L-R-City Council Majority Leader John Rubbo, YPS BOE President Dr. Rosalba Corrado Del Vecchio, Symra Brandon, Mayor Mike Spano
Mayor Mike Spano swore in former Yonkers City Councilmember and community leader Symra Brandon to the Yonkers Board of Education. As trustee of the Yonkers Board of Education, Brandon is part of a nine-member Board, which is the official policy making body of the School District.
Brandon brings a wealth of Government and Education experience to Yonkers Public Schools. At present, she is the Director of Community Affairs for New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
Brandon was the first African American woman to serve on the Yonkers City Council. During her service, she chaired the Council’s Education Committee and championed legislation to help and protect children, senior citizens, tenants, veterans and Gold Star families. Due to term limits, she completed her 12-year tenure in 2002.
Brandon was employed by the Westchester County Department of Social Services, Cornell University’s Family Life Development Center, UAW/General Motors Skills Transition Center, Westchester County Youth Bureau, where she served as Acting Director for the Youth Bureau, Office of Affirmative Action/EEO and Office for the Disabled.
She retired from Westchester County in 2006 from the position of Assistant to Westchester County Executive Andrew J. Spano/Director of the Office of African American Affairs.