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New York State Regent Frances Wills emphasizes advocacy for East Ramapo families
Summary
A presentation at a meeting outlined Dr. Frances Wills’s decades-long education career and her advocacy for parents and students in the East Ramapo Central School District (Spring Valley).
Dr. Frances Wills, a New York State Regent, was the subject of a biographical presentation at a meeting that summarized her career in education and her advocacy for families in the East Ramapo Central School District (Spring Valley).
Wills’s biography presented that she was born in the Bronx to David and Thelma Shipp, graduated from Hunter College High School in 1959 and earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Hunter College in 1964. She later earned a master’s degree in Russian literature from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of Wisconsin.
The presentation said Wills has been a teacher since 1968. She taught English for nine years in Massachusetts and Maine, then served as a school counselor, assistant principal and principal for eight years. She later served as a district superintendent for 26 years in both Maine and New York, and she has taught graduate students.
According to the presentation, Wills co-chairs a regional cultural arts committee and a state aid subcommittee. The biography said she has been a vocal supporter of parents and students in East Ramapo, arranging site visits from Chancellor Lester Young and Commissioner Betty Rosa to hear parents’ concerns firsthand.
The presentation described East Ramapo as once being among the top school districts in New York and said it has since "fallen behind," noting Wills’s efforts to bring attention to the district’s issues. The account credited her work as continuing the legacy of Judith Johnson and included personal details: she is married to Tom, a retired RN and social worker; her three children are Serge, Fern and Shail; and she has three grandchildren named Noah, Lily and Gavin.
The presentation did not specify particular policy actions or votes tied to Wills’s advocacy. It noted her ongoing committee roles and advocacy outreach as the primary means she has used to support families in East Ramapo.
Wills’s biography as presented highlighted a long career in K‑12 administration, involvement in arts and state aid work, and stated advocacy for East Ramapo families as a continuing focus of her work.
