Schools

Mary Ella Moeller Joins School Board Race

A fixture at East Hampton School Board meetings, Moeller has a long background in education.

Mary Ella Moeller is ready to trade her front row seat at East Hampton Board of Education meetings for a seat at the dais.

Moeller has been a fixture in the often small audience for years and she has served on volunteer committees, but this is her first time running for a elected position in the district.

At this stage in her life, she feels she has the time to really devote to the position. "I have the hours," she said.

There are three seats up on the school board in next month's election. JP Foster, Rich Wilson, and Nicholas Boland have also handed in nominating petitions, which are due no later than Monday. Lauren Dempsey and George Aman are not seeking reelection.

If elected, she said she will continue "to raise the academic expectations of students, not just the one who are high achievers," she said, while ensuring fiscal responsibility.

Even before the 2 percent cap on tax levy increases was passed, Moeller asked the district to think ahead to its impact. "I think this superintendent and this board has been hit with this and it's been very difficult this year," she said. "I think they are still trying to maintain a high level of education programs that we have in the district."

"Since I go all the time, I really know what's going on," she said. "I feel that I have a good understanding in what educational issues are involved in the district and otherwise," she said. Plus, she added, "I'm unbiased. I don't have children or grandchildren in the school. I've never worked in the school — I just went there all my life."

Born a Parsons, a founding family of East Hampton, she grew up in East Hampton and she graduated from East Hampton High School's Class of 1956.

A former teacher, she retired from the South Country School District in 1993 after 28 years. Soon after, she and her husband Jim Moeller, who was also a school teacher, moved to East Hampton Village in 1996. 

She and her husband attended many school board meetings together before he passed away in January 2012.

Through the New York State Retired Teachers' Association, she established a Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund to aid retired educators. She has held three positions in the teachers association.

Moeller has a long history of service to the community. She is a member of the Ladies Village Improvement Society (and was Volunteer of the Year in 2000) and served as the board of the director for three years.

A member of the East Hampton Citizens Advisory Committee, she is also a member of the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee, resigning her post as chairwoman when her husband became ill.

She is also a volunteer at the East Hampton Healthcare Center, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and a deacon at the First Presbyterian Church of East Hampton.


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