Catherine M. Romano - Area 12 Director
Catherine M. Romano is the Area 12 Director of the New York State School Boards Association. As Area 12 Director, Romano represents school boards in Suffolk County.
NYSSBA provides advocacy, training and information to school boards in support of their mission to govern the state’s public schools. The NYSSBA board establishes policies to supervise, control and direct the business of the Association.
Romano joined the NYSSBA board of directors in 2020, served on the Investment and Finance, and Policy committees, and is currently chair of NYSSBA's Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee. She is a longtime member of NYSSBA’s State Legislative Network and Federal Relations Network, advocating for the Association’s legislative priorities.
Romano is a trustee of the Eastern Suffolk BOCES Board since 2014, serving on the Audit and Finance, Legislative Advocacy and Communications, Policy, Equity, and Strategic Planning committees. She was a member of the Islip Union Free School Board from 2004 – 2016, serving as president from 2005 – 2013, and vice president in 2013 and 2014.
Romano is a board of directors' member of the Nassau Suffolk School Boards Association and a member of the Long Island Education Coalition where she collaborates with other education leaders in the region.
As co-founder of the New York State Family Engagement Coalition and Same Page Summit, Romano coordinated efforts with statewide leaders promoting family and community engagement efforts with NYSED. She also served in multiple levels of local, regional, NYS and National PTA.
Romano is a retired educator and nursery school director (12 years); her other experiences include NYC director and consultant for EPIC: Every Person Influences Children NYC, corporate trainer/organization development for a major bank and a personal computer company.
Romano has an Education N-6 master's degree from Dowling College and a business management degree from St. John's University.
Romano and her husband, Rick, have one daughter.
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