Ashley Lovell, Spring Valley educator, elected to East Ramapo school board in 2019

Ashley Lovell, elected in 2019 to the East Ramapo Central School District Board of Education, recounted her upbringing in Spring Valley and a career in early childhood education that included local awards and volunteer work.

Lovell said she was born in Rockland County to Natalie Lovell and Dan Powell and grew up in Spring Valley. She graduated from Ramapo High School in February 2012 and later entered early childhood education, working at learning centers across Rockland County.

Her work in child care was recognized in 2017 when she received the Rookie of the Year Award from Child Care Resources of Rockland County. Lovell said she volunteered with Unlocking Futures and served as a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rockland County. She described those roles as motivating factors in her decision to seek a seat on the East Ramapo Central School District Board of Education.

Lovell made history, she said, in 2019 when she became one of the youngest members elected to the East Ramapo school board. She graduated from Rockland Community College in 2020 and later earned both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Mercy University. The following year, she received a distinguished service award and a Champion of Education Award for work supporting students in East Ramapo.

The remarks in the transcript emphasize Lovell’s personal background — including raising her daughter, Madison — and community service as central to her candidacy and subsequent service on the school board. Details of the 2019 election vote totals or the board term length were not specified in the transcript.