New president appointed on the Baldwin Board of Education

This happened to be a year when I was available, and everybody kind of felt I was in a better position to take on the extra work.”

Mary Jo O’Hagan newly appointed president of the Baldwin education board

Mary Jo O’Hagan was sworn in as the new president of the Baldwin education board during the reorganization meeting earlier this month. Her term on the board will continue through the next year.

O’Hagan said she feels “comfortable” taking on the role of board president because she has experience in leadership positions with other committees and organizations. Her colleagues on the board have supported her for the post, deciding that this year is the right time for her to take over the top spot.

“This happened to be a year when I was available, and everybody kind of felt I was in a better position to take on the extra work,” O’Hagan said.

O’Hagan said she plans to continue the work of previous board presidents and to “work (with the board) as a unit,” as well as with Baldwin School district superintendent Shari Camhi. She added that the role of the president is to be a “point person,” as the board works together to introduce different changes within the school district.

“I think what brings me most joy, both as president and trustee, is going to student presentations, going to student performances, and also seeing what our kids do in terms of their academic success,” O’Hagan said. “The board members are constantly on the lookout for opportunities for students to grow.”

O’Hagan added that the board is working with local colleges and universities to provide a variety of programs to Baldwin students “that reach outside the school district boundaries.”

She also mentioned that she is looking forward to introducing new, innovative courses to the school district and programs that are “a little bit different and exciting for the kids.”

O’Hagan, a huge proponent of improving educational programming, was recently presented with the National School Development Council’s Leadership Award. The award recognizes outstanding leadership and efforts to establish cooperative relationships to improve educational programs for students in the nation’s schools. O’Hagan has been an advocate for public education and an essential partner in the success of the Baldwin School District for nearly three decades.

O’Hagan has also served in the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association, as president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. In addition, she is a member of the New York State School Boards Association’s state legislative network and commissioner’s advisory council. She has been involved with the board’s State Issues Conference, Federal Relations Network, and Commissioner’s Advisory Council.

O’Hagan has also served on the Nassau School and Municipal Shared Savings Initiative, the Long Island Regional Planning Council, and the Legislative Committee for the Nassau Council of School Superintendents, and she has also been co-chair of the Long Island Educational Coalition since 2015.

In 2019, O’Hagan was the recipient of the state board’s most prestigious accolade, the Everett R. Dyer Award for Distinguished School Board Service. Additionally, she has been recognized with the state board’s Board Lifetime Achievement Award, Nassau County Women of Distinction Award, and the Scope Award for Community Service.

Prior to serving on the board, O’Hagan spent time on the Human Relations Advisory Council and the Baldwin Educational Assembly. She holds a B.A. in secondary English education from SUNY Oneonta.

When she’s not attending to school board matters, she said she loves to travel and read.

“I’ve been to Europe a number of times,” O’Hagan said. “I’ve been to Africa twice. I’m going to London in a month, so I really enjoy traveling. And I’m an avid book reader.”