Candidate Info for Cortland School Board
There are three (3) open positions this year on the Cortland Board of Education. There are two (2) three-year seats and one (1) two-year seat to fill an unexpired term.
There are four (4) candidates running for the three (3) seats:
Donald Chu
Brendan McGovern
Joseph McMahon
Gavin Teeter
Voters can vote for a maximum of three candidates. The two candidates with the most votes will receive the three-year seats, with the candidate receiving the third highest votes receiving the two-year seat.
I reached out via email to all four candidates asking for a brief bio and a statement as to why they were interested in running for the school board. I received information back from two candidates, and below is what they provided in their own words.
Voting on the school budget, propositions, and school board members is Tuesday, May 20 from 11 am to 8 pm at the Kaufman Center (Valley View Road, Cortland), Virgil Town Hall, and Cortlandville Municipal Garage.
Brendan McGovern
Bio
Brendan McGovern is an experienced educator, school board member, and lifelong advocate for public education. A proud Cortland resident and parent of a student in the district, Brendan brings over 20 years of experience in education, with a focus on student success, academic support, and program development. He currently serves as Program Coordinator in the Geography Department at Binghamton University, where he also teaches.
Brendan also serves as President of United University Professions (UUP) at Binghamton, representing nearly 3,000 faculty and professional staff. His leadership in UUP—the largest higher education union in the country—reflects his strong commitment to fairness, equity, and transparency in education.
He is active in community life as a member of the City of Cortland Planning Commission, and was appointed to the Cortland Enlarged City School District Board of Education in fall 2024.
Brendan McGovern is proudly endorsed by Cortland United Teachers and the AFL-CIO.
Why I’m Running
I’m running because I believe deeply in the power of public education to create opportunity and strengthen communities. As a parent, educator, and union leader, I’ve seen how vital it is to support our teachers, advocate for equitable funding, and ensure every student feels safe, seen, and supported. I want to continue bringing a collaborative, informed, and values-driven perspective to the board - one that listens to educators, centers students, and stands up for what public schools need to succeed.
Donald Chu
Bio
I grew up in New Rochelle just outside NYC and attended public school. Elementary school wasn’t easy, but I learned to enjoy reading, especially history. Junior high was mostly social, but high school was about getting into college.
Once I got to college, however, I struggled. It took me down a few notches. Working as an engineer was much more interesting. You got to be responsible for something working and actually had the time to understand it.
Marriage was a crash course in working as a team, and children gave me a chance to reconsider my own childhood. I was lucky with jobs. My last work was on weather and environmental satellites which gave me the chance to learn a variety of things.
After retiring to Cortland (my wife’s hometown), I’ve tried to participate in the community by volunteering in the schools, with the city and on the school board.
Why I’m Running
When I was in school, I thought that NY had the best schools because the Regents exams set rigid standards. I now believe that school’s purpose is to give kids good memories and prepare them for citizenship. Everyone doesn’t have to learn the same thing.
Common Core and No Child Left Behind were well-intentioned but prioritized the subject over the student. They shifted teaching from coaching and parenting to curriculum and record-keeping. I believe all people are self-taught but need guidance.
We need to give kids better memories. Teachers need time to care for them and freedom to teach what makes sense. All staff need to be heard and treated equally. When everyone wants to be in school, enrollment will grow, and we won’t have financial problems.
The current board is moving the district in the right direction, and I’d like to help them keep working toward those goals.
You can also view the Meet the Candidates forum hosted by the Cortland County League of Women Voters.