Board Members
Meet our Board Members and learn about our Committees and Candidates.
Meet the Candidates
Meet the Candidates for the Board of Education
Ballston Spa CSD Board of Education Elections – May 19, 2026:
There are three Board of Education seats up for election this year, commencing in July 2026. Voters will select from the following candidates at the polls: Matthew Dreher, Katie Whittemore and Julia Routbort Baskin. A biography and position statement from each candidate can be found below.
A Meet the Candidates Night will be held on May 5, 2026 at 6:00pm in the BSHS library for area voters to learn more about the candidates. The evening will be recorded and made available on the district's YouTube Channel the following day for those that can not make it to the live event.
The annual statewide School Budget Vote and Board of Education Elections will be held on May 19, 2026 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).
Board of Education Candidate Information: 2026-2027
Matthew Dreher
Matthew Dreher was elected to serve a three year term on the Board of Education in June 2020 and reelected in May 2023. 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. Their daughter attends McCauley Honors College at Hunter College and will be graduating in June 2026. Their son is currently a Freshman at Ballston Spa High School. Matt is now in his 27th year working for Saratoga County Department of Social Services as a Senior Caseworker in the Adult Protective Unit. He previously served on the Board at the Christian Childhood Center at St.Paul’s Lutheran Church.
Position Statement
I will be concluding my 6th year as a School Board Member. I have some unfinished business that I’d like to continue. Also, I currently serve on the Capital Project Committee that I’d like to see through. Your continued trust in me means the world to me. I have a vested interest in this wonderful School District and for that, you can count on me. Also, all community stakeholders are first thing on my mind when decisions are made on my part and will continue to be that way. I’m an alumni and have lived here all 53 years of my life. I’m fair, honest and open to any discussions. I’ll end it with this…..Go Scotties!!!
Katie Whittemore
Katie Whittemore was first elected to the Board of Education in June 2020 and reelected in May 2023 to serve a three-year term. She has been selected as Vice President each year since July 2021 through July 2025. Katie has taught mathematics at Shenendehowa High School since 2006 and currently serves as the Board Liaison to the Ballston Spa Education Foundation. She is actively involved in volunteering at events throughout the school community. Katie and her husband, Scott, are the proud parents of two children who attend the district’s middle and high schools. She earned dual undergraduate degrees in Mathematics and Education from Duquesne University and holds a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from McDaniel College.
Position Statement
I am running for re-election to the Board of Education because I care deeply about the strength and future of our schools and community, and I remain committed to listening, collaborating, and doing the steady, behind-the-scenes work that keeps our district moving forward. Over the past six years, I have partnered to make thoughtful, student-centered decisions while balancing academic excellence, fiscal responsibility, and the well-being of every student.
Julia Routbort Baskin
Dr. Julia Routbort Baskin was appointed to serve on the Board of Education for the remainder of the year at the September 7, 2022 Board of Education meeting. She was subsequently elected to fill the seat at the BOE elections on May 16, 2023. Dr. Baskin is a longtime village resident and mental health professional who is a parent of two Ballston Spa High School graduates. She has worked in multiple educational settings and is currently employed at Skidmore College as the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for Health and Wellness. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and earned her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, where she completed both the child and adult clinical tracks.
Position
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 mental health support. 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. As a board member, I will 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.
Board Members
Jason Fernau,
President
More Info
Jason Fernau was elected to the Board of Education in May 2018 to a three-year term and re-elected in 2021 and 2024. He has served as the President since July 2021, after previously serving as the Vice President of the Board. He also currently serves on the WSWHE BOCES Board of Education. He is a proud BSHS graduate and has been a resident in the district for over 50 years. He is the parent of two BSHS graduates, a son and a daughter. Jason has served as a past Vice President of the Malta Avenue PTA, and a past President and Treasurer of the District PTA Council. He is retired from a long career as a manager in the Health Insurance industry, where he led operations, business analysis, software development, and reporting and data analytics teams. His educational background consists of an undergraduate degree in English Education from Boston University, and a Master's of Business Administration from the University at Albany, SUNY. Along with his family, he has volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House of Albany for over 18 years. He resides with his wife Kathy in Malta.
Katie Whittemore,
Vice President
More Info
Katie Whittemore was elected to the BOE in June of 2020 and reelected in May 2023 for a three-year term. She was selected to serve as Vice President in July 2021, 2022 and again in July 2023. 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, 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 and Instruction from McDaniel College.
Matthew Dreher
More Info
Matthew Dreher was elected to serve a three year term on the Board of Education in June 2020 and reelected in May 2023. 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. Their daughter is in 12th grade at the Ballston Spa High School and their son is in 5th grade at Wood Road Elementary School. He has been employed for over 21 years at the Saratoga County Department of Social Services. He also serves on the Board at the Christian Childhood Center at St.Paul’s in Saratoga Springs and is a dance dad, theatre dad and baseball dad.
Julia Routbort Baskin
More Info
Dr. Julia Routbort Baskin was appointed to serve on the Board of Education for the remainder of the year at the September 7, 2022 Board of Education meeting. She was subsequently elected to fill the seat at the BOE elections on May 16, 2023. Dr. Baskin is a longtime village resident and mental health professional who is a parent of two Ballston Spa High School graduates. She has worked in multiple educational settings and is currently employed at Skidmore College as the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for Health and Wellness. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and earned her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, where she completed both the child and adult clinical tracks.
Fabrizia Rodriguez
More Info
Fabrizia Rodriguez was elected to the Board in May 2024 and began her three-year term in July 2024. She has over 13 years experience advocating and representing families as an attorney with a focus on Child Welfare Laws and Immigration Law. Fabrizia received her law degree at the University of Massachusetts, and her undergraduate degree at University of Connecticut majoring in Political Science. Additionally, she has experience in grant writing for Capital District BOCES and Centro Civico Inc., including leading the applications to fund a Universal PreK Program for both Queensbury School District and for Centro Civico in partnership with Albany School District. Fabrizia has led programs in both the nonprofit and municipality sectors working closely with NYS Department of Health, NYS Department of Transportation, and Labor Unions. She also served as a Parent Liaison for Amsterdam School District and supported initiatives to enhance communication and involvement between school and family. Fabrizia has been residing in the Town of Ballston since 2018, and is the proud mother of two sons who attend Gordon Creek Elementary. She is the current Vice President of Ballston Spa Community Youth Football Inc., and her sons’ have been active participants in many youth programs including BSCSD Music Department, Ballston Spa Soccer Club, Ballston Spa Capital District Youth Basketball, Ballston Spa Youth Lacrosse, and other youth sport clubs of surrounding areas.
Carrie Chapman
More Info
Carrie Chapman was elected to the Board in May 2025 and began her three-year term in July 2025. She is a native of Ballston Spa and attended Malta Avenue Elementary and the Ballston Spa Middle and High Schools.
After graduation, she studied Psychology and Art History at the University of London, Goldsmiths, and earned a B.A. in Psychology from Hamilton College. She then moved to New York City, where she worked in fashion as a buyer and in product development for Barneys New York and Saks Fifth Avenue for 14 years.
Fashion took her around the world and across the country, but when it was time to raise her family, Carrie returned to the Village of Friends.
Carrie is the current President and former Vice President of the Malta Avenue PTA. During her tenure, she has increased family and staff engagement while also building inclusive programs and community-building events. Beyond the school community, Carrie is very involved in our Village as a member of the Historic District Commission and as a dedicated theater and sports parent. She and her husband have a 6th grader at Ballston Spa Middle School and a 4th grader at Malta Avenue.
Timothy Turbiak
More Info
Tim Turbiak was elected to the Board in May 2025 and began his three-year term in July 2025. He moved to the area in 2019 from Brooklyn, NY. He graduated from Xavier High School in Manhattan in 2002 and completed his certification to become a Radiographic Technologist at the Bartone School of Radiography in 2007. He is currently employed with OrthoNY.
Tim was a member of the Ballston Spa Board of Education from 2021 until 2024. During his time on the Board, he served on the Policy Committee and as the liaison to the Parent Teacher Associations (PTA).
Over the years he has helped organize a number of fundraisers, helping organizations such as Toys for Tots, the Wounded Warrior Project, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He currently resides in Ballston Spa with his wife Eliana and their two children.
BOARD OF EDUCATION 2025-2026
BOARD OF EDUCATION 2024-2025
The board recognized Dottie Sellers for her 7 years of service and commitment to the Board of Education and our district as her term came to an end.
Committees
2210 Committees of the Board
Each committee shall be compromised of not more than three Board members. At the first committee meeting, the committee will select a chairperson. The chairperson shall report to the Board from time to time as is deemed appropriate by the President and the chairperson. At the request of the Board, the President will establish temporary committees on an as needed basis consisting of less than a quorum of the full membership for special purposes. These committees will be discharged on the completion of their assignment. The President of the Board will be an ex-officio member of such committees.
Standing Committees
The Board recognizes its duty to maintain open lines of communication with the various programs and functions of the District. The Board shall establish before the first day of school standing committees to provide a basis for contact and a vehicle for communication and information exchange between administrative staff and the Board.
- Audit Committee
Pursuant to section 170.12 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, the Board has established an audit committee to oversee the annual audit of the District, and report on its findings to the Board.
- Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the President, Vice President and a third member that is selected by the President at his/her discretion.
- Policy Committee
As a policy-making body that is charged with the overall direction of the school district, the Board has established a standing Policy Committee to propose, review, and establish key policies that will guide the Superintendent and the administrative staff in managing the day-to-day operations of the District.
- Communication Committee
Based on the importance of maintaining timely, substantive and transparent two-way communications with the BSCSD staff, parents, and community, the Board has established a standing Communications Committee to provide feedback and direction to the Superintendent.
The Executive Committee shall be chaired by the President and shall meet regularly with the Superintendent regarding matters of administrative, legislative and/or policy planning related activities of the District. The Executive Committee will represent the Board in matters requiring legislative research, analysis, and/or representation before local, state and federal government bodies.
Advisors and Advisory Committees
The President of the Board may at its discretion establish committees for the purpose of undertaking a specific task in connection with Board activity. These committees, however, cannot make legal decisions for the entire Board. The President of the Board will be an ex-officio member of such committees.
The Board may appoint citizens committees whenever it determines the formation of advisory committees is in the best interest of the School District. In establishing such committees, the Board shall seek the advice of the superintendent. The establishment of the committee shall become a matter of record in the minutes of a regular Board meeting.
These committees shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and, unless specifically charged with a continuing function, shall be considered discharged when the relevant reports, statements, or recommendations have been made. The Board shall consider and, within a reasonable time, respond to the recommendations offered by such committees, but must reserve ultimate decision to its judgment. The Board has the right to accept, reject, or modify all or any part of a committee recommendation.
Education Law Sections 1708, 2116-c and 4601