Warwick Board of Education selects Denise Ginley to fill vacant seat

WARWICK — The Warwick Valley School Board has selected Denise Ginley to fill a vacant board seat.

The board held a special meeting on Nov. 23 to discuss options for filling the board seat vacated by Shannon Hockswender, who tendered her resignation on Nov. 9 due to a change in residency.

New York State law allows school boards to fill such vacancies by special election or by appointment until the next general election – May 17, 2016.

After discussion, the board moved to fill the seat by appointment rather than holding a special election due to the costs associated with an election.

Subsequently, the board nominated and voted to appoint Ginley.

She will serve a term of seven months.

A mother of two elementary-age children, Ginley has been a resident of Warwick for eight years. She is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics.

She earned her master’s degree in education from Harvard University.

Ginley has previously been employed as a human resources leader for IBM and Pfizer, Inc. She is currently self-employed coaching clients in leadership and management.

“I look forward to bringing my experience in leadership and management, as well as my perspective as a parent of two elementary-aged children, to my work as a board member,” Ginley said in the district's press release announcing her appointment.