Mary Ruth Morrow-Kapsiak
Title
Mary Ruth Morrow-Kapsiak
Description
Mary Ruth Kapsiak began her career as a NYNEX Corporation Customer Service Representative employed in Business Marketing. She served as Chairperson of the Upstate Telephone Commercial Union and served on the Telecommunications International National Organizing Committee and was a member of the National Coalition of Black Trade Unionist.
She has earned several degrees including a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication, University at Buffalo; Certificate of Completion, Orton-Gillingham Method for Reading from the Gow School in South Wales, N.Y; Master of Science in Exceptional Education, from Buffalo State College; Master of Science, Reading, Canisius College; and completed her certification in School District Administration from Canisius College.
She was a special education teacher and reading teacher at Community School #53 in Buffalo. Prior to her experiences at School #53, Mary Ruth was a reading teacher for grades pre-kindergarten through six at Broadway Village Elementary # 57 where she conducted assessments and evaluations while teaching the Orton-Gillingham method of teaching reading. In September of 2002, she worked as Adjunct Professor in Reading at Medaille College. Mrs. Kapsiak was appointed as Assistant Principal of Stanton Academy #31. In 2004, she was appointed Assistant Principal at Dr. Lydia T. Wright School of Excellence # 89. She ended her career with the Buffalo Public Schools as Supervisor of Elementary Education in 2006.
On May 1, 2007, Mary Ruth was elected to the Buffalo School Board as Central District Representative. On July 2, 2007, she was sworn in as Central District Representative, and on the same day was elected President of the Buffalo School Board where she served as President from 2007-2009. She stepped down as President and became Vice President of Executive Affairs July 2009 and served in that position until July 2010. Mary Ruth was re-elected to the Board of Education on May 1, 2010 and served as Vice President of Student Achievement and as of May 2011 she became President of the Board. She served on the Board of Directors for the Erie County Association of School Boards for three years and was a representative on the Council of Great City Schools from 2007-2009, a member of The Council of Urban Boards of Education Diversity Committee. Area 1 Director of The New York State Caucus of Black School Board Members 2013-2016,
Her professional associations include the following: Good Schools for All Advisory Board; Life Membership in the N.A.A.C.P, and served on the Executive Committee of the N.A.A.C.P., Membership in Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society; Vice President of the Metro Buffalo Alliance of Black School Educators; Member of The National Association of Black School Educators; Phi Delta Kappa Professional Organization; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Xi Epsilon Omega Chapter(Silver Star) and Life Member where she served as Vice President ,and President and has chaired several committees in the chapter; Member of the Erie County (NY) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated; She serves on The Board of Directors, Teach for America; The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Diversity Council Committee, Served on the Board Directors of the Character Council of Western New York, and was elevated as an Ambassador to the Character Council; serves on the Ethics Committee for The Board of Education, Advisory board for McKinney Vento (Homeless School Children, and The Special Education Advisory Council as S.A.G.E. Advisor.
Mrs. Kapsiak is a proud member of the International F.& A.M. Masons & Order of Eastern Star, Incorporated, White Rose District Grand Chapter #9 of Niagara Falls, New York of Anointed Star Chapter #442. She recently contributed to Letters to Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, Her past affiliates include Board of Directors B.U.I.L.D. of BUFFALO, Incorporated, Buffalo Leadership Council, Board of Directors Women for Human Rights and Dignity, Board of Directors, and Advisory Council of the Buffalo Urban League, Delta Kappa Gamma International Society, a member of the following Alumni: University at Buffalo Alumni Association, Canisius College Alumni, and State University College of New York at Buffalo Alumni Association.
She has earned several degrees including a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication, University at Buffalo; Certificate of Completion, Orton-Gillingham Method for Reading from the Gow School in South Wales, N.Y; Master of Science in Exceptional Education, from Buffalo State College; Master of Science, Reading, Canisius College; and completed her certification in School District Administration from Canisius College.
She was a special education teacher and reading teacher at Community School #53 in Buffalo. Prior to her experiences at School #53, Mary Ruth was a reading teacher for grades pre-kindergarten through six at Broadway Village Elementary # 57 where she conducted assessments and evaluations while teaching the Orton-Gillingham method of teaching reading. In September of 2002, she worked as Adjunct Professor in Reading at Medaille College. Mrs. Kapsiak was appointed as Assistant Principal of Stanton Academy #31. In 2004, she was appointed Assistant Principal at Dr. Lydia T. Wright School of Excellence # 89. She ended her career with the Buffalo Public Schools as Supervisor of Elementary Education in 2006.
On May 1, 2007, Mary Ruth was elected to the Buffalo School Board as Central District Representative. On July 2, 2007, she was sworn in as Central District Representative, and on the same day was elected President of the Buffalo School Board where she served as President from 2007-2009. She stepped down as President and became Vice President of Executive Affairs July 2009 and served in that position until July 2010. Mary Ruth was re-elected to the Board of Education on May 1, 2010 and served as Vice President of Student Achievement and as of May 2011 she became President of the Board. She served on the Board of Directors for the Erie County Association of School Boards for three years and was a representative on the Council of Great City Schools from 2007-2009, a member of The Council of Urban Boards of Education Diversity Committee. Area 1 Director of The New York State Caucus of Black School Board Members 2013-2016,
Her professional associations include the following: Good Schools for All Advisory Board; Life Membership in the N.A.A.C.P, and served on the Executive Committee of the N.A.A.C.P., Membership in Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society; Vice President of the Metro Buffalo Alliance of Black School Educators; Member of The National Association of Black School Educators; Phi Delta Kappa Professional Organization; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Xi Epsilon Omega Chapter(Silver Star) and Life Member where she served as Vice President ,and President and has chaired several committees in the chapter; Member of the Erie County (NY) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated; She serves on The Board of Directors, Teach for America; The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Diversity Council Committee, Served on the Board Directors of the Character Council of Western New York, and was elevated as an Ambassador to the Character Council; serves on the Ethics Committee for The Board of Education, Advisory board for McKinney Vento (Homeless School Children, and The Special Education Advisory Council as S.A.G.E. Advisor.
Mrs. Kapsiak is a proud member of the International F.& A.M. Masons & Order of Eastern Star, Incorporated, White Rose District Grand Chapter #9 of Niagara Falls, New York of Anointed Star Chapter #442. She recently contributed to Letters to Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, Her past affiliates include Board of Directors B.U.I.L.D. of BUFFALO, Incorporated, Buffalo Leadership Council, Board of Directors Women for Human Rights and Dignity, Board of Directors, and Advisory Council of the Buffalo Urban League, Delta Kappa Gamma International Society, a member of the following Alumni: University at Buffalo Alumni Association, Canisius College Alumni, and State University College of New York at Buffalo Alumni Association.
Date
2023
Subject
Source
Uncrowned Community Builders
Is Part Of
Say Their Names: Honor Their Legacies
Publisher
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital)
Rights
©2024 Uncrowned Queens Institute
Type
Moving Image
Format
video/mp4
Language
Identifier
oh-ucb-011
Collection
Citation
Uncrowned Queens Institute for Research & Education on Women, Inc., “Mary Ruth Morrow-Kapsiak,” B&ECPL Digital Collections, accessed March 26, 2025, https://digital.buffalolib.org/document/17402.