On Tuesday, May 19, district residents will elect two candidates to the Niskayuna Central School District Board of Education. Three candidates are running for the two seats. Board members are volunteers elected to three-year terms. The terms of the individuals elected this year will begin on July 1, 2026.
Each candidate submitted information to the district through a form and information was modified slightly for space. The submitted statement from each candidate is shared here as it was written.
Candidate names will appear on the ballot in this order:
- My’Lisse Kochan
- Jessica LaFex
- Jonathan Vaillancourt
My’Lisse Kochan
My’Lisse Kochan is seeking her first term on the board of education. She has been a Niskayuna resident for 30 years.
Kochan is a senior manager at Accenture Federal Services where she leads the strategic oversight and development of all participant-facing technologies for the Thrift Savings Plan, a defined contribution plan for federal employees and service members with 7 million participants and $1 trillion in assets.
She is a graduate of Niskayuna High School and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from The College of Saint Rose and a master’s degree in organization management from Sage Graduate School.
Kochan has three children, ages 3, 8 and 13. Her youngest child attends preschool and her older children attend Glencliff Elementary School and Iroquois Middle School.
Submitted Statement
“I am running for the Niskayuna CSD Board because I believe deeply in the strength of our community and the importance of ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive. As a proud graduate of the district and a parent of three children, I am committed to supporting an environment where students feel challenged, supported and inspired. My professional background in leading teams, improving complex systems and enhancing customer experiences has prepared me to listen carefully, collaborate openly and make thoughtful, data-informed decisions that strengthen our district’s future.”
Jessica LaFex
Jessica LaFex is seeking a second term on the board of education. She has been a Niskayuna resident for 13 years.
LaFex is a grades 7-8 ELA teacher and interventionist at Lisha Kill Middle School in the South Colonie Central School District.
She is a graduate of Westhill High School in Syracuse and received two bachelor’s degrees from the University at Albany in English and music theory. She obtained a master’s of science in adolescent English education from The College of Saint Rose.
Volunteer experience: LeFex is a current board of education member and has volunteered for PTO activities at Rosendale, Iroquois and NHS. She is a Nisky NOW pantry manager and vice president of Girl Scouts. She is also on the St. Kateri Tekakwitha’s Parish Council, the Niskayuna Farmer’s Market Committee (through N-CAP) and is a Niskayuna Wild Turkeys (swim team) parent coordinator.
LaFex and her husband Patrick Snow have three children, ages 11, 13 and 16, who attend Rosendale Elementary School, Iroquois Middle School and Niskayuna High School.
Submitted Statement
“I am seeking a second term on the Niskayuna Board of Education to continue advocating for decisions that directly support student success and reflect the constantly evolving realities of today’s classrooms. As an educator, I bring firsthand knowledge of curriculum, student needs, and challenges staff face, allowing me to contribute a current, practical, and informed perspective. An educator’s voice on the board helps bridge policy and practice, ensuring decisions are both strategic and grounded in what truly benefits students, families, and staff. I am committed to collaboration, transparency, and fostering an environment where all members of the learning community can thrive.”
Jonathan Vaillancourt
Jonathan Vaillancourt is running for his first term on the board of education. He has been a Niskayuna resident for 12 years.
Vaillancourt works at Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc. (BPMI) as an Advisor mechanical engineer in the Technology & Transformation unit. His work involves technical evaluations, establishing and managing contracts, training and development, project planning, reviewing policies and procedures, and budgeting.
He is a graduate of Mayfield Central School District in Mayfield. He holds a master’s of science in mechanical engineering and a bachelor’s of engineering in mechanical engineering, both from Stony Brook University.
Volunteer experience: He has helped Niskayuna Rowing repair their motor boats and install docks, and is an adult altar server at St. Luke’s Roman Catholic Church. Vaillancourt has been a chaperone for the Middle School ski club, a volunteer for elementary field days and a volunteer for the Lights Camera Action afterschool program to teach students stage makeup and costume design for their films. He has been involved with the Sea Perch program as a mentor for students and has coached the town recreation soccer league.
Vaillancourt and his wife have two children, ages 9 and 13, who attend Rosendale Elementary School and Iroquois Middle School.
Submitted Statement
“I seek to serve the Niskayuna community as a Board member by leveraging my engineering experience, using it as a lens through which I can assess District needs. I will take a data driven approach when assessing board matters, listening to community feedback and seeking to understand all perspectives to balance fiscal demands with student, staff, and community needs. The capital project is a major investment for our community. As a licensed Professional Engineer, I can provide a technical perspective on the Board to better oversee contractor performance. To address a community concern, I will use a data driven approach to work with the transportation department, collaborating to optimize future route planning in support of our school reconfiguration.”
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