Kathleen Dailey, Candidate for District 13

Kathleen Dailey and her family have been residents of Wappingers Falls for over 20 years.

Before earning  her masters in teaching at SUNY New Paltz, she worked at AFS Intercultural Programs, a not-for-profit which organizes exchange students. For the last 27 years she has taught social studies, global studies, senior law, and Advanced Placement government and politics at John Jay High in Cross River.

Over the years, Kathleen has advocated for diversity in education and has been involved in a variety of leadership roles. She is a member of the NYS Union of Teachers (NYSUT) and served as a building rep, advocating for her co-workers.

Currently, Kathleen chairs the trust which manages vision and dental benefits for NYSUT members. In this role she helps ensure that the trust continues to be healthy and that members have adequate coverage — experience that will be invaluable in overseeing county spending.

When her daughter was diagnosed with dyslexia, Kathleen advocated for her and others at the local level with the school and at the state level with a grassroots group called Decoding Dyslexia. The group’s lobbying helped convince the state legislature to recognize dyslexia as a condition requiring  special services and to require that teachers be trained to recognize dyslexia and provide necessary interventions.

Kathleen’s priorities

Mental health programs and beds for our children and other community members.

Environmental sustainability as a baseline for all programs and purchases.

Affordability so that are children and working people can live here.

Combatting negativity and hopelessness that so many young people adopted since the pandemic. Kathleen wants our children to thrive and will help craft legislation that is meaningful for the future.