Georgia Asciutto Named Director of Senate Education Committee

On Monday, February 4th, State Senator Shelley B. Mayer (SD-37, Westchester) announced that Georgia M. Asciutto will serve as the Committee Director for the State Senate Committee on Education. Ms. Asciutto has over 35 years of experience in New York State education finance, advocacy, and research with comprehensive knowledge of schools throughout the state.

Ms. Asciutto served as the Executive Director of the Conference of Big 5 School Districts for nearly 25 years. In this role, Ms. Asciutto served as the lead advocate for New York State’s largest urban school districts: Buffalo Public Schools, New York City Department of Education, Rochester City School District, Syracuse City School District, and Yonkers Public Schools. Together they represent almost 45% of the state’s public school students. Ms. Asciutto served as the lead liaison between the Big 5 school districts and the State Legislature, Governor’s Office, Division of the Budget, various state agencies and departments, as well as the federal government, agencies, and departments.

Prior to her role with the Big 5, Ms. Asciutto served as the Acting Director of the Legislative Office for the New York City Board of Education from 1991 to 1994; a Governmental Relations Representative for the New York State School Boards Association from 1988 to 1991; and from 1981 to 1988, she held various positions within the New York State Legislature including as an Education Committee Associate for the State Assembly Education Committee. Ms. Asciutto's career in government began in 1981 during her last semester of college with a Legislative Internship for the State Senate Democratic Conference. She was hired for the remainder of the legislative session upon completing her B.A. in Political Science from SUNY New Paltz. Ms. Asciutto also holds an M.A. in Communication from the University at Albany.

“I am thrilled to welcome Georgia Asciutto as the Committee Director of the State Senate Education Committee,” said State Senator Shelley B. Mayer. “Georgia’s extensive experience is a tremendous asset to the Education Committee. Her strong commitment to children and to public education and her extraordinary command of the issues will inform the committee’s work as we press to secure the funding and policies school districts require to provide a quality education for every child. I have known Georgia for many years, and I have had the pleasure of working with her to deliver for New York State public school children. Georgia is knowledgeable, purposeful, and will help the committee deliver for urban, suburban, and rural school districts throughout New York State.”

“I am honored to be selected by Senator Shelley Mayer to serve as the Education Committee Director," said Georgia M. Asciutto. "I look forward to bringing my prior experience to Senator Mayer's longstanding dedication and commitment to public education and to working together to promote the needs of public school children throughout the state."

Ms. Asciutto started her first day with the State Senate Education Committee on Monday, February 4, 2019.