Mary Ann Chesky has been dedicated to the children of South Colonie for nearly 30 years, beginning her career as a volunteer, fundraiser, community leader and role model at the age of 14. Despite facing many physical obstacles in her life, her continuous “pay it forward” actions and belief that children should always come first is what makes her a truly unique individual. 

A retired RN, Chesky became a nurse two days before her CCHS graduation after completing the BOCES nursing program. At 15, she was the youngest person in the local diocese licensed to teach religious education classes, something she did for many years.

Her first major fundraising effort came as a Hibernian in 2001 when she organized a campaign to furnish and clothe a local family of eight which lost everything in a fire. She has been a volunteer for the Equinox shelter and the Ronald McDonald House, and a singer/performer at the annual Cerebral Palsy telethon, the St. Clare’s Hospital Follies and other events.

In April 2008 she received the Jefferson Award for Public Service “Certificate of Excellence” honoring local volunteers for their commitment to service to their community from this national program. Her long PTA career began in 1998 as a chair for Veeder Elementary School field day. She later became PTA President at Lisha Kill Middle School helping oversee and organize numerous events and fundraisers including working as volunteer producer to reinstate the Drama Club. She was also a member of the CCHS PTSA and PTA Advisor for the Veeder, Lisha Kill and Roessleville PTAs. 

Today, Chesky is President of the PTA Council after serving two years as Vice President and one year as Treasurer and was lead coordinator for chartering the new SEPTA chapter. She is Fundraising Coordinator and Community Educator for South Colonie Dollars for Scholars, a nonprofit organization that raised $55,000 in scholarship money for CCHS graduating seniors during her tenure. District-wide, she has been a Key Communicator and served on the Superintendent Search Committee in 2004.

For two years she has been a parent representative on the district’s Professional Development Council and Public Relations/Fundraising Coordinator for CCHS Family Fun Day. She assisted with the production of the South Colonie district calendar for many years.