The Members of the Board of Education
Peter McNally, BOE President
Peter McNally was first elected to the Board of Education in 2019. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education, a Master of Science degree in educational technology and a professional certificate in educational leadership and administration, all from LIU Post. Mr. McNally has been a technology education teacher for the past 18 years. He currently works in the Lynbrook School District, where he is the head track and field coach as well as the cross-country coach. Mr. McNally feels that a school board member should be a good listener and put the needs of the students above everything. He wholeheartedly feels that every stakeholder needs to be treated with kindness and respect and show the same towards others. When that happens, true positive change that benefits our children can take place. Mr. McNally is an avid runner, golfer and tennis player. He resides in East Rockaway with his wife and two children, who attend East Rockaway schools.
Joseph Kilgus, BOE Vice President
Joseph Kilgus was elected as a Board of Education member in 2020. He is an East Rockaway Junior-Senior High School 2001 alumnus and graduated from SUNY Empire State College in 2006 with an associate degree. Within the same year, he also completed his apprentice training from the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. School for Labor Studies. Mr. Kilgus has been a member of the Local Union No. 3 for 19 years, where he works as a general foreman. His day-to-day leadership responsibilities, along with his mindset in creative thinking, teamwork and problem-solving, are all skills that make him a good asset as a Board member. His goals include helping lower the tax burden by doing more with less and to assist in the continuation of a safe and secure environment for the schools. As a lifelong East Rockaway resident and a volunteer coach for the East Rockaway Raiders Football program, Mr. Kilgus is proud to be part of the community. Being a member of the Board is his way of giving back. He lives with his wife and three children, who attend East Rockaway schools.
Dominick Vulpis, BOE Trustee
516-650-9644
Dominick Vulpis was first elected to the Board of Education in 2018. He holds a certificate in education administration from the College of Staten Island, a Master of Science degree in physiology of exercise from Queens College and a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Brooklyn College.
Mr. Vulpis is assistant executive director for Section VIII Athletics servicing all Nassau County school districts. Prior to retaining that position, he was as an educator for 39 years, including serving as the East Rockaway School District athletic director for 22 years. In his role as a Board member, Mr. Vulpis looks forward to continuing to increase opportunities that foster academic, social and emotional achievement for all students. He realizes the importance of the continued use of technology inside and outside the classroom to propel student learning. He is also committed to working with community stakeholders in a transparent environment that will foster family and community engagement and promote social and emotional learning.
Mr. Vulpis is very active in the East Rockaway community. He’s a member of East Rockaway Recreation, Kiwanis Club and Knights of Columbus. In addition, he is a parishioner at St. Raymond’s Church and serves as a eucharistic minister. He also participates in the district’s Prevention Task Force, Health & Safety Committee and helped author its NARCAN policy.
Mr. Vuplis and his wife Kathleen have lived in East Rockaway since 2002. The pair has been married for 36 years. They have three children, Dominick, Kerrianne and Marykate, all of whom graduated from the East Rockaway School District.
Daniel DeMatteo, BOE Trustee
Daniel DeMatteo was elected as a Board of Education member in 2020. He graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2002 with an associate degree in applied sciences: menswear design. A 1999 East Rockaway Junior-Senior High School alumnus, Mr. DeMatteo has owned his own fashion business since 2005. In addition, he has been a global menswear designer and manufacturer for more than 20 years and is a professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology. With this experience, the skills he plans to bring to the Board include financial intelligence, risk mitigation and leadership. His primary goal as a Board member is to help implement a safe and secure COVID-19 reentry strategy, while also continuing to preserve social and emotional support for students and families. Along with his profession, Mr. DeMatteo is a volunteer coach for the East Rockaway Raiders Football program. He lives with his wife and two children, who attend East Rockaway schools. As a lifelong East Rockaway resident, he wants to use this opportunity as district Board member to give back to the community.
Michael Motherway, BOE Trustee
Michael Motherway was elected to the Board of Education in May 2022 for a three-year term beginning July 1. He graduated from East Rockaway Junior-Senior High School in 1996. Mr. Motherway has worked for the Lynbrook UFSD since 2007. He was promoted to custodian in 2014 and then promoted to head custodian in 2021. His out-of-the-box thinking, creativity and problem-solving ideas have helped to enhance and enrich his school’s learning environment. Mr. Motherway’s natural leadership style and approachability have helped to foster productive relationships among staff in his school. His goals as a Board member include expanding our district’s ability to fulfill the needs of special-needs students.
Mr. Motherway was born and raised in East Rockaway and donates his time as head coach for the Lynbrook East Rockaway Little League. Being a member of the Board will allow him to continue his family’s tradition of service to the community he loves. He lives in East Rockaway with his wife Amanda and daughters Avery and Camden, who will both be attending Rhame Avenue Elementary School for the 2022-23 school year.
Nereyda Amaya-Moran, District Clerk
887-8300 ext. 433