed a depth of knowledge of our schools, issues they are grappling with and underscored his commitment to devote the time needed to make a meaningful contribution to the Board.
In our view, Omer and Kevin represent a balanced and capable slate, prepared to work collaboratively with each other, with the Board, and with the broader community to support Scarsdale’s schools. We therefore encourage Scarsdale voters to vote for Omer Wiczyk and Kevin Ziegler on May 19 and to support the non-partisan system that has served Scarsdale so well over many decades.
BK Munguia
Jon Mark
Leadership matters. The Scarsdale School District and its community stand at a pivotal moment—one that will shape outcomes in lasting ways, and one we cannot afford to get wrong. Omer Wiczyk and Kevin Ziegler are the right choice for the Board of Education.
Every decision the Board of Education makes affects students in a real way - their academics, their mental health, and their overall experience in our schools. Right now, we need leadership that is clear, responsive, and willing to take responsibility. In my view, Omer stands out as exactly that kind of leader.
I write this letter not as empty praise, but from experience. I write as someone who values the future of Scarsdale and as someone who has volunteered in our community in an effort to chart a better course for Scarsdale. In my capacity as a volunteer, I have worked with Omer. I served as his Vice President when he was President of the Forum, and I also served on the Citizens Nominating Committee while he was Chair. In both settings, I saw how he operates as a leader. I experienced firsthand how Omer balances open dialogue with decisive action and how he creates space for input while ensuring that discussions lead somewhere - consistently turning ideas into results.
What sets Omer apart is his approach to leadership. He brings composure, discipline, and focus to complex issues, taking the time to fully understand situations rather than reacting to noise or distraction. When he acts, it is deliberate and purposeful.
Just as important is his ability to listen. In a community where opinions are often strong and divided, Omer engages with different perspectives openly and respectfully. He asks thoughtful questions, challenges ideas constructively, and ensures that everyone’s perspective is heard - leading to better, more informed decisions.
Omer does not stop at discussion. He is fundamentally solution-oriented. Too often, important issues get lost in lengthy, unclear communication, leaving families waiting for direction. Omer cuts through that. He identifies what matters, sets priorities, and turns conversation into action. He understands that leadership is not just about explaining problems - it is about solving them and communicating those solutions clearly to the community. The Scarsdale community is desperate for this type of leadership.
At a time when much of public life feels increasingly politicized, Scarsdale’s non-partisan SBNC process stands out. It brings together community input and thoughtful vetting to identify candidates prepared to serve. Supporting the SBNC slate is not simply about individual candidates—it is a vote for a system built on due diligence, collaboration, sound judgment, and broad community representation.
As a former Chair of the Citizens Nominating Committee (the committee which selects nominees for Village Trustee and Mayor in a manner similar to the SBNC), I have seen firsthand how carefully candidates are evaluated based on the qualities that matter most for effective leadership. Voters should understand that those who run outside the SBNC slate have either been considered by the SBNC and not selected, or have not gone through this rigorous process at all. For that reason, the SBNC slate reflects a level of review, screening and preparation that is essential for representing the Scarsdale community and that does not apply to all candidates. For these reasons, voters in the Scarsdale community would be best served by supporting the SBNC slate and voting for Omer Wiczyk and Kevin Ziegler on May 19, 2026, between 7a and 9p at the Scarsdale Middle School gym.
Scarsdale needs leadership that is thoughtful yet decisive, open-minded yet focused, and capable of delivering real outcomes. Omer Wiczyk and Kevin Ziegler will bring that balance. For these reasons, I strongly support their candidacy for the Scarsdale Board of Education.
Sincerely,
Jill Spielberg
We are delighted to support Omer Wiczyk and Kevin Ziegler for the board of education, nominated by the SBNC, the non-partisan 30-person committee elected by Scarsdale residents to thoroughly and confidentially vet candidates.
We trust this system and find Omer and Kevin will each bring fresh perspectives to the existing board composition. They are both prepared for board service, dedicated to quality public education, and committed to civil and robust community dialogue.
Over the next month, you will hear about Kevin’s professional talents, and the value they will bring to the board of education. He has significant strategic, financial and communications skills, from leadership in public relations and corporate roles, and a volunteer spirit. He has dived into the Scarsdale civic community, he studies the issues, listens intently, and we are confident he will represent our entire community, especially families with young children. We'll also tell you about his character, on display when no one is watching. Last summer, our college-aged son, Eli, and a few of his friends joined an existing rec league men’s softball team, composed mostly of 40-something dads our family didn’t know, including Kevin. This combination could have been awkward, but Kevin and his teammates welcomed the college ‘ringers’ (and their young knees!) with enthusiasm. Eli described Kevin as “super friendly and a genuine guy.” Their multi-generational team had a great season! It’s a small story with a lot of meaning, because we value board members who show up for other people’s kids. Kevin is that stand-up guy.
“Stand-up guy” also describes Omer. Omer has volunteered in some of the most important community institutions, like as president of the Scarsdale Forum and as a leader on CNC. We have seen that Omer facilitates consensus with grace and gentle humor. Marc served on the Citizens Nominating Committee with Omer a decade ago during a contentious time in the Village. Omer, always affable, displayed an ability to hear all sides and contribute to an outcome that all were happy with. We have observed that people listen to Omer because he seeks the best outcomes, without an agenda. He is even-tempered and whip smart, which are great qualities for the School Board.
We hope Scarsdale voters will also join us to support the school budget and the bond referendum. Our grown children were well prepared by Scarsdale schools, and we believe investment into kids and their education is the right thing for everyone.
Contested elections are a part of the non-partisan system and this community has several times had the opportunity to weigh in on candidates to make their own decisions, hopefully without rancor. We believe in the value of our non-partisan nominating committees, and we know how hard the members of those committees work to identify and nominate candidates. We trust members of the community will take the time to get to know SBNC nominated Kevin and Omer and join us in supporting them. We look forward to everyone working together in service to our community.
Vote Omer and Kevin, and Yes to bond and budget!
Tuesday May 19, 7am – 9pm, SMS Gym.
Diane and Marc Greenwald
Dear Neighbors,
We are Fox Meadow parents writing in support of Kevin Ziegler and Omer Wiczyk, the School Board Nominating Committee slate for Scarsdale Board of Education.
Our endorsement is also informed by our time spent over the past three years coaching baseball and basketball with Kevin, for both of our children.
Kevin is an active volunteer in our community. As many parents know, many of our sports programs are powered by the time and effort of parents, and Kevin is one who shows up, consistently.
He is easy to collaborate with, and knows the focus is on supporting our children in building skills, being active, having fun, and making friends.
We appreciate that he has stepped up for a leadership opportunity, and we trust that he will represent our community well. We encourage our Scarsdale neighbors to vote for Kevin and Omer on May 19 at SMS.
Sincerely,
Mike and Rebecca Berry
92 Popham Road
We are writing in support of the School Board Nominating Committee slate, Kevin Ziegler and Omer Wiczyk, and to share with you our experience with Kevin.
For the past several seasons, our children have been teammates in Scarsdale Little League. Dan and Kevin have coached together. Little League has been a great place to see Kevin's character and leadership on display, with a very important audience, our young student athletes.
Kevin is an active and engaged coach, who clearly loves children, and who knows our team members individually. He pushes them to learn the fundamentals, to stay focused, to demonstrate good sportsmanship and to have fun. He is patient, which is a requirement in our elementary age group, and a steady presence who the boys have gotten to know and trust. He is responsive and easy to collaborate with, and he finds enjoyment in the time spent together.
In addition to his professional experience, which would bring valuable business and communications skills to our board, he is an advocate for Scarsdale schools and our non-partisan process. Even on the sidelines, in free moments, he is often speaking with parents, to explain current board agenda topics in a factual and unbiased way, to allow more parents to be informed and engaged.
We appreciate Kevin's involvement in our community, and we encourage our neighbors to vote for Kevin and Omer on May 19 at SMS.
Sincerely,
Joanna Wright and Dan Amato
56 Church Ln
I am pleased to offer my wholehearted support for Kevin Ziegler’s candidacy for our school board.
As Kevin’s immediate neighbor, and a Fox Meadow and Scarsdale Middle School parent, I can attest to his character in a way that goes well beyond a resume. He and his family are genuinely good neighbors - present, warm, and invested in the people around them. What has impressed me most is the quality of the conversations we’ve had about our schools. Kevin doesn’t just have opinions. He has a genuine ability to advocate for what makes sense while remaining open to reconsidering his assumptions when presented with new perspectives. We’ve had substantive discussions about school curriculum and the real challenges families navigate across different grade levels, and each time, I’ve walked away with the sense that he had actually listened, and that it registered.
With three kids spanning different ages and stages in our schools, he has direct, lived experience with the issues that matter to families and his commitment to this community goes beyond his own household. He believes in civic engagement as a real responsibility, and that comes through in how he shows up.
Our school board would be well served by someone with Kevin’s thoughtfulness, humility, and genuine investment in our community. Our family supports him without reservation.
Warm regards,
Nikita Singhal
26 Fenimore Road