JoAnn Balazs is the Assistant Superintendent for Talent & Equity for the Sweet Home Central School District.  She chairs the DEI & Safety Committees for the District.  She was honored to chair the regional Challenge 2 Change Summit in 2019, which brought students from WNY together to talk about issues related to race and social justice.  Prior to her work at Sweet Home, she served at Erie 1 BOCES as the Director of Management Services and Principal of the Harkness Career & Technical Center.  Balazs began her career in education as an English teacher at Amherst Central High School, where she later served as the Assistant Principal and Principal.  Prior to her career in education, she was an attorney with Brick, Brick, and Elmer, PC.  Balazs earned her Juris Doctor at University at Buffalo School of Law; dual Masters degrees at Canisius College in Education and Education Leadership; and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from SUNY Geneseo.  Balazs also serves as an adjunct at Canisius College in the School of Educational Leadership, where she teaches School Law.

Superintendent

Ginestre has served in his current position of the Superintendent for the Sherman Central School District for five years. Prior to becoming Sherman’s superintendent in 2016, Ginestre served as its principal for four years. Buffalo Business First named Sherman No. 1 “overachieving” school district 13 years in a row. He started his education career as a Professor at St. John Fisher College and later a social studies teacher.  He was also head coach for football and girls basketball.  Prior to entering the education field, Ginestre worked in public relations in Rochester and Boston, MA from 1994-2003. 

Ginestre graduated from St. John Fisher College in 1994 with a B.A. in communications and journalism, and where he also played four years of varsity football as the starting center. He received an M.S. in secondary education from Niagara University in 2004, and another M.S. in educational leadership from St. John Fisher in 2006, both with a 4.0 average. Ginestre is pursuing his Ed.D. degree at the University at Buffalo, which he expects to receive in 2023.

Sweet Home Central School District, with a 92 percent graduation rate the last three years, serves portions of the towns of Amherst and Tonawanda. The school district has 3,350 K-12 students in seven schools, including one high school, one middle school, four elementary schools, and one alternative school. It operates an $83.3 million budget, with 325 teachers and total staff of 685.

Ginestre, 49, replaces Anthony J. Day, who announced his retirement on January 30, 2021 after 11 years. The board appointed Erie 1 BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Lynn Marie Fusco to conduct the superintendent search.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mike Ginestre to Sweet Home after a thorough, competitive search that also involved a wide variety of community stakeholders,” said Board of Education President Scott M. Johnson. “Mike stood out as a leader whose philosophy and experience will mesh beautifully with the goals and personality of the Sweet Home district.”

The district’s search process included an online survey open to residents of its 15,000 dwellings so all stakeholders had an opportunity to share criteria and qualifications they envisioned for the next superintendent. In addition, advisory committees representing all stakeholders provided input on specific candidates.

“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to serve the Sweet Home district, and help our faculty, staff, families and board continue to deliver the highest-quality education for all our students,” Ginestre said. “As a Western New Yorker, I’ve followed Sweet Home’s success from afar, and now it will be my career highlight to be part of that continued excellence.”

Scott Johnson, Board of education member since 2006, longtime advocate for students, education and educators. Proud dad of 2 SH Graduates, Janelle-2012 and Gregory-2015

I believe that DEI will bring the Sweet Home Community even closer than they already are. It will also lead to better preparing our students for the future. 

Kailey McDonald is a member of the Sweet Home Board of Education, and currently working on a PhD in Gender Studies at UB. Her interests in anti-racist work go all the way back to her time as a student of Sweet Home (class of 2011), and she strives to live every aspect of her life in accordance with her anti-racist beliefs. She is the proud parent of Pete the Dog and 56 houseplants.

The work of the DEI Committee of Sweet Home is truly the most important work I feel like I can do as a Board Member. This work was what originally inspired to serve on the board. My goal is for  Sweet Home to truly be, not only a place, but the heart of our community, fostering a safe, nourishing, and caring environment for all of our community, not only our students. In order to do so, we must start by addressing and healing the harms that divide us. I believe the work being done by the DEI committee is a wonderful first step in this direction, and it is an honor and a privilege to be a part of it.

This is my third year at Sweet Home and tenth year in education. I began working in education through coaching varsity girls soccer and lacrosse. Through high school athletics, I began work as a Physical education teacher and eventually into administration. I’ve served in many different roles as Dean of Students, Athletic Director and Assistant Principal. In every role I’ve served in, I’ve enjoyed working with students and focusing on the student experience. 

I’m excited to be apart of this essential committee to help grow as a community of Sweet Home. As we strive to be One Community, this committee work is key to coming together as one and understanding and valuing our diverse community. 

High School Principal

Principal of Maplemere Elementary School

I am interested in creating a more inclusive learning community, and fostering stronger partnerships in our district. 

Our district's mission is to form "one community".  IN order to do so, all stakeholders and groups need to feel welcomed/inclusive.  I believe we can form a stronger partnership with our families and the community to create a premier district in WNY. 

I am very proud to be a part of the Sweet Home Family.  I began my career at Willow Ridge Elementary 25 years ago, where my own children attended. In that time, I forged many meaningful relationships with colleagues, parents and students alike.  When you walk through the doors of Willow Ridge, you know you were in a wonderful place.  It is a place where people care about kids and do everything in their power to ensure the success of each and every one.

For the past five years, I have had the privilege of working at our middle school as a sixth grade teacher.  I have taught science, social studies and math in that time.  Once again, I am reminded of how amazing Sweet Home Teachers are.  We have the ability to wrap around kids, parents and the community at large.  During COVID, especially, this became abundantly apparent.

Sweet Home has always been a leader in all things education.  Which has afforded me the opportunity to be a part of many committees over the years.  I am the type of person who likes to ask questions and find solutions.  Don’t tell me what we can’t do, but let’s figure out what we can do.  I think that is why I wanted to be a part of this DEI committee.  I believe I can help this committee reflect on where we have been and what we have accomplished thus far. As we move forward we must continue to ensure that each and every one of our students can find a place where they feel loved, accepted, and safe.  If we can do that, our students will learn and therefore our students will succeed.  

Amanda Glenn is a Kindergarten Teacher at Heritage Heights. She is also the Varsity Cheerleading Coach at Sweet Home High School. Amanda was born and raised in Tonawanda, NY and graduated from Sweet Home High School. She has both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. Amanda has two young daughters and enjoys spending time with her family. 

ENL Teacher

I am currently in my second year at Sweet Home as the school psychologist at Glendale Elementary. Prior to working in schools, I worked in various roles at the Institute for Autism Research at Canisius College for 6 years. Through my educational and professional experiences, I have worked with students, families, and communities with a wide range of ability levels and sociocultural backgrounds. I am passionate about equitable education, cultural competence, and the intersectionality of race, class, and educational outcomes. I hope to build knowledge and understanding of the importance of these topics for all educators. I look forward to helping facilitate positive change and growth in the Sweet Home community in my role as a school psychologist and as a DEI committee member. 

As a longtime member of the Sweet Home community and a dedicated Social Studies teacher, I bring a unique perspective to the DEI committee. With my experience as a Student Government Advisor and involvement in community initiatives, I am passionate about promoting equity and inclusivity in an effort to create a welcoming environment where all individuals have the opportunity to succeed and thrive.  My goal is to leverage my knowledge and skills to affect and foster positive change in our school district, ensuring that every stakeholder has the opportunity to succeed and thrive. Sweet Home is a community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion; I am committed to advocating for these principles.

Rob graduated from the University at Buffalo with a degree in film production. He has worked as a computer technician for 18 years and runs a Magic the Gathering club at the middle school. He is proud to have the opportunity to contribute to the districts D.E.I. initiate. 

"Race, identity, structural inequality and justice are issues that I've been interested in and passionate about for quite sometime. I have studied and written about these subjects and want to help enact equitable change for the students and staff of the sweet home school district."

Deepa Saini is a Teacher’s Aide at Heritage Heights.  Mrs. Saini was born in London, England and resided in India and Botswana for several years before moving to New Jersey.  As a teenager, Mrs. Saini settled in London, Ontario, where she earned a Bachelor's of Administrative and Commercial Studies with a concentration in Accounting from Western University (formerly known as the University of Western Ontario).  Mrs. Saini has resided in Western New York since 2007 and has two children in the Sweet Home School District since 2009.  Mrs. Saini enjoys spending time with her family and friends.  Mrs. Saini is also the Co-President of Willowridge Elementary School’s PTO. 

Quote: “Be the change you wish to see in the world…”

            -Gandhi

           “ Be the reason someone feels welcomed, seen, heard, valued, loved and supported.”

            -unknown 

I am here to help strengthen police/community relations.

"As a parent of two Sweet Home students, I want to serve and support the district in its DE&I journey. I am bringing perspective and experience into the conversation while being a voice of the unheard. This is important and needed work, and I am grateful to be a part of this committee." 

Bio:

Sam is the District Manager for the Sodexo Seniors Western New Your Region. He currently manages food and facilities for senior living retirement communities in the Buffalo, Syracuse, and Albany markets.  

Sam has had a dedicated 25 year career in management and development. Over the years, he has held several operational roles, including District Manager in Sodexo's Universities Segment and Director of Support Services, serving on the Buffalo General Hospital executive team. In addition, Sam was previously a Senior Consultant in Sodexo's Learning and Performance Department. He was responsible for the initiatives of Career Development, the Upskilling of Change Management, and the global employee engagement survey.   

Sam holds an MBA from Medaille College and is change management certified. He is the immediate past National Chair for Sodexo's Employee Business Resource Group:  African American Leadership Forum. Sam resides in Amherst, New York, with his family. 

I am a parent, Alumna, AA in Criminal Justice and BA in Political Science. I serve as the Assistant Director of Admissions and Coordinator for Diversity Recruitment at the University of Buffalo School of Law. 

I am committed to cultivating a supportive and inclusive community in the Sweet Home School District. 

"Not everything can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." - James Baldwin

 Father of 3 Sweet Home graduates, a 20 year Veteran School Board member and a Community member advocating for parent and student involvement.

To ensure that our school district provides the most exceptional education possible for all students.

Justin is a parent with two daughters at Willow Ridge Elementary school.  He holds a B.S. and M.S from SUNY Brockport. He is the Executive Director at the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Niagara County.

I am interested in responding to our community needs in order to ensure a safe space for all members of our Sweet Home family.

Corrie Stone-Johnson is an Associate Professor of Educational Administration at UB and the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Educational Change. Previously, she was the Associate Editor of the journal Leadership and Policy in Schools. Her research in educational change and leadership examines the social and cultural aspects of change, highlighting the ways in which people interact to foster or impede reform in a context of accountability. She is particularly concerned with understanding the social contexts and organizational cultures within which teachers, leaders, and school support staff experience change. Before working at UB, she taught middle school in New York City. She is the author of the book Generational Identity, Educational Change, and School Leadership published in 2016. She holds degrees from Boston College Lynch School and Tufts University. Corrie lives in Buffalo with her family and dog and is excited to partner with Sweet Home.

I am a senior at Sweet Home high school. I am the vice president of student government, involved in multiple sports, a member of the concert chorale( the high school's advanced choir), and a member of the national honors society. 

I am interested in serving on the D.E.I. Committee because it is my opportunity to connect the ideas and experiences of the students, myself included, with those of the teachers, staff, and other adults affiliated with Sweet Home to make our district a more comfortable, more welcoming, more inclusive and more community-like area. I hope to hold Sweet Home to its mission statement: Every student, One Community, Ready for the Future. 

Riley is a student athlete. She hopes to be a teacher in mathematics and is passionate about bringing people together as a community.

"I would like to make the district more of a whole and just make our few years here memorable"