Candidate Biographies

Submitted by Candidates — Order Determined by Drawing of Lots

Travis Ames	Casey Tatangelo	Amanda Phillips
I'm Travis Ames. As a former Board member and long-time advocate for our District, I ask for your support to serve our community. As an HCS taxpayer for over 20 years, a SUNY Morrisville graduate, and an architectural woodworker, I bring a distinct, straightforward Board perspective. I'm running to provide active oversight and accountability, balanced leadership, and the determination to ask the critical questions that lead to better solutions. My perspective is shaped by seeing our school from all sides: my wife teaches here, our daughter is an upcoming senior, and our son starts kindergarten. Supporting our students begins with supporting faculty and staff; a safe, supportive environment is the foundation of a successful school. I also recognize the reality of stagnant funding and a stressed tax base. Long-term success requires a Board that values input from all residents and ensures no part of our community feels their concerns are secondary. I'll treat our village and rural communities, such as Hubbardsville, with equal importance. My focus is on academic excellence, open communication, and responsible stewardship. I'll advocate for practical solutions that protect both students' education and taxpayers' investment. I look forward to working together for our District's success.	I joined the Hamilton community in 2018 when my partner Kelley began teaching mathematics at Colgate University. I grew up in a rural Maine town and I am a stone mason and independent contractor. In 2020 we welcomed two foster children, who quickly integrated into the HCS community. We love the small, everyone-knows-each-other feel of Hamilton and we know our kids are receiving a well-rounded education. We formally adopted our kids last year and we look forward to watching them grow and learn at HCS. As the son of a former school board member (my mother compassionately served my school community for much of my childhood) and graduate of a small public school, I understand the responsibilities that come with the role of helping to lead the district and serving my community. My background in running a business has taught me communication, budgeting, and project management skills that will contribute to my success as an HCS board member. I believe in supporting each student's individual needs, listening to kids, parents, and teachers and forming and maintaining a bridge we can all meet on to ensure we keep HCS a great school!	I am proud to seek reelection to the Hamilton Board of Education after serving a three-year term guided by a clear principle: putting student wellbeing and opportunity first in every decision. I approach each decision thoughtfully, using research and data to make informed choices that best serve our students and community. As a native of Hamilton, former HCS student, and proud parent of four children in the elementary, middle, and high school, I bring a personal understanding of the experiences, challenges, and opportunities our community faces every day. I remain committed to ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education and a wide range of opportunities in a supportive, inclusive environment. Supporting our teachers and staff is equally important, recognizing the critical role they play in student success. I understand that supporting public education comes at a cost, so responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources while maintaining strong educational programs is something I will continue to ensure. The goal of providing an excellent public education is a collaborative effort, and engagement with the broader community through meaningful and ongoing discussions will help inform decisions toward achieving this goal. I respectfully ask for your support to continue this work.