IUFSD Board of Education VIRTUAL Candidate Forum

The League of Women Voters of the Rivertowns hosted a moderated virtual forum featuring three candidates (scroll down for bios) running for two open seats on the Irvington Union Free School District Board of Education.

​Click HERE to watch a recording of the forum.

Meet the Candidates

Erin Bernstein (BOE Trustee seeking re-election)
Erin Bernstein is a CPA for almost 30 years and has managed the finances of public and private educational institutions across the country. She has had the privilege of teaching a college accounting course, which provided first-hand knowledge of the heavy lift provided by teachers. Her financial expertise provides a unique critical lens that she currently contributes to the Board’s financial oversight is performed consistently and in a manner that is transparent to our community. Erin will continue to strongly advocate for safer and secure schools. This also includes ensuring the health and wellbeing of our children, faculty, staff and families.

Her dedication to our children receiving an exceptional education is evident in her involvement even prior to joining the Board, as she advocated for an Early World Language Program. Erin fully understands the competing priorities that exist within the Irvington district, and is confident in her ability to navigate through challenges to ensure best outcomes for our community.
Erin has resided in Irvington for twelve years with her husband and son. She is extremely grateful for their love and support as she continues this endeavor. Erin would consider it an honor to continue to serve the district.
​
Andrea Flynn (New Candidate)
Andrea Flynn is a mom of three children in Irvington and is running for a seat on the Board of Education. She has been actively involved in the Irvington community for the last seven years, most recently serving as co-chair of the PTSA's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. From serving in a leadership capacity on the PTSA to coaching her daughter’s softball team, she loves building relationships with families across this district and is eager to continue to do so as a Trustee of the Board.

Professionally, Andrea has spent the last two decades working as a policy researcher and advocate focusing on racial, gender, and health equity at the national level. She is currently the Senior Director at the Insight Center for Community Economic Development and she is the co-author of The Hidden Rules of Race. She frequently writes and speaks about economic inequality and health equity. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Ms. Magazine, The New Republic, and Time. Andrea teaches courses on public policy, reproductive health and rights, and economic inequality at the Mailman School for Public Health at Columbia University. She received her MPA and MPH from Columbia University, and her BA in journalism and women’s studies from Syracuse University. She is looking forward to bringing her expertise in policy, advocacy and communications to Irvington's Board of Education.

David Graeber (BOE Trustee seeking re-election)
David Graeber and his family have lived in Irvington for over a decade, seeing both his children move through the Irvington schools with one in the 6th grade and another in the 10th. David has served on the Board of Education for the last six years, the last two in the capacity of 1st Vice President.  David’s work in public education started over twenty years ago, when he began teaching 8th grade English in Brooklyn and continues today in support of New York City’s most struggling schools on behalf of the Division of School Leadership for the New York City Public Schools.  

David can be found around town, most often in the Irvington woods with his wife Courtney and their dog Molly Martha. He enjoys coaching for the Irvington Recreation Department and playing in the local basketball games.  Most of all, David is dedicated to the present and future of Irvington Schools and all of its students and staff.  

Questions? Please contact [email protected]