The 2025 Meet the Candidates Night will be held right after the 7 p.m. public budget hearing on Wednesday, May 7 in the Middle School Cafeteria. Residents can attend in person or watch the livestream through the district’s YouTube channel.
Four candidates are competing for two vacant positions on the Board of Education, currently occupied by Kimberly Talbot and Emily Orr. Ms. Orr has decided not to seek reelection. Each seat comes with a three-year term and is unpaid. The candidates will appear on the ballot in the following order, determined by a random drawing: Kimberly C. Talbot, Kristina N. Coughlin, Angela V. Piazza, and Michael J. Torelli.
The school board election will be held on Tuesday, May 20 during the school budget vote from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the B-wing Gym at the high school.
Kimberly C. Talbot serves as the current Vice President of the Board of Education and is seeking a third term. A 23-year resident of Scotia, Mrs. Talbot is deeply involved in the community. She and her husband Joe have three sons: one attending Schenectady County Community College, one at Scotia-Glenville High School, and the youngest at Scotia-Glenville Middle School.
Mrs. Talbot is a respite worker at AIM Services, where she provides care and support to children with disabilities, helping their caregivers maintain routines and achieve a work-life balance. She studied elementary education at the Community College of Rhode Island’s Lincoln and Warwick campuses, with minors in music education and fine arts.
Mrs. Talbot co-founded The Fresh Table Pop-up Community Pantry in Scotia-Glenville and has been active in the PTA since 2009, including serving a term as president. She is a past president and current member of the Scotia Rotary Club, where she also serves as District Membership Chair and Rotary Zone Innovative Club Advocate. Her honors include the District 7190 Rotarian of the Year, the DeWitt Clinton Award, the PTA Founders Day Award, and recognition as one of 20 Outstanding Women.
Kristina N. Coughlin has been a Scotia resident for 13 years and is seeking her first term on the Board of Education. As a committed parent, she has two daughters–one attending Scotia-Glenville Middle School and another at Sacandaga Elementary School. Ms. Coughlin brings 25 years of experience in education and currently serves as the instructional coordinator at the North Greenbush Common School District. In this role, she oversees elementary and special education teachers, manages summer programs, and leads professional learning communities.
Her civic involvement includes serving as a Schenectady County Human Rights Commissioner and as a member of the Scotia-Glenville Superintendent’s DEI Advisory Council. She is also an active member of both the Sacandaga and Middle School PTAs.
Ms. Coughlin holds an associate degree in early childhood education, a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, and a master’s degree in special education. She also completed the Educational Administration Certification Program at The College of Saint Rose. Her state certifications include building and district leader, childhood and special education, and Title IX coordination and investigation.
Angela V. Piazza of Glenville is seeking her first term on the Board of Education. She and her husband, Nicholas, have lived in the district for 16 years and are parents to three daughters—one at Scotia-Glenville Middle School and two at Sacandaga Elementary School.
Mrs. Piazza has been a public school educator for 19 years and currently works as a speech-language pathologist at North Colonie Central Schools. She serves on the Committee on Special Education, where she conducts evaluations, provides individualized therapy, implements interventions, and collaborates with a multidisciplinary team. Her expertise includes child development, special education, and school culture. She also owns AVP Speech Therapy, through which she contracts with Schenectady County to provide services for preschool children.
She is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and maintains her state license and teaching certification through ongoing professional development.
A graduate of Schoharie Central School, Mrs. Piazza earned her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Cortland and completed her Master of Science in Education at The College of Saint Rose, focusing on communication sciences and disorders. Mrs. Piazza is actively involved in the PTA, serves her church community, and has coached girls soccer and basketball at the high school level.
Michael J. Torelli is a lifelong Scotia resident, a 1999 alumni, and is seeking a first term on the Board of Education. He and his wife, Susan, have three children: a son at Scotia-Glenville High School, a daughter at Scotia-Glenville Middle School, and another daughter at Lincoln Elementary School.
Mr. Torelli is the general manager and owner of Star Roofing, a full-service residential and commercial roofing contractor. He is also an Eagle Scout, reflecting his long-standing dedication to community service and leadership.
Mr. Torelli holds a degree in actuarial mathematics from the University at Albany. His civic involvement includes serving on the administrative council of the First Reformed Church of Scotia and coaching various youth sports, such as Junior Tartans football, basketball, lacrosse, and soccer. He also served on the board of 50 FC.
Through Star Roofing, he sponsors and supports local organizations such as St. Anne Institute, the Animal Protective Foundation, The Cure Foundation, and Albany Med Cares for Kids.