About Carolyn

 

Carolyn’s values were developed where she grew up, Harford Township, Pennsylvania.  Her life centered around family, church, and school.  She learned to work hard, help other people, and educate herself to the highest level.

Family came first.  Her father was a farmer and school bus contractor; her mother was a schoolteacher.  Both parents were very hard working but always took time for their children.  The family often dined and shopped in Binghamton, New York and had memorable family vacations.  Carolyn was inspired by her father’s calm demeanor in the face of challenges and inspired by her mother’s belief in her saying, “There isn’t anything you can’t do.”

The church was an important part of Carolyn’s life.  She attended Sunday School and also taught Sunday School classes.  She sang in the choir and performed musically at church services.  On most Saturday mornings Carolyn and her best friend helped an elderly mother and her daughter prepare materials for missionaries.  The mother, 90 years old, wrote a poem for Carolyn at high school graduation time.  The most memorable line for Carolyn was:  “Dedicate your life to a life of service from beginning to end.”

Another important part of Carolyn’s life was school.  She attended the Harford School from grades 1-11; graduated as an honor student in the first class at Mountain View High School.  Her school years were filled with academics and music, performing at local, county and state festivals.

Carolyn’s college education began at Wilkes College, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, followed by a transfer to Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida.  This was a courageous move, leaving family and friends to go to a new city and college campus over a thousand miles away.  She quickly made friends and held numerous leadership positions on the campus.  She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and minor in Music.

Carolyn, her husband Daniel, and baby daughter moved back to Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.  Daniel completed his teaching degree, and both taught in Susquehanna County schools for a few years before taking teaching positions in the Windsor Central School District, Windsor, New York.  They bought land in Windsor and had a new home built where they raised two children and became a part of the community.

Carolyn’s service in schools was as a teacher and central office administrator which meant more education, a Master’s Degree in Reading and post graduate studies in a Certificate of Advanced Studies Program in School Administration and Supervision.  She taught students elementary grades through college graduate level.  She especially enjoyed helping students learn to read and challenging the gifted students.  She went into central office administration to touch the lives of more students working in curriculum, special education, personnel, and business.  In administration, she even served as a class adviser when no one else would do it.  She cared about the students and wanted their four years of high school to be most memorable.  Talk about memorable, the class she advised was the first class at Binghamton High School to go to Grad Night at Disney World.

How did Carolyn get into politics?  It was much like when she became a class adviser, no one else would do it and she cared about the community.  There was an opening for the position of Supervisor in the Town of Windsor.  She encouraged qualified people to run for the position but the answer was, “I’m too busy.”  At the encouragement of her husband saying, “You need to run,” she said yes, wanting to serve the community.  She served eight years as Town Supervisor for the Town of Windsor and then served one year as the Town’s Deputy Supervisor to help with transition.

Like most people, Carolyn has faced challenges in her life.  At age 29 she fell and fractured a vertebra in her back.  The doctors said her recovery was miraculous.  Why?  She had a positive attitude and with a full back brace walked each day, one step at a time, to a full recovery.

A professional challenge was a $4 million payroll for almost 1,200 people getting stuck in a loop in the computer system.  She had gone to work on Thursday morning and returned home on Friday afternoon after leading a team through the night to redo non contract payments in the payroll.  Employees were paid on time thanks to Carolyn and the team.

Family remains very important to Carolyn—her husband, two children, three grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.  The holidays are especially wonderful times enjoying Carolyn’s cooking and baking, reminiscing, and riding in the old MG convertible.

Carolyn wants the next chapter of her life to be written about representing the people in Legislator District 2 in Eastern Broome County during challenging, unprecedented times.  Carolyn will be the people’s servant, listening to them, speaking up for them, working for them, continuing her life time of service to others.