The Guilderland Central School District Board of Education has the power to develop policies, rules and regulations for the operation of our school system. Nine residents serve, without pay, on the district’s school board. Individuals are eligible for election to the Board if they are qualified voters of the district (district resident for the last year, U.S. citizen, 18 years of age and older) and can read and write. New York State Education Law does not limit the number of terms of office a member may serve.
Meet the 2025 Board Candidates
On May 20, voters in the Guilderland Central School District will elect three board members. Candidates must meet all of the other requirements to run for the Board. Learn more about the Guilderland Central District Board of Education.
Candidates are listed below in the order they will appear on the ballot:
Meredith Brière
Meredith Brière is seeking her first full term on the board; Meredith was appointed to the board in fall 2024 to fill the vacancy created by Judy Slack’s resignation. She is employed by RPCVnexus as the Communications Director and holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Maryland, College Park.
As a GCSD board member, Meredith serves on the Business Practices Committee and the Communications Committee. Meredith is the treasurer of the McKownville Fire District, secretary of the local Democratic Committee, delegate for the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Northeastern New York, where she previously served as Advocacy Coordinator.
Meredith and her husband have lived in the district for nearly four years and are the parents of two children, ages four and two.
Kelly Person
Kelly Person is seeking her third term on the board. She is employed by the Department of the Air Force as an Inspector General. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University at Albany and a master’s degree in military operational art and science from Air University Command and Staff College. Kelly is a 2022 graduate of Air University Air War College.
Kelly is the current vice president of the GCSD Board of Education and serves on the Audit Committee, the Business Practices Committee and the Communications Committee. She is also the board liaison to Farnsworth Middle School and the alternate liaison to Guilderland Elementary. A member of the GES PTA and the FMS PTA, Kelly is involved in FC Dutchman soccer, Guilderland basketball and CYO basketball.
A Guilderland resident for 13 years, Kelly and her wife have four children; Andrew and Thomas are in sixth grade, Jude is in third grade and Lindy is in kindergarten at Guilderland Elementary School.
Peter Stapleton
Peter Stapleton is seeking his first term on the board. He is the Assistant Provost for Strategic Initiatives at Russell Sage College; where he also holds the faculty rank of Associate Professor of Physical Education. A tenured teacher and advisor, Peter earned a bachelor’s degree in music industry from The College of Saint Rose. He has a master of science in physical education, initial teaching licensure and a PhD in physical education, teaching and administration, both from Springfield College.
A member of New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NYSAHPERD) for more than eight years, Peter is the President-elect of Capital Zone of NYSAHPERD.
A resident of Guilderland for nearly five years, Peter and his wife have two children who attend GCSD schools, Matthew in eighth grade and Abigail in fifth grade.
Katie DiPierro
Katie DiPierro is seeking her second term on the board. She is a special education teacher with Capital Region BOCES, where she leads a self-contained classroom at Maywood School. With 25 years of teaching experience, Katie previously taught at Lynnwood Elementary and Pine Bush Elementary schools. She holds a degree in special education and a master’s degree in literacy education, both from the College of Saint Rose.
As a board member, Katie is the Chair of the Communications Committee and serves on the Policy Review Committee and previously sat on the DEI Student Voice Committee. Currently Katie serves as secretary of the Guilderland High School PTA and treasurer of the indoor track booster club. She has also served as vice president of events and activities for the PBES PTA and spent five years coaching the Just Run third-grade team at PBES.
Katie and her husband have lived in Guilderland since 2007. They have two children, Samuel and Alaina, both students at Guilderland High School.