Board of Education elections take place on the date of the budget vote each year in May. Members of the Board of Education are elected by the voters of the district to establish policy and direct the administration of our schools. Individuals are eligible for election to the Board if they are qualified voters of the district (district resident, U.S. citizen, 18 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. Board members serve volunteer, five-year terms. They receive no salary or other compensation.
Board of Education Candidates
On Tuesday, May 21, North Colonie residents will elect two candidates; each to five-year terms, without compensation, to the Board of Education. Matthew Cannon is seeking re-election to his seat. Two candidates are running for Pennie Grinnell’s open seat on the board, Ayesha Geter and Justin John. Candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot. The order is drawn at random.
In addition to the biographical information and statements provided to the District and listed below, the League of Women Voters submitted questions to Board of Education candidates and they can be found on vote411.org. Please remember, BOE candidates can be voted on Tuesday, May 21 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 91 Fiddlers Lane, Latham. The ballot also includes the annual budget vote and two propositions.
Matt Cannon
Matt Cannon is currently the Director of Development & Government Affairs at Albany International Airport. In this role, he oversees relationships with current and prospective airlines and coordinates with government bodies at federal, state, and local levels. Matt also plays a key role in the airport’s modernization efforts, including the ongoing $100 million terminal expansion project.
Matt and his wife are both proud graduates of Shaker High School, Class of 2002. After Shaker, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a minor in business from Northeastern University in Boston.
Matt is wrapping up his first five-year term on the North Colonie Board of Education, serving as Vice President for the last two years. He and his wife are both active members of the Boght Hills PTA, and before joining the Board of Education, he was President of the Shaker All-Sport Booster Club for four years.
With two young children, his family actively supports various local youth sports organizations, including the North Colonie Youth Baseball Association, Latham Lassies, Latham Circle Soccer Club, North Colonie Jr. Bison Football, and the Ciccotti Center.
It has been an absolute privilege to serve on the North Colonie Board of Education for the last five years and represent the families and residents of our district—a responsibility I deeply appreciate and respect. My wife and I were fortunate to have attended North Colonie Central Schools for elementary school, middle school, and high school; the decision to raise our two children in this school district has always been an easy one, and I’m a firm believer that North Colonie has the duty to continue delivering as one of the best in the state for our residents. It would be an honor to continue serving the school district and community that led me to where I am today, knowing it’s where my children and yours receive their academic foundation. Every decision I make, every opinion I’ll offer, every idea I’ll contribute will have them—and our greater community—top of mind.
Ayesha Geter
Ayesha Geter is a graduate of Troy High School and Bryant & Stratton College of Albany alum. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor Degree from SUNY Empire State College. She has worked as Administrative Support at various levels of education for over 20 years including Grants and Program Development, K-12 Special Education, Higher Education and Adult Continuing Education. Ayesha has a background of experience with both adult mental and physical disabilities. In her current role as Program Coordinator at Capital Region BOCES NERIC Division, she implements, trains and supports school districts with cafeteria software and organizes and maintains the purchasing process for the Cafeteria Services team.
Ayesha serves as a WMHT Community Advisory Board member where she assists in accessing WMHT’s programming and policies to meet the educational and cultural needs of the communities served by WMHT and make recommendations to meet those needs as well as encourage community partnership and participation in local events and programs. In addition to WMHT, she is also a current North Colonie Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) Member since 2018 and most recently served as a 2024 Budget Committee Member.
Most importantly, she is a parent of two Shaker HS athletes and an incoming kindergarten student. Since moving into this district in 2014, Ayesha and her husband have been very active in their children’s educational experience. They have consistently strived to encourage an environment that is safe and inclusive and create a sense of community for their children.
It is with very long and thoughtful consideration that I have decided to pursue becoming a North Colonie Board member. I am committed to leveraging my connections, experience, knowledge, and resources to continue to foster a foundation that inspires excellence because there is nothing more important to community success than a strong public school system. I am passionate about community and education and excited to lead with grace and transparency with an understanding that you can both disagree fearlessly but also respectfully. I am running on a platform of accountability, collaboration and engagement and on the premise that challenges are opportunities to grow, to teach, and to learn. I am excited for the opportunity to serve our community.
Justin John
As a New York native and having lived in the capital region for over 25 years, Justin John and his wife, Sherry, proudly call the North Colonie School District home, where their three children attend school. As an active parent, Justin has had the privilege of contributing in various capacities, supporting various sports, music and education programs.
Professionally, he brings years of experience as an Executive Technology Director at GE Vernova Advanced Research Center, where he focuses on Cybersecurity and AI research. Justin’s educational background includes a B.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering from RPI and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech. He is also honored to serve on the board for the Cybersecurity for Manufacturing Innovation Institute, whose mission is to protect U.S. manufacturing from cybersecurity threats.
Beyond work, he and his family are deeply rooted at Life Church, where Justin volunteers in multiple capacities including serving on the accounting team for the last six years.
I am running for the school board because I believe in the potential of our district and our children. My goal is simple: to ensure that North Colonie schools continue to excel and remain a beacon of educational excellence in our area. STEM education is close to my heart, and I’m committed to driving meaningful improvements in this crucial area to empower our students for success in the future. If elected, I’ll strive to ensure that families are informed and have a voice on key decisions within the district, fostering transparent communication between the school and our community.
Together, let’s work towards a brighter future for North Colonie schools and the next generation of leaders.