LIBRARY TRUSTEE CANDIDATES

Here are our 2025 Candidates running for Library Trustee

There are 4 Board of Trustees seat openings and there are 6 candidates running.
You will find their bios below.

Esther Waldman

Esther Waldman is an Orthodox Jewish, educator who has worked in both Catholic and Jewish schools across NYC and Rockland County. Esther started her career young, earning a Bachelors degree from Adelphi University when she was only 19, and a masters from Pace University when she was 21. Since then, she has worked directly with students, she has directed programs, and she has presented workshops, sharing her knowledge with other educators. Her experience as a special education teacher and director of student services has shown her the important role books play and the value of building language and literacy in children. She is currently a Title I Director in New Square, where she champions for literacy enrichment for elementary school students. 
 
Esther lives in Monsey with her husband and three children. The two older children are budding bookworms, and the youngest, a young toddler, loves to eat any books he can get his hands on. She hopes to use her experience as an educator, her love of children’s literature, and her position as a library trustee, to inspire children to seek knowledge and value books as much as she does.

Sharon McIntyre

Wife, Mother and Grandmother | Retired Occupational Therapist Assistant | Volunteer | Advocate for Children and Families

Sharon was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica. She began her career in Education as a Teacher’s Aide at a local community school. Sharon’s professional journey, after migrating to the U.S in 1982, began when she worked as a childcare worker at the New York Foundling Hospital for 17 years. Her compassion for these children and her desire to make a tangible difference in their lives inspired her to further her education. This led her to the healthcare field where she immediately went on to earn her license and began working as an Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA).  After completing her OT degree, she worked in various nursing homes throughout Rockland and Westchester County. She expanded her experiences and dedicated 13 years to serving at Northern Metropolitan Nursing Home as an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA). 

Currently, Sharon volunteers with the Foster Grandparent Program. There, she mentors and supports children in various ways at the Head Start of Rockland 3 times a week. She also volunteers with the Board of Election.  She is a devoted member of St. Paul’s AME Zion Church, and currently serves on the church board, contributing to the spiritual growth and well-being of her church family. It has always been her dream to work with children encouraging their dreams as their role model. As a library trustee, Sharon would have another opportunity to collaborate with others and offer her services for the good of the library and its community.

Goldie Golding

AUTHOR, COLLEGE PROFESSOR, SCHOOL LEADER

Goldie Golding is a well known author of children’s books and is passionate about getting children to read, read, read. Nothing pleases her more than seeing a child’s nose buried in a book.
Currently teaching at the University of Mount Saint Vincent, Professor Golding has the privilege of educating the next generation of teachers; teaching graduate as well as undergraduate courses in Educational Psychology, Literacy, and Special Education.
Goldie is an educator, mentor, and school director for over twenty five years. She understands the vital role of the library in a child’s life, and sees it as a warm and welcoming environment; a safe and stimulating space where children dream, learn, and grow.

 

Kusar Asghar

Hello, my name is Kusar Asghar and I’m proud to announce my candidacy for Trustee of the Finkelstein Memorial Library. As a devoted wife and proud mother of four, I’ve called this community home for many years. I’m running because I believe in the power of libraries to educate, connect, and inspire people of all ages—and I want to give back to the place that has given so much to my family. With a strong commitment to service, family values, and lifelong learning, I’m ready to help make Finkelstein Library an even stronger resource for our entire community.

Yehudis Gottesfeld

Raised in the district from her preschool years, Yehudis has been a proud member of the Finkelstein Memorial Library community for most of her life. From borrowing picture books and participating in storytime and library programs as a little girl to exploring documentaries, historical texts, and books as an adult, the library holds a special place in her heart and has played a vital role in shaping her identity and love for reading.
A graduate of the City College of New York, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Yehudis went on to complete her Master’s in Environmental Engineering at Columbia University. Today, she is a practicing Chemical Environmental Engineer with a strong commitment to protecting and serving the public.
Known for offering a helping hand and building meaningful connections wherever she goes, Yehudis finds joy in supporting others and advocating for shared resources like the library. Her favorite book genres include historical non-fiction and autobiographies. As a trustee, she hopes to bring an intergenerational and fresh perspective, along with a deep commitment to making the library a place where every member of the community can learn, grow, and feel at home.

Yossi (Arthur) Rubinstein

Coming soon…