Lakeland RISE is thrilled to offer its endorsement to Tracy, a three-decade education professional and Lakeland mom!
Tracy Sadler Hormazabal is a Bronx native and resident of Yorktown, N.Y. She is the proud parent of two children – a Lakeland graduate attending college and a junior in high school. She has been a teacher for 32 years with a focus on Special Education, Deaf Education, and Reading. She is a graduate of SUNY Binghamton and earned a master’s degree in Deaf education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Tracy is an active disciple of a Baptist church in Harlem and a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
Tracy was inspired to pursue a teaching career by her hard of hearing cousin who did not receive the proper resources to thrive as a student, especially when it came to reading. As a teacher and advocate, Tracy is determined to help Deaf and hard of hearing students excel and be the best versions of themselves. She is keenly aware of the struggles all students face, especially related to peer pressure, social media, and global uncertainty.
And as a teacher, Tracy understands the unique challenges facing education professionals. She’s committed to supporting them as they navigate a rapidly changing world that requires a constant evolution of curriculum and teaching practices.
If elected, Tracy would continue to champion Lakeland’s commitment to the whole child. She’s experienced first-hand the benefits of a strong education combined with a robust extra curricula program. As a sports Mom, Tracy has seen the positive impacts of being part of a team. As a reading specialist, she knows how important creativity is to child development – whether its art, writing, theater or any artistic endeavor.
Tracy also recognizes the fiscal challenges the district faces with rising costs and mandates such as the conversion to electric buses. She is eager to help the administration responsibly manage the district’s budget through these circumstances while retaining the highest level of programming for students.
As a district parent and taxpayer, Tracy would like to see the board do more to educate the public about its role in the school community. If given a seat at the table, she hopes to encourage greater transparency from the board. She believes it can do more to inform the public about what is being voted on and where each trustee stands on important issues impacting students, teachers, and staff. She also would put her expertise as an educator to work, especially when it comes to understanding curriculum and advocating for teachers with fresh perspectives. This includes supporting school librarians and classroom teachers looking to incorporate more contemporary reading materials.
Tracy’s expertise as a special education professional, along with her experience as a current district parent, will bring a fresh perspective to the board. She hopes to give back to a community that has supported her family for the past 17 years and counting. She plans to do this by focusing on keeping the discipline of “education” at the heart of the board of education.