Staff & Support Contact Information

Andrew S. Cooke

Assistant Director for Technology and Innovative Strategies

Technology
Social Media
Listservs
Newsletter

Andrew S. Cooke is the Assistant Director for Technology and Innovative Strategies for the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS), having originally joined in 2012 as the association's first Technology Coordinator. In charge of all aspects of technology, Andrew has collaborated on creating the NYSAIS-Now platform, an internal association database, member engagement platforms, and the What's Happening @ NYSAIS newsletter, while also advising and advocating for technology education and independent schools.

Prior to NYSAIS, Andrew spent three years as a technology specialist in a public school district, followed by two years as the technology director and systems administrator for a municipal police department. A graduate of Binghamton University, he has been published in two educational journals on innovation in teaching and recently contributed to a university-level history textbook. Andrew has spent many years as a coach, small business owner, and board member, including a term as the fundraising chair for a non-profit in upstate NY dedicated to raising scholarship money for local students. A big sports fan, avid gardener, and accomplished floral designer, Andrew spends his free time with his wife and their three children enjoying the outdoors of the Hudson Valley.

Maria Flores Seibert

Administrative Coordinator for Communications and Operations

Communications
Operations
Exhibitor Showcases

Maria Flores Seibert has been the Administrative Coordinator for Communications and Operations for the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) since 2011. Prior to her work with NYSAIS, she was a teacher of English as a Second Language and English to Speakers of Other Languages. Maria earned her B.A. in English at SUNY Plattsburgh, and her M.S. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages at SUNY Albany.

Mark W. Lauria, Ph.D.

Executive Director

Dr. Mark W. Lauria has been the Executive Director for the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) since 2009. Prior to his work with NYSAIS, he served for 13 years as Head of School at a Southern California independent school. In addition to his work as a Head of School, he was the President of the Board of Trustees for the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS). Before beginning his independent school service, Dr. Lauria worked in the Ontario-Montclair School District where he was an assistant superintendent, director of certificated personnel, principal, assistant principal, and teacher. He is actively involved on non-profit boards currently serving as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) and the President of the Board of Trustees for the Cloud Forest School Foundation in Costa Rica. Dr. Lauria earned his B.A. in literature and psychology from Claremont McKenna College and his M.A. and Ph.D. in educational administration from Claremont Graduate University. He and his wife enjoy spending time with their grandchildren and traveling. They twice have walked on the Camino de Santiago in Spain with a third trip planned for summer 2017.

Judith Sheridan, Ph.D.

Associate Director for Evaulation and Accreditation

Evaluation and Accreditation
Experienced Leaders Advising Schools (ELAS)

Dr. Judith Sheridan began her work for NYSAIS in 2012 and has been the Associate Director for Evaluation and Accreditation since 2013. Prior to her work at NYSAIS, following a career in higher education, Judy was the High School Director of the Dalton School, and the Associate Director of the Putney School in Vermont, where she taught in the English departments. Additionally she was the Director of Columbia University’s School and Childcare Search Service.

She has facilitated workshops in Environmental Sustainability for NAIS, and has presented at a number of conferences, most recently about accreditation as a transformative process. Judy is the administrator of ELAS (Experienced Leaders Advising Schools), a NYSAIS program providing support for member schools. She has published articles on both educational and literary subjects. Dr. Sheridan earned a Ph.D. in English Literature from SUNY-Binghamton and holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in English Literature and History from the University of Rhode Island. She and her husband enjoy time with family, which now includes a grandson, as well as travel and tennis.

George Swain

Associate Director for Evaluation and Accreditation

Evaluation and Accreditation
NYSAIS-Now
Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI)

George Swain has been Associate Director for Evaluation and Accreditation since 2013. Before joining the NYSAIS staff, George served as Head of Middle School at both Poughkeepsie Day School and Brooklyn Friends School. He holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Anthropology from Earlham College and master's degrees in Educational Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University and in History from Binghamton University. He has received both the Klingenstein and NAIS/EE Ford Fellowships and is currently deepening his understanding of non-profit governance by serving as chair of the Personnel Committee on his synagogue's Board of Directors.

In addition to his work with schools, George enjoys endurance cycling and traveling the world with his wife and two children. He also blogs and writes a regular column for a national endurance cycling journal.

Barbara B. Swanson

Associate Director for Professional Development

Professional Learning
Conferences / Workshops
Conference Planning Committees

Barbara B. Swanson became the first Associate Director for Professional Development at NYSAIS in 1983. Prior to joining NYSAIS she was a product tester and trainer for a small software distributor in New York City. After she received her BA in Art History and MA in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, she became the slide librarian for the Art History Department, and then a public librarian in Altadena California. Born and raised in Hawaii, she has also lived in Texas, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, California, Scotland, New York, and Tennessee. A passionate traveller, she currently lives in the Catskills where she enjoys the spectacular scenery, warm friendships and visits from her family.

Diana Wahrlich

Chief Financial Officer

Finances / Operations / HR
Billing
Refunds

Diana Wahrlich is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the New York State Association of Independent Schools and has been employed by NYSAIS since 2010. She brings with her 36 years of experience in business administration, human resources, financial operations, grant administration, along with budget and strategic planning. As a graduate from The College of St. Rose in Albany, New York she was previously employed by TCD of NY, LLC, Hinman Straub, PC, Attorneys At Law, IEM, Inc. and Slocum & DeAngelis, CPA. She also managed and operated her own family business. She is a member of The National Business Officers Association (NBOA) and attends their Annual Meeting every year. Along with Diana, her husband and two sons are very accomplished musicians and currently perform locally and nationally. The family enjoys their favorite time at the lake, waterskiing, swimming, boating, and just enjoying nature and mountains at their finest.