Below are brief biographical introductions of candidates.

Daniel Bertran
(running against Brian Johnson)

I was born and raised in Holtsville and graduated from Sachem High School in 1999.  I played baseball, was a wrestler, and earned my Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America.  I graduated from Valley Forge Military College in 2002 with an Associate of Arts degree and commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve.  I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in history.  I entered active duty as an officer of Infantry and served 12-month deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.  After honorable discharge from the Army I worked for a short time in the private sector before serving as a Federal Air Marshal for almost five years.  For the last six and a half years I have served as a police officer in Nassau County.  I live with my wife and two daughters in Blue Point.  We have been district residents for seven years. 

Elizabeth Cavuto (running against John Kroog)

My name is Elizabeth Cavuto.  I have been a proud Bayport resident for 12 years, along with my husband and two children, ages 14 and 11.  I am a strong supporter of BBP Schools and have enjoyed volunteering for various activities over the last nine years, including being class parent, co-chairing Academy Street Elementary’s Hospitality Committee and 5th Grade Committee, joining the CARE (Cultural Advocacy, Respect and Empowerment) Committee, and assisting with events such as the Book Fair and Holiday Boutique.  I have also volunteered as a catechist for Our Lady of The Snow’s religious education program.  I have supported various district groups, including SEA-BBS (Society Encouraging the Arts in Bayport-Blue Point), SEPTA, SEED (Student Educational Enrichment and Development Foundation), Booster Club, and other community charities/fundraisers.

Amy Hope (running against Jess Pignataro *One Year Term)

I was born and raised in Sayville, graduating from Sayville High School.  After graduation, I pursued a position as a paraeducator to fulfill my dream of working with children. I continued to work as a teacher assistant, while completing my education.  I earned a bachelor’s degree from Dowling College, where I graduated at the top of my class, achieving cum laude honors.  Soon after earning my bachelor’s degree, I began my teaching career in a special education program, serving students with varying special needs.  I continued my schooling at Touro College to earn a master’s degree in education. For the past 17-plus years I have been proud to say I am an elementary level special education classroom teacher, and I have truly learned from every child who has walked through my door.

Sandi Kanne (running against Jenna Kennedy)

I am an alumna of Academy Street Elementary School, James Wilson Young Middle School, and Bayport-Blue Point High School (Class of 1997). A proud daughter, sister, niece, and cousin of BBP graduates, my two children are classes of 2025 and 2029. I have a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the Wallace E. Carroll School of Management Honors Program at Boston College, Class of 2001. Career experience includes external audit (Pricewaterhouse Coopers), internal audit (Viacom), and corporate finance (CBS Radio, then called Infinity Broadcasting). I earned my CPA earned in 2003 but I do not currently practice.

Jenna Kennedy (running against Sandi Kanne)

I was born in West Islip, N.Y., and attended Smithtown Christian School from first grade to graduation in 2006. From there, I attended Gordon College in Wenham, Mass., where I received my Bachelor of Science in kinesiology in 2010 and was a captain of the college softball team.  I then received my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Touro College in 2013.  It was there that I met my husband, John, who is also a physical therapist and we have been practicing physical therapy since 2013.  My husband is a lifelong Bayport resident and we have lived in Bayport together for eight years.  We have three children:  Jack who will attend Sylvan Avenue Elementary School as a kindergartener in the fall of 2022, Sophia who is 2 years old and Hailey who is 1 month old.   

John Kroog (incumbent, running against Elizabeth Cavuto)

John Kroog did not submit by time of print.

Brian Johnson (incumbent, running against Daniel Bertran)

I am excited to run for my third term as a trustee on the Bayport-Blue Point Board of Education and serve as its vice president. I am a community member of 11 years and have two daughters in the district.  I received my post-secondary education at the West Point Preparatory School and the University of Richmond where I earned a bachelor’s in accounting and was active in football and Army ROTC.

I commissioned in 2001 as a combat engineer officer in the U.S. Army and now serve as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air force where I have served as the comptroller of the Air Force Base in Westhampton, N.Y., since 2009.  My prior experience was in the accounting field at Ernst & Young LLP and as an internal audit manager at Cablevision Systems Corporation.

Jess Pignataro (running against Amy Hope, *One Year Term)

As a dedicated parent and school counselor, I am committed to creating connections and supporting every student in our community. I have lived in Bayport for 14 years, and I am the proud parent of a 1st grader. I’ve enjoyed serving as a parent representative on the School Improvement Team at Sylvan Avenue Elementary, as well as being a member of the PTA and SEPTA. In addition, I am a Girl Scout leader for 13 awesome Daisy Scouts from all three BBP Elementary Schools. Professionally, I’ve been at East Islip HS for 18 years as a school counselor, and have also worked for the Long Island Crisis Center as a counselor, outreach worker and hotline trainer. My degrees are in secondary education (B.A. - Boston College, 1999) and school counseling (M.S. Ed.  – Hofstra University, 2001).