The Hoosic Valley Educational Foundation, a volunteer organization, was created in 2001 by Paul and Barb Wiley to acquire and distribute funds to provide for innovative programs that enhance the quality of education.
Our Mission
Our goal is to provide students with learning opportunities and educational enrichment outside the realm of the daily operational needs of the District. The Foundation’s mission is to enrich learning experiences, encourage creative pursuits, and expose students to a wider world of educational possibilities.
our trustees
President
Melissa Kalbfliesh
Melissa Kalbfliesh joined the HVEF board in 2017. After attending Hoosic Valley, she attended Yale University with a focus in biology. Her professional background is in operations management and corporate training development. Melissa and her wife, Amanda, live in Valley Falls and have pre-school aged twins. In her free time Melissa enjoys genealogy and local history.
Vice President
Eric O'Brien
Eric O’Brien is a founding member of the Foundation from its inception in 2001. He has been a science teacher at the Hoosic Valley school district since 1999, with previous teaching experience at the Schenevus school district as well as the Albany Academy. Eric has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from SUNY Oswego and Master’s degrees from the University at Albany. He has served on numerous committees and held a number of leadership roles during his time at Hoosic Valley. Eric is a resident of Schaghticoke with his wife Jennifer and their two children.
Jeannette Sassatelli
Jeanette Sassatelli has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama from Kenyon College in Gambier, OH. She is currently a Real Estate Strategist for General Electric proving a liberal arts education can take you anywhere. A resident of Valley Falls with her husband John since 2003, Jeanette has become active with the Hoosic Valley schools, and HVEF since her daughter Andrea began attending Hoosic Valley in 2015. Her work on HVEF and as a member of the Valley Falls Free Library Board are Jeanette’s way of trying to give our youth innovative opportunities and experiences. It is Jeanette’s hope the Foundation will continue to grow and provide all students in the District with new opportunities to reach their dreams.
Amelia Manders
secretary
treasurer
Christa Waryas
Jill Anderson
Jill Anderson joined the HVEF Board in 2017. Jill graduated from Hoosic Valley Central School in 1979 and starting working for the district in 2000 driving for the Transportation Department. Over the last 18 years besides driving bus she has worked in the High School managing the period by period attendance, as a Teaching Assistant in a self contained classroom, Special Education Secretary and currently is the High School Guidance Department Secretary. Jill was a Co-Advisor for three graduating classes—2013, 2016, and 2017. She is the current Treasurer of the Extracurricular Fund. Jill and her husband Fred live in Melrose and have two children that are also graduates of Hoosic Valley. Jill enjoys volunteering as an usher at Proctors in Schenectady.
Lisa Meehan
Lisa Meehan joined the HVEF in 2015, after moving to Johnsonville from Ballston Lake. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from SUNY ESF and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Empire State College. Currently she works for the New York State Department of Health in the Wadsworth Laboratories and has been an enthusiastic volunteer in a wide variety of organizations. She has two daughters who have recently graduated from Hoosic Valley and a third who currently attends Hoosic Valley elementary.
Liz Ruepp
Stacey Kyea