Board Vacancies

My name is Krista Vince Garland. My husband Dennis and I have lived with our dogs in North Tonawanda for nine years. I originally hail from the Central Florida area. I began my teaching career as a middle school teacher in special education and earned my Ph.D. in Education at the University of Central Florida. I am an associate professor at Buffalo State University, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in special education and social and psychological foundations. I also provide clinical supervision for educators in districts across Erie and Niagara Counties. To enhance my career, I’ve recently graduated with an additional master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Niagara University.

At Buffalo State, I serve on the University Senate, am on several committees, and am co-faculty advisor for chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, an International Honor Society in education. I am most proud of my community-based service work and have been actively involved with the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army Tonawanda Corps., North Tonawanda Housing Authority, CHANT, North Tonawanda Youth Board, WNY Peacemakers, and the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawandas. 

For the past eight years, I’ve worked with therapy dogs and am proud to volunteer withmy dog Lemon via the SPCA Serving Erie County Paws for Love Therapy Dog Program (I also serve as the PFL Program Request Coordinator). My professional research explores human-animal interactions to improve learning and therapeutic outcomes.

I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve as a trustee for the North Tonawanda City School district. Being able to serve as a school board trustee offers me thegreatest opportunity possible to honor my mentors and pay forward efforts that maximize wholistic student outcomes.

My name is Stephanie Emiliani, and I've been serving on the Board of Education for three years now, with the last two as Vice President. I’ve lived in North Tonawanda since 2018 with my husband, where we’ve added two dogs to our family.

I'm really proud of the work the current Board has been doing to make sure our schools have what they need without breaking the bank. Alongside Frankie May (our Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services) and Greg Woytilla (Superintendent of Schools), we've kept important programs going strong while carefully watching our spending.

As Vice President, I’ve been keeping an eye on goals our Board set for ourselves, like reviewing policy, ensuring safe schools, and improving communication, and making sure we stay on track. Additionally, I feel strongly in making sure our schools are welcoming for everyone, which is why I'm happy to be a part of the District DEI Committee. I also serve on the Audit Committee, making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes.

In the next few years, I'm excited to team up with our new Superintendent to make sure every student feels supported and to help more students graduate.

Kaitlyn (Katy) Baker is a dedicated mother of three boys, aged 5 to 12, who fill her life with joy and adventure. Alongside her role as a nurturing parent, she thrives as a small business owner, channeling her entrepreneurial spirit into making a difference in her community. Known for her passion for service, Katy is actively involved in various volunteer initiatives, embodying the essence of community engagement and empowerment.