Board of Education

Current Term: July 2025-June 2028

Dawn Sharrock is a proud resident of Middle Country for more than 20 years.  She and her husband, Ron, are raising two daughters.  Their eldest is a Newfield graduate and is now attending college, and their youngest is a senior at Newfield High School.  In May 2016, Dawn was elected as trustee to the Board of Education and has been Board President since July 2022.  Dawn is the chairperson of the Legislative/Community Outreach Committee, which actively advocates for equitable funding for the District and our students’ safety.  The Legislative/Community Outreach committee effectively advocated for legislation that lead to the installation of cameras on school buses for the purpose of detecting and recording vehicles illegally passing school buses.  Dawn also serves as the chairperson of the Audit and Communications Committees.  Since 2019, Dawn has been an executive board member of the Nassau-Suffolk School Board Association and is currently the chairperson of their Legislative Committee.  Dawn is knowledgeable about current educational issues and the state aid challenges that Middle Country faces.  Dawn’s goal is to ensure that our students receive the best education while remaining fiscally responsible to local taxpayers.

Current Term: July 2025-June 2028

Robert Feeney and his wife, Roberta, have been residents of the Middle Country School District for more than 50 years. Mr. Feeney’s two children are graduates of Centereach High School. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in Government, and advanced degrees from S.U.N.Y. at Stony Brook and St. John’s University. Mr. Feeney is a retired high school principal serving in that capacity for twenty years.  He has served on the Middle Country Board of Education from 2013 to present, and previously from 1989-1992 and from 1993-1996.  Mr. Feeney currently serves as the chairperson of the Educational Advancement Commission, which has implemented many academic changes for the students of Middle Country, including extended math classes from grades 6-10, an increased year of high school science, and a capstone project required for graduates of the class of 2024.  He is, also, on the Policy Committee, the Evaluation Committee and the Communications Committee. He volunteers as an advisor to the New York State Youth and Government Program. 

Current Term: July 2024-June 2027

Arlene has been a resident of the Middle Country community for over forty-five years. Her two children and their spouses are all Middle Country graduates; and two of her five grandchildren are currently attending Middle Country schools. Arlene has been committed to education for 36 years, employed as a school secretary, teacher aide, and special education teaching assistant with Eastern Suffolk BOCES. She has lobbied for education in Albany and in Washington, DC. Arlene's retirement took place in June, 2006, but serving on the Board of Education allows her to continue her commitment to education. Arlene's service to the community includes PTA and other school-related committees, religious instruction, Brownies and Girl Scouts. During the past three years as a board trustee, she has chaired and served on the Audit, Legislative/Community Outreach, Bond, Evaluation, Food Services Advisory, Business Advisory Board and Safe Schools Committees. Arlene also serves as a board trustee for Eastern Suffolk BOCES.

Current Term: July 2026-June 2029

Gina Cutillo-Siegelbaum is a lifelong Middle Country resident and graduate with deep generational ties to the community and its schools. A parent of a child in the District, she brings 16 years of management experience and a strong background in leadership, marketing, and team development. Gina has helped grow the Middle Country Baseball League and has years of coaching experience, reflecting her commitment to youth development. She is focused on strengthening partnerships between schools and families, supporting school staff, and expanding student opportunities. 

Current Term: July 2024-June 2027

John DeBenedetto has been a Middle Country resident for the majority of his life. He graduated from Newfield High School in 1990. He graduated from Stony Brook University with a B. S. in Biology and a minor in Business Management. His Master's degree is in Elementary Education from Dowling College and his post-master degree from Queens College is in School Administration. John has three children, two currently attend Hawkins Path Elementary and one in college. John and his wife, Kristin, currently live in Selden. John has been in education for over twenty-seven years and currently volunteers for the local Cub Scouts troop and coaches at the little league level. 

Current Term: July 2024-June 2027

Denise is a 43-year resident of Middle Country.  She and her husband, Tim, are the proud parents of four Centereach High School graduates and the blessed grandparents of eight.  Denise has held several volunteer positions within the Middle Country community including PTA president of Oxhead Road Elementary School and Dawnwood Middle School, two terms as a trustee and president of the Middle Country Library Board and a previous term as a member of the Middle Country Central School District Board of Trustees.  Her experience in higher education affords Denise a unique and important perspective - one that will help ensure that Middle Country graduates are well prepared for the next step in their academic journey.

Current Term: July 2025-June 2028

Robert is a husband and father of three young children and a Middle Country resident.  Robert graduated from Suffolk Community College in Selden and St. John's University with a Bachelor’s in Legal Studies.  Robert is a Police Officer for the City of New York.  He loves being able to help the community he works in.  Robert's commitment to community service includes diverse volunteer experiences from assisting clients with disabilities to helping our veterans. Participation in these types of programs gives him a unique understanding of some of the many issues our neighbors are confronted with daily.  Since becoming a father, his interest in our community, its functions and specifically the Middle Country Central School District has become a passion.  Given his background and experiences he believes he can be a catalyst to unify the many diverse opinions while maintaining a middle ground for the best interest of our residents, students, teachers, and staff.

Current Term: July 2026-June 2029

Nicole Peterson is a lifelong Middle Country resident and retired educator who dedicated 31 years to serving the District’s students and families. Her deep understanding of classroom needs drives her commitment to ensuring resources directly support student learning. Nicole has demonstrated strong leadership as coordinator of the Middle Country Continuing and Community Education Program, a department chairperson, team leader, and advisor to student organizations. She is a passionate advocate for small class sizes, early literacy, and meaningful academic support for all learners.

Current Term: May 2026-June 2029

Joseph Sitler brings over 30 years of public education experience as a teacher and leader of large-scale student programs in the Brentwood School District. A Middle Country resident since 2003, he is deeply invested in the community as both a parent and educator. He has two sons who graduated from Newfield High School and two sons attending Middle Country schools. Joseph is committed to strengthening academics, expanding opportunities in music, arts, and athletics, and supporting all school employees for student success. Known for collaborative leadership, thoughtful decision-making, and transparency, he brings a steady, studentfirst approach to serving Middle Country families.

Current Term:  July 2026 - June 2027

Sophie Chen is excited to represent the student voices of Newfield High School.  She serves as the Orchestra Representative for the Tri-M Honor Society, Co-President of DECA, Treasurer of the Varsity Leaders Club, and a member of the Middle Country Ad Hoc Legislative Committee. A talented musician, she plays violin for Newfield’s Chamber, Pit, and Philharmonic Orchestras, as well as the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of NY. She is equally competitive in athletics as a member of both the Varsity Field Hockey and Varsity Fencing teams; as a fencer, she is a two-time annual County Champion and was named Newsday’s Fencer of the Year for 2026.  During her term, she hopes to unify the diverse perspectives at Newfield High School by leveraging her involvement in varying extracurricular activities. Her goal is to prioritize and support the satisfaction and well-being of all the students in the Middle Country community.

Current Term:  July 2026 - June 2027

Liam McCarthy is a senior at Centereach High School. Liam is a dedicated member of the National, Spanish, and Tri-M Music Honor Societies. He also serves on the Middle Country Ad Hoc Legislative Committee and performs in his school's jazz band. Active in athletics, Liam is the team captain of the Middle Country Varsity Golf team and president of the local Centereach Pickleball Club.

Stephanie and her husband, Gerard have been residents of Middle Country Central School District for more than 30 years. They have three children, all of whom are graduates of Newfield High School. Prior to her appointment as District Clerk, Stephanie was Administrative Assistant to the Associate VP for Nursing at John T. Mather Memorial Hospital. Subsequent, and for more than 18 years, Stephanie was a Legal Assistant at two prominent Long Island law firms, where she gained a tremendous amount of experience in various types of law. Prior, Stephanie worked in Manhattan as a Legal Secretary for one of the largest New York law firms. Stephanie was an extremely active member of the Middle Country PTA and PTSA, and held numerous board positions and organized a multitude of events and fundraisers. She is a recipient of the NYS PTA Honorary Life Membership (Jenkins), the NYS PTA Distinguished Service and the NYS PTA Diamond Awards. In July 2020, Stephanie accepted the appointment of vice president of the Selden Civic Association. Stephanie is very proud to be part of the Middle Country family and community.