Meet our Team

Kelly Smith (President) -I am a proud wife to her husband, Josh, of 19 years and a devoted mother to their 11-year-old daughter, Emma, who is entering the 6th grade at Kinry Road Elementary. I work as a teacher's assistant at Kinry Road and also freelances in customer relations and data research. As I begin my seventh year in the PTA community, I remain committed to supporting students, families, teachers, and staff. Over the years, I have proudly served in several leadership roles, including Membership Chair, Secretary, and Vice President. I am honored to be serving her second year as PTA President and is grateful for the opportunity to continue leading such a dedicated organization. I am passionate about fostering open communication, building meaningful relationships, and creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for everyone in the school community. I believe that strong partnerships between families, educators, and volunteers help create the best possible experience for every child. I am excited to continue working alongside the administration, teachers, staff, and the incredible team of PTA volunteers to bring engaging programs, fun family events, successful fundraisers, and memorable experiences to the Vassar / Kinry Road community. I look forward to another amazing year of strengthening connections, celebrating students, and making a positive impact for all of the children and families at Vassar & Kinry Road Elementary.

Kyra Tarquinio (Vice President) - I am a mother of two children, my oldest is in 7th grade and my youngest in 2nd at Vassar Road. Due to their large age gap I know I will have many years between Vassar and Kinry Elementary Schools. Because of this I am making it my priority to be as involved in the community and district as possible, along with helping it thrive. I cannot wait to give our children exciting events and school year. I thrive on organizing events and pride myself on being highly involved in the planning and execution of events for children and staff of the students. 

Dominique Hughes (Treasurer) - 

Barbara Coste (Secretary) - This fall will be my 13th year as a parent with the Wappingers Central School District. My husband and I have 5 children. Our two eldest are adults living on their own with their spouses. Our 7-year-old is enrolled in third grade at Kinry Road Elementary where he has been since UPK. Alongside them we have a 6-year-old who will be attending first grade at Vassar and a 3 year old that is eager to start mommy and me classes in the fall. In my free time, I enjoy walking, reading and all things baking and cooking. I love spending time with my family and host them often. Prior to becoming a stay-at-home mom, I worked in the field of Education. I am certified in both General Education and students with special needs with the State of New York. During my tenure, I was a lead teacher, having taught students ranging from grades K through 7th. After hours I lent my skill set to high school students seeking enrichment. While with the DOE I was also the UFT liaison for my school. Before taking my leave to stay at home with my little ones I was pursuing an administrator position within my district. While teaching I worked tirelessly with my eldests elementary school to form several extracurricular activities. I was also an active member of the school's PTA. There I used my experience to lead events and gain new members. This past year ventured back into the classroom as a CCD teacher at St. Martin De Porres Parish where I am an active parishioner. If you ever have any questions or just want to say hi, please don’t hesitate to reach out. 

(Arts in Education) - 

Veronica Smith (Communications) - I am a certified Teachers Assistant, wife and big sister. I worked at Vassar Road in UPK for a year, Kinry Road in 3rd grade for a year, and St. Martin De Porres in 6th grade for 2 years. My husband and I both attended WCSD and love seeing our previous teachers/admin while volunteering for the PTA. I am the sister to 3 amazing people who attend Vassar and Kinry. I started off running Social Media for the PTA four years ago, starting our Instagram page and revamping our website. When the opportunity arose for Secretary I was excited to create new ways to increase the communication between schools, PTA, and parents. Understanding that social media is not everyone's forte, I upgraded and continue upgrading our website to make it easier and more accessible. I have a love volunteering and making connections throughout the schools along with in the district. 

Christina Venturini (Events Coordinator) - Hi! I’m Christina Venturini, and I’m excited to serve as this year’s PTA Events Coordinator. I grew up in the small town of Moscow, Idaho and moved to New York in 2008. Not long after, I met my husband Christian (he made me laugh, so I kept him), and we’ve been married for 13 wild and wonderful years. We’ve got four amazing kids—ages 12, 10, 7, and 5—which means I’m pretty much a full-time snack curator, schedule juggler, and carpool DJ…and yes, our house is loud, sticky, and full of snacks. During the day, I’m an Infant Swim Resource (ISR) instructor, teaching tiny humans how to float, swim, and stay safe in the water. I also run a small charcuterie and catering business, where I turn meats and cheeses into edible works of art (and occasionally dinner when I forget to cook). As Events Coordinator, I’m here to help create fun, meaningful moments for our school community. I love bringing people together, thinking outside the (lunch)box, and finding ways to connect families, staff, and the amazing community around us. I believe school events should be welcoming, joyful, and maybe even come with a cheese board. Looking forward to a year full of creativity, connection, and just the right amount of chaos. Can’t wait to meet more of you—let’s make this a great year!

Shawna Pinto (Events Chairman) - I am a wife, boy mom and Cubmaster. I have a 4th grader at Kinry and a 8th grader at Wappingers Jr High School. I am very active with the schools and scouting. I run multiple events such as Picture day, Mums, Book Fair, and Trunk or Treat. I am looking forward to what this year brings!

Dianne Zanin (Membership) - I’m really excited to be back in the roll of membership chair. I have 3 children in WCSD  and I am also a staff member at Kinry Road. I have enjoyed participating in all aspects of their learning journey. I joined the PTA so I could get a glimpse into their life at school and to ensure that they and all the students are getting the most out of their time in school- not only learning, but having fun and celebrating community together as a school. 

Please feel free to contact us by email: vassarkinrypta@gmail.com

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