A couple of weeks ago my friend, Michael Glickman, shared with me that he was running for a seat on the Great Neck Public School’s Board of Education. I was excited to learn of Michael’s interest in stepping into a greater leadership role in our community.
I have known Michael and his family for years through our numerous mutual friends, our respective children’s participation in the Great Neck Soccer Club and his other community involvements, including as president of the board of the Gold Coast Arts Center.
Michael is a committed husband and father of three engaging children who have been enrolled in our schools for over eight years. His youngest child is still in elementary school, meaning his connections to GNPS is strong, and will continue for years to come.
Professionally, Michael is a not-for-profit executive with over twenty years of experience leading community-focused, educational institutions. In this capacity, he has spent decades working with leadership and advisory boards, hiring and supervising professional and voluntary staffs, developing and analyzing financial budgets and projections, and evaluating and managing contractors. Michael has accomplished this all while continually keeping his finger on the pulse of his constituents and consumers.
From the perspective of navigating divergent priorities of different constituent groups, Michael is amongst the most experienced professionals living in our district. These are precisely the skills necessary for success as a member of the Board of Education.
Personally, I know Michael as a loyal friend who finds ways to help his community and those in his network. I witnessed his enthusiasm as he facilitated for high school students researching and developing a marketing and expansion plan for the Gold Coast Arts Center.
His excitement was palpable when that student project placed top three in a New York state-wide competition, immediately asking for the plan to be shared with the board and professional staff of the arts center. Michael was also the first parent to offer to step in to assist when one of our local youth soccer teams experienced an unexpected void after a long-time coach stepped away from the program. This is exactly what community leadership looks like.
He is a fierce advocate and an outspoken voice unwilling to sweep controversial issues under the rug. I have little doubt that he will transparently seek effective solutions to the challenges facing our schools.
Michael is one of those people you want in your corner and, I expect, the families and children of our district will appreciate his voice and support as a member of the Board of Education.
As our community and school district recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, our schools need more committed parents, dedicated and community-focused representatives, and experienced, forward-thinking leaders like Michael.
Andrew J. Bloom
Great Neck
