Dominick Barbato For East Islip School Board of Education

It is an honor to stand before the East Islip community, as well as the teachers and students of this district, and provide an understanding of who I am, my qualifications, and why I am running for the East Islip School Board of Education.

I have lived in East Islip all of my life. I love this community and would not be who I am today without East Islip. What is different about me is that I am 24 years old. But don't let my age fool you. I have been in business since the age of 14. I have my BA in Finance and Economics, as well as my MBA in Organizational Leadership. I received both degrees before the age of 21. When elected, I will apply my strong understanding of finance and accounting to our budget. Fiscally, I plan to bring oversight and improvements to each area, which will benefit our taxpayers' and students' education.

Although I am not a traditional educator, I have educated hundreds of thousands of people online and offline through various content I have created. I want to empower and inspire the generations of tomorrow. The school system needs to modernize its infrastructure and processes to suit the ages of tomorrow adequately.

The way we learn and educate will not be the same a decade from now. The educational system will see many changes over the next few years, and I want to put our students ahead of these progressions. I will stand with the students and empower tomorrow's generation to use technology to advance their understanding of the world. Technology can also hinder students. The next board of education members must understand the use of technology to allow for the most conducive way for student interaction and growth.

With your support on May 18th, 2021, we can make education a source of inspiration for future generations.

• What do you feel takes priority in this district?

Specific skills and classes allow students to widen their horizons, develop their curiosities, and build skills that follow them long after graduating. Empowering the generation of tomorrow through inspiring education is key to lasting student success.

• What changes need to be made to best serve the students?

Students go to school to learn how to think, not what to think. There seems to be a shift in education and the way teachers are teaching. Teachers should not foster beliefs in students; they should cater to each student's individuals beliefs, regardless of one's own. We must place students first in everything we do as parents and as a community. Education is the offspring of inspiration. I believe inspiring the generations of tomorrow to explore and develop themselves is imperative to their success.

Not all students will be lawyers or doctors, and we must not pigeonhole students. We must offer classes for various vocational studies that allow students to learn what they love early on. East Islip allowed me to explore my strengths, weaknesses, and curiosities. I owe it to this community for finding my passions so young.

With your support on May 18th, 2021, we can make education inspiring for all.

Vote Here: 1 CRAIG B. GARIEPY AVE., ISLIP TERRACE, NY 11752