• Meet the Candidates for the Board of Education 2023-2024

    Ballston Spa CSD Board of Education Elections – May 16, 2023:

    There are three Board of Education seats up for election this year, commencing in July 2023. Interested voters will select from the following candidates at the polls:

    Katie Whittemore
    Julia Routbort Baskin
    Matthew Dreher

    A Candidates Information night was held on May 8, 2023 and is available for review on the district’s YouTube channel – click HERE. Also, biographies and candidate statements are posted online for review – click HERE – to learn more about the candidates.

    The annual statewide School Budget Vote and Board of Education Elections will be held on May 16, 2023 from 7:00am – 9:00pm. District residents vote at Ballston Spa High School (residents of the Towns of Ballston, Milton and Charlton) and the Malta Town Hall (residents of Malta).

    The 2023-2024 Board of Education Candidates have prepared a Position Statement for the public to review. Below are these statements and the candidates in the order they will appear on the ballot.

    Board of Education Candidate Information:


    Katie Whittemore

    Katie Whittemore was elected to the Ballston Spa Board of Education in June of 2020 for a three-year term. She was selected to serve as Vice President in July 2021 and again in July 2022. She serves on the BOE Policy Committee and is the liaison to the Ballston Spa Education Foundation. Katie has taught Mathematics at Shenendehowa High School since 2006.  She also serves as the Membership Chair for the Gordon Creek Elementary School PTA. Katie and her husband, Scott, have lived in the district for 17 years and are the proud parents of two children who attend Gordon Creek Elementary School and the Middle School. Katie earned dual undergraduate degrees in Mathematics and Education from Duquesne University and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Curriculum Technology from McDaniel College.

    Position Statement:

    I am running for reelection because I care about all students and want to make sure everyone is getting the best education possible. My 21 years of experience in the classroom will continue to bring a needed perspective to the board. Teachers are the most important part of a student’s learning experience and we are fortunate to have many great teachers in Ballston Spa. I support more thorough ways to implement curriculum and inclusivity for ALL students and staff. I will continue to advocate for safety and security throughout the district as well.


    Julia Routbort Baskin

    Julia Routbort Baskin was appointed to a seat on the Board of Education in September 2022. She has lived in Ballston Spa with her husband and two sons for 19 years. Both of her children attended Ballston Spa schools from K-12. Julia currently works in a leadership role at Skidmore College, where she is the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for Health and Wellness, overseeing Skidmore’s health, counseling and prevention services. Under her leadership, Skidmore received the prestigious Active Minds Healthy Campus award in 2020. This nationally competitive award was given to Skidmore for its outstanding work in supporting student mental health by creating a healthy, resilient and responsive campus. Julia has an undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Michigan. She has worked in multiple educational settings, including K-12 and higher education, as a teacher’s aide, a graduate teaching assistant and clinical supervisor. Julia volunteers for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and has been a regular participant and past co-chair for the “Out of the Darkness” walk at Skidmore. She is a proud winner of several blue ribbons for bread and jam making at the Saratoga County Fair, and she runs a well-used Little Free Library out of her side yard.

    Position Statement:

    I am running for the Ballston Spa School Board because I am incredibly grateful for the amazing educational opportunities my two sons had in the district and because I believe a strong, inclusive public education system creates a better community for all of us. My sons benefited from skilled, dedicated teachers, administrators and coaches and they had amazing opportunities to grow as students and as people. I want that for every student in our district. I am passionate about supporting student mental health. We know COVID was harmful to many of our students’ mental health and academic progress, and while they are resilient and strong, I believe we need to focus on helping them gain back academically, psychologically and socially. Creating safe, inclusive school communities, where everyone feels connected and valued, is one of the best ways we can promote student mental health. With that goal in mind, I also want to focus on supporting our educators and staff. That means respecting their expertise, promoting professional development and staff wellness opportunities and making sure we continue to recruit and retain the very best educators. I’m a careful listener, a collaborative decision-maker and strive to lead by example. I take the responsibilities of board membership very seriously. I do my homework, seek out training opportunities, and I learn every day from my board colleagues and from the amazing staff, teachers and administrators in the district. With your support, I will continue to focus on creating supportive, safe school environments, listening to families, respecting the expertise of faculty and staff, and making sure all our students in every school have multiple pathways to engage and thrive.


    Matthew Dreher

    Matthew Dreher was elected to serve a three-year term on the Board of Education in June 2020. He is a lifelong resident of Ballston Spa, having attended Milton Terrace Elementary School, Ballston Spa Middle School and graduating from Ballston Spa High School in 1991. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from SUNY Plattsburgh. Matthew and his wife Rebecca have two children. His oldest daughter, Morgan, is a Freshman at McCauley Honors College at Hunter College in Manhattan studying Human Biology with a Minor in Dance. His son, Gavin, attends Ballston Spa Middle School where he participates in Basketball, Theatre and Dance. He has been employed for over 25 years at the Saratoga County Department of Social Services, currently, as a Senior Caseworker for Adult Protective Services. He also serves on the Board at the Christian Childhood Center at St. Paul’s in Saratoga Springs.

    Position Statement:

    I’m running for School Board for a second term because I have unfinished business to complete. During COVID, we faced many challenges. Now, it’s time to focus our efforts on curriculum, testing, bussing, free lunches, etc. With our new Superintendent of Schools in place, I finally feel we’re moving in the right direction. I want to see that through and experience the positive going forward. As many voters know, my actions represent you, the voters, and I will continue to act in the best interest of the community as a whole, regardless of politics.