The City of Poughkeepsie’s Chamberlain and a former Krieger Elementary School nurse are filling the two open seats on the Poughkeepsie City School District’s Board of Education.
The Board appointed Jamar Cummings and Naomi Flinchum-Marquez at the beginning of Wednesday’s meeting, following an extensive search in which many submitted applications to serve and were interviewed.
The pair take the seats that were vacated by Hon. Thomas O’Neill and Kelleyann Royce-Giron; both stepped down in early July for unrelated reasons.
Cummings and Flinchum-Marquez will serve on the Board until the general election on May 19, 2026; both will be eligible to run for election. Three seats will be on that ballot: the one occupied by Board President Bob Creedon; O’Neill’s seat, with his term set to expire June 30, 2026; and the balance of Royce-Giron’s term, which is to expire June 30, 2027.
A video of the meeting is available on the district’s YouTube page.
A Poughkeepsie High School graduate and native of the city, Cummings graduated Marist College in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in History and American Studies. When he was named to the role in June 2024, he became the first Black man to be named chamberlain in the city’s history. In that role, he oversees the administrative and operational functions of the city clerk’s office, acts as parliamentarian for the Common Council, and collaborates with other government officials and stakeholders.
In his letter to the Board expressing interest in serving, Cummings said he is “deeply committed to giving back” to the city.
“I believe a strong school board is one that listens, acts with integrity and remains accountable to the entire community,” he said. “I will advocate for transparent fiscal stewardship, inclusive policy development and a supportive educational environment for all students, especially those who face systemic barriers to success.”
Flinchum-Marquez is a registered professional nurse who, from January 2024 to this summer, was the school nurse at Krieger. She’s earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Georgetown University, an associate of applied science nursing degree from Dutchess Community College, a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing from the University of Michigan, and a certification of professional achievement in narrative medicine from Columbia University, among other educational achievements.
For the district, she is treasurer for Krieger Elementary’s PTA and is a member of the Parent and Community Engagement Committee.
Flinchum-Marquez, in her cover letter to the Board, said she “would aim to be a thoughtful, mission-driven presence on the board, working to strengthen trust, elevate equity and ensure every child has access to a safe and thriving school environment” in the role.
“I am deeply committed to the success and wellbeing of the students and families of the Poughkeepsie City School District,” she wrote. “I bring both institutional knowledge and a fresh perspective. I believe that effective governance requires collaboration, humility and a willingness to ask hard questions in service of better outcomes for all.”