A first-time candidate will be the only name on the ballot for a seat on the Manhasset School District Board in the 2026 election, after longtime Board President Ted Post did not file for re-election by the April 20 deadline.

Jenna Rizzo, a 40-year-old mother of three and former elementary school teacher, said she did not expect to learn she would be running unopposed. “It is surprising that no one else is running,” she said, noting that recent school board races in Manhasset have typically drawn multiple candidates.

The reason for Post’s decision not to seek another term remains unclear. The district and Post did not respond to requests for comment.

Rizzo, who moved to Manhasset in 2017, has three daughters in the district—one in middle school and two at Munsey Park Elementary School. Over the past two years, she has served as president of the Munsey Park School Community Association , where she oversaw fundraising efforts and coordinated parent-led programs that support student enrichment.

“That experience really gave me an appreciation for the community and the people working with our children every day,” Rizzo said. “I’m grateful for the time I had in that role, and I’m ready to take on a different one.”

Before becoming a stay-at-home parent, Rizzo worked as an elementary school teacher in Great Neck and Herricks, teaching both second and fifth grade. She holds a master’s degree in special education and said she hopes that background will inform her approach if elected.

Her campaign platform centers on continuing the work of the current board while maintaining a forward-looking mindset. “Education is always changing,” she said. “It’s about making sure we’re not becoming complacent, looking at what’s working, and asking what else we can do better.”

Rizzo pointed to ongoing efforts in special education as an area she would like to see continue to develop, but emphasized that decision-making on issues such as budgeting and programming should remain collaborative.

“I don’t want to come in with a set agenda,” she said. “The board works together on those decisions.”

Growing up in Commack, Rizzo and her husband, now a stock trader, have been together since high school. Today, she is a busy mother of three daughters and embraces what she calls the life of a typical “girl mom,” juggling school, sports and activities that fill their schedule year-round.

Source: LI Press