On May 19, East Hampton School District voters will elect two members to the school board, and vote on the budget for the 2026-227 school year, as well as three bond propositions. The school board has seven members, each serving a three-year term from July 1 through June 30, with elections staggered so not all seats are contested at once. This year, the incumbents Emily Agnello and John Ryan Sr. are seeking re-election and Kimberly Sarris Royal is running for one of the two available seats.
The school board elections are May 19 from 1 to 8 p.m. in the district office at 2 Long Lane. Absentee ballots will also be available.
The Star asked each of the three candidates to answer four questions about their candidacy. Here are their responses; some have been trimmed, but they are otherwise unaltered.
Emily Agnello
1. Why are you running for re-election to the school board?
If given another term and the bond is passed, I look forward to seeing the many projects that we’ve worked hard to plan through to a successful completion. I would also want to focus on expanding opportunities for students — whether that’s academic programs, career pathways, or mental health support — while continuing to support our teachers and ensure long-term financial stability.
I believe the board does well in maintaining a strong focus on student achievement and fiscal responsibility. We’ve built a culture of collaboration and transparency, and we’ve stayed committed to listening to families, staff, and the broader community.
That said, there’s always room to improve. I think we can continue strengthening communication and engagement — making sure all voices feel heard and understood. We can also keep refining how we measure success so we’re not just meeting standards, but exceeding them in meaningful ways.
2. What are your proudest achievements of your last term?
Over my tenure, I’m most proud of helping move our district forward in ways that directly impact students — strengthening academic outcomes, supporting and retaining high-quality teachers, and ensuring responsible budgeting that prioritizes classrooms. I’ve worked collaboratively to make thoughtful decisions, even when they were difficult, always with students’ long-term success in mind. In the last year of my term, I really focused on the upcoming bond. Meeting with students, teachers, coaches, P.T.A. committees, and members of the community to see what it is we need most in this bond. Additionally, working to add a proposal for a school-run swimming pool, for the community to vote on, along with the bond on May 19.
3. Why should voters re-elect you?
What makes me the best choice is my experience, my commitment to thoughtful, balanced decision-making, and my willingness to listen. I take pride in being accessible to parents, teachers, and students alike. Whether at a sporting event, fund-raiser, or school function, I want community members to feel comfortable approaching me with their concerns, knowing I will listen thoughtfully and work to address issues in a timely and responsible manner. I approach this role with a focus on what’s best for all students, not short-term pressures or personal agendas.
4. Anything else you’d like voters to know about you?
Finally, I’d just add that I care deeply about this community and its schools. I’m committed to doing the work, asking the hard questions, and helping move us forward together.
I’m a proud parent of two children in our school district — a seventh-grade daughter in the middle school and a third-grade son in the elementary school — so I see firsthand the impact our schools have at every stage of a child’s growth. As a Bonac alum, my connection to this community runs deep. I’m committed not only to supporting our schools today, but to helping shape a strong, vibrant future for the next generation.
Kimberly Sarris Royal
1. Why are you running for election to the school board?
This community really shaped who I am, so it feels meaningful to answer this. I grew up in East Hampton and went through the school system here, and from a young age I knew I wanted to come back and be part of it as an educator. There’s something special about growing up here, people take care of each other, and that stays with you.
I’m running because of that connection and because I feel ready to give back in a more meaningful way. Now, as both a teacher and a parent, I’ve had the opportunity to see all of our schools from multiple perspectives, and that matters.
This decision is grounded in that lived experience. I understand how decisions made at the board level impact not just classrooms, but families as well. I also carry an awareness of the different realities people in this community are navigating, including families on fixed incomes and middle-class locals like many of my own relatives. I think it’s important to have representation on the board that understands both how schools operate and what families are experiencing day to day.
2. What do you hope to achieve on the board?
I wouldn’t say I’m approaching this opportunity with a specific list of hopeful achievements, but rather a mind-set I hope to contribute. I believe strongly in keeping students at the center of every decision and supporting them not just academically, but in their development as well-rounded individuals.
I care deeply about maintaining strong instruction, supporting students’ social-emotional growth, and continuing to strengthen communication between schools and families. In my work with multilingual learners and Spanish-speaking families, I’ve seen how important it is that communication is clear, inclusive, and accessible.
I also bring a clear understanding of a school board’s role and responsibilities. In the coming years, I think it will be especially important to support the administration as the district welcomes a new athletic director. These transitions matter; they shape school culture and direction, and it’s important that new leaders are supported in a way that builds on what is already working well.
At the same time, I believe strongly in fiscal responsibility. We have to balance providing meaningful opportunities for students with being mindful of the financial realities families are facing. Too often, we see people being priced out of our community, and that’s something that should always be part of the conversation as decisions are made.
Over all, I would hope to contribute in a way that is thoughtful, balanced, and grounded in both what’s best for students and what’s sustainable for the community.
3. Why should voters elect you?
I bring a perspective that is rooted in this community and grounded in experience. I’ve lived here as a student, worked here as an educator, and now have a child in the district. That full-circle connection gives me a deep understanding of how schools function and how decisions affect families.
I’ve also had the opportunity to teach in a variety of settings, which has broadened my perspective while reinforcing what makes East Hampton special. My work with multilingual learners and diverse families has shaped how I think about communication, inclusion, and access. Above all, I approach this with respect for the work that’s already been done and a genuine commitment to contributing in a thoughtful, balanced way.
4. Anything else you’d like voters to know about you?
I’ve been a teacher in this community for much of my career, beginning here and ultimately returning after spending time teaching in other locations as my family relocated during my husband’s Coast Guard service. I earned my degree from SUNY Geneseo, including a B.A. in Spanish, and hold New York State certifications in elementary education, special education, and TESOL [Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages]. I’ve also continued my professional growth through advanced studies and National Board Certification work. Public schools have been a constant in my life, as a student, an educator, and now as a parent. That long-term connection has shaped how I think about this work. It’s not just about systems or policies, it’s about people, relationships, and doing right by kids.
In addition to teaching, I started a small photography business when my daughter was born, which allowed me to connect with many families in the community in a different way. While education has always been my primary focus, that experience deepened my understanding of the people who make up this community.
As a parent of a freshman at East Hampton High School, I’m deeply invested in what our schools offer students. What stands out to me most are the moments where the district celebrates its kids, recognizing not just achievement, but growth, character, and effort. That sense of care and connection is something I value deeply and would carry with me in this role.
John Ryan Sr.
1. Why are you running for re-election to the school board?
I am an experienced board of education member, serving on the East Hampton School Board for a total of 28-plus years from 1993 to 2011 and 2016 to 2026.
I believe I can be an asset to our school district because of my unique background, my proven leadership, and my commitment to our wonderful community.
2. What are your proudest achievements of your time on the board?
I am very proud of what our school is now and I believe it does a wonderful job of meeting the needs of its students. But our school board will continue to look to make our school better to meet those needs with the help of the community, parents, students, staff, and administration.
3. Why should voters re-elect you?
There are many educational issues which I am passionate about in our school district. This is a challenging time in education. I will make every effort to support our district, staff, and community to ensure that East Hampton U.F.S.D. continues to be a leader in meeting the challenges of educating the children of our community.
I will continue to encourage our district to hire school staff who live locally and thus become an integral part of our community. I believe we can save valuable taxpayer money by addressing budgetary issues. As a mathematician, a longstanding member of the community, a former teacher in the district, and experienced board member, I understand our unique budgetary issues. I will continue to encourage open dialogue in the educational community between the school board, administration, staff, parents, and students.
4. Anything else you’d like voters to know about you?
I am the patriarch of the East Hampton Ryan family. There are 50-plus Ryan family members, almost all of whom have attended, or currently attend, our wonderful schools in East Hampton Town.
I am a veteran. I served my country in the United States Army, where I learned to be disciplined and to take direction. After leaving the Army, I worked to earn degrees from St. John’s University (B.B.A.), and University of California, Fresno (M.A. in mathematics). With these degrees, I was hired as a teacher of mathematics and computer, working for 28 years total in public education: four years in Westhampton Beach U.F.S.D. and 24 years in East Hampton U.F.S.D.
From its inception I’ve been involved with the Y.M.C.A. East Hampton RECenter. First, working on fund-raising and concepts for ways the facility might service the community, then the building and designing of the aquatic center. I have served on the board of managers at the Y.M.C.A. RECenter for 30-plus years.
I understand the meaning of service and commitment. I am a “lifeguard for life,” first becoming certified as a teen, and holding that certification for 70 years. I eventually became a lifeguard trainer/examiner and continued to pass on my love of working with others and serving my community by protecting our waterfront township. Holding the position of East Hampton Town lifeguard coordinator for 37-plus years has enabled me to be instrumental in the growth of many swimming and lifesaving groups including the stillwater and ocean lifeguard program, the junior lifeguard program, the Nipper training program, East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue, East Hampton Y.M.C.A. Hurricanes swim team, East Hampton High School boys and girls swim teams, and the Y.M.C.A. in-school swim program (involving 11 grade schools from Tuckahoe to Montauk).
I also have the privilege of managing the Amagansett Beach Association for 38 years, which is a wonderful beach club facility owned by its 95 family members.
I have proudly served my community as an active member of the East Hampton Village Ambulance Association for 34 years before retiring.