Ladies First! All Female Board of Color and Superintendent Leads Uniondale
Uniondale School Board president Addie Blanco-Harvey, left, and Superintendent Monique Darrisaw-Akil outside Uniondale High School. Credit: Newsday / Steve Pfost
When the new year starts in the Uniondale School District, community members for the first time will encounter a sea of female faces of color before them at meetings.
The school district will have not only an entire board made up of Black and Hispanic women but also a Black superintendent.
"In terms of being an all-female board of color with a superintendent of color, I do think it’s very unique on Long Island," said Superintendent Monique Darrisaw-Akil, who was appointed in July.
She said the board reflects the community’s growing diversity. According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data, more than 40% of Uniondale residents are Black and more than 39% of residents are Hispanic of any race.