Christine Biernacki Honored by Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Assn.

Christine Biernacki was recognized by the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association at the organization’s 64th annual business meeting at The Hamlet in Commack. The longtime Huntington School Board member is retiring from her trustee position after serving the community for nine years.

Mrs. Biernacki was honored as the N-SSBA’s Outstanding School Board Service Award recipient. She was joined at last week’s dinner by her fellow trustees and district executives.

As the mother of students with special needs, Mrs. Biernacki has known first-hand how parents need to be supported and what true advocacy looks like. In addition to her dedication at home, she dove deep into a life of service of others. As past president of both Huntington SEPTA and the PTA Council, she has deep roots in the district. Her extensive knowledge of special education coupled with her intellect have provided invaluable insight to the Huntington School throughout the years. Once on the board, she was integral in securing funding for an extended summer program. A champion for all children, she has helped ensure decisions are made thoughtfully and equitably.

Mrs. Biernacki was elected three times to serve three year terms on the Huntington School Board and was chosen by her colleagues to serve stretches as the board’s vice president and president.

Raised in the town of Huntington, Mrs. Biernacki attended school in South Huntington. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics at the University of Connecticut and a Juris Doctor at Hofstra University School of Law. She is a partner in a New York City law firm.

Mrs. Biernacki and her husband, Dave, who is a 1983 graduate of Huntington High School. They sent both their children through Huntington UFSD.

Prior to her election as a district trustee, Mrs. Biernacki served on the district Safety and Shared Decision Making Committees and on the Committee for Special Education.

Mrs. Biernacki’s service to the community’s children predates the start of her own family. She served president of the Huntington Sanctuary Project’s advisory board. Mrs. Biernacki and her husband offered their house as a host home for Sanctuary, opening their doors to runaway youth so that the families could participate in mediation to resolve their issues and bring the youngster home.

As a colleague to her fellow Huntington UFSD trustees, Mrs. Biernacki’s observations and contributions have fostered meaningful conversation at the table and beyond. As a leader, she ensured that all stakeholders felt heard and understood. As a mentor, she appreciated the intricacies of being a new board member and how to best show support. With a background in law and policy, she has often contributed expert opinion, offering an important frame of reference for contemplation.

Mrs. Biernacki has also served as president of the Town of Huntington’s Youth Bureau Board. She was recognized for her work with runaway and homeless youth by the Association of New York State Youth Bureaus and the Empire State Coalition of Youth and Family Services.

The retiring Huntington School Board member has advocated for reforms in school aid, teacher evaluation and special education, among other areas. She comes from a family filled with educators and strives to work in a manner that will honor that tradition.