Candidate Profile: Mary Ella Moeller Wants To Raise Academic Standards

The annual budget votes and board elections take place throughout Long Island on May 21. In East Hampton, there are six candidates — Alison Anderson, an incumbent, Nicholas J. Boland, JP Foster, Wendy Geehreng, Mary Ella Moeller, and Rich Wilson — vying for three positions on the board of education. The following is a profile of Mary Ella Moeller: 

Mary Ella Moeller is a regular at East Hampton School Board meetings. A retired teacher who grew up in East Hampton, Moeller is a proponent for a strong education under responsible fiscal management.

A member of the class of 1956, Moeller left East Hampton to attend the University of Nebraska, where she received a BS in 1960. She then returned to Long Island to study at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, achieving an MLS in 1977. She also earned 60 graduate credits from 1985 to 1993. 

Moeller, 75, taught Home Economics and Home and Careers for 28 years at the South Country School District in Bellport. She lived in Miller Place with her husband, James Moeller, also a school teacher, but they visited East Hampton every weekend. They retired to East Hampton in 1996. He passed away in 2012. 

She's held several elected positions before with the New York State Retired Teachers' Association and the Ladies Village Improvement Society Board of Directors, but has never run for a seat on the board of education.  

In addition, the grandmother of two has held several appointed offices at NYSRTA and served on the East Hampton Citizens Advisory Committee and the East Hampton Town Senior Citizens Advisory Committee. She's also a volunteer at the East Hampton Health Care Center, and a deacon at the First Presbyterian Church of East Hampton.

Q: What qualifies you to be a member of BOE?  

Regularly attend BOE meetings for years and ask questions. I understand the budget process.  I am familiar with the education system and district policies.    I’m open - minded.  I do my research.  I’m good listener.

Q: Why do you want to be on the BOE?  

To continue to raise academics expectations of ALL students, not just the high achieving students.  To see that fiscally responsible decisions are made, while ensuring the highest quality education is maintained.    To support programs which address the issues facing our growing multi-cultural population.   I know that being a member of the BOE is more than two meetings a month.  I have the time to commit to doing the work of making decisions that will positively affect the education of our youth.

Q: If elected, what changes would you like to see at East Hampton Schools? 

I would like to see more emphasis given technology.  I want ALL students when they graduate from East Hampton to be able to meet the challenges of the 21st century, whether they are going to continue their education or entering the job market.

Q: What is the most serious issue facing East Hampton schools? 

The East Hampton School district budget the last two years has been under the 2% tax caps. In future years any further cuts in the budget should not comprise the highest quality education in the district.