Susan Saint-Joy, an educator, author and doctoral student in business management, has announced her candidacy for the library board of trustees at the Elmont Memorial Library and says that she hopes to strengthen community engagement, improve communication and expand programming that reflects local needs.
She is running against Mimi Pierre-Johnson, who has served on the board for the past 12 years. If Saint-Joy is elected, it would be her first time on the library board.
Saint-Joy’s campaign is rooted in her background in education, as an author and parent leadership. She worked in New York City’s District 75, a special education division, for more than 15 years, serving in roles ranging from teacher’s assistant to math teacher and classroom instructor across subject areas including psychology, business, marketing and sociology teaching at Monroe University and Five Towns College. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in education and is pursuing a doctorate in business management.
Her path to public service began through involvement in parent-teacher associations while living in Floral Park, where she served in leadership roles focused on communication and family engagement. She said that experience reshaped her understanding of community leadership and motivated her to become more involved in civic institutions.
“I decided to write about my experience from a board member’s point of view because I don’t think that’s ever really been done,” Saint-Joy said about her book, Beyond the Bake Sale: The True Calling of the PTA President. “And even I thought prior to that, that it was just about fundraising and bake sales,” Saint-Joy said about the role of the PTA.
After moving back to Elmont with her family, Saint-Joy said she expanded her community involvement by attending library board meetings and becoming more active in civic discussions. She said she was struck by limited public participation and a lack of awareness about library governance, programming and elections.
Improving communication between the library and the community is a central theme of her campaign. Saint-Joy supports expanded outreach efforts such as newsletters, stronger digital communication and livestreamed meetings to increase accessibility for residents unable to attend in person.
Saint-Joy, who has a 4-year-old on the spectrum, said it is especially important to her to expand programs designed for children with disabilities. She suggested starting with an IEP-focused workshop led by someone experienced in writing and interpreting the plans. Drawing on her background working with students with disabilities, she said many parents lack the knowledge to understand IEPs or effectively advocate for their children.
“A lot of parents don’t know how to read IEPs,” she said, explaining that her own understanding came from professional experience. She emphasized the need for workshops that explain terminology, outline parents’ rights and provide guidance on how to secure an advocate for meetings.
She also emphasized collaboration between the library and local school districts, particularly during testing seasons. Saint-Joy suggested programming such as study sessions and stress management workshops to help students prepare for standardized exams.
Community members have voiced support for her candidacy. Elizabeth Forbes, founder of the Gift of Giving Foundation, cited Saint-Joy’s dedication to service.
“She has always given to her community; now she’s ready to help lead it, bringing wisdom, compassion and purpose to every story yet to be written through the library,” Forbes said.
Qumyka Howell, a resident of Valley Stream, also expressed support, highlighting Saint-Joy’s consistency in civic engagement.
“For years, Susan has been a steadfast champion for her community,” Howell said. “Her passion for service and her commitment to creating meaningful change shine through in everything she does. She recognizes the library as a vital community hub and is devoted to ensuring it continues to thrive for all who rely on it.”
Saint-Joy said she supports increased use of community feedback tools such as surveys and structured input sessions to guide programming decisions and ensure residents have a voice in how library resources are allocated.
If elected, she said she would prioritize transparency, accessibility and resident engagement, with a focus on ensuring the library evolves alongside the needs of the community.
