The Arlington Facilitating Team

A team of 20 parents, community leaders and school district staff is leading the effort to engage the community in the district’s planning efforts. This diverse team, known as the Arlington Connect Facilitating Team, began meeting in the spring to put the program together and will continue to meet regularly to provide coordination and leadership. While this team is responsible for putting the program together, the decisions about the future of our schools will be made at community engagement sessions.  

Community members Emma Arnoff, Brian D. Arnold, Sally Buttinger and Jeff Plate serve as the chairs of this team and the Arlington Connect process.

Meet the Community Chairs 

Emma N. Arnoff, LCSW  
Emma Arnoff’s passion is building and supporting neurodiversity-affirming communities. She is the owner of The Sensory Space in Poughkeepsie, a psychotherapy practice serving children and families. Her practice offers supportive services, including occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy. Emma has conducted workshops on neurodiversity at Arlington schools as well as other schools and colleges. She is a member of the equity committee at Overlook Elementary School, where her twin boys, Miles and Henry, attend first grade, saying, “I am dedicated to pursuing equity in our community.”

Emma said she’s excited to co-chair Arlington Connect and learn from the community. “It’s important that our school district’s choices reflect our community's needs and wants.” She encouraged community members to get involved with the program. “By getting involved, you can have your voice be heard in how the district looks moving forward,” she said. “We have a great district, and with the support of our community members, it can become even greater.”

Brian D. Arnold
Brian Arnold is an associate research food scientist at Pepsi Cola in Valhalla, where he has worked for the last 17 years. He was born in Jamaica, West Indies, and moved to the Bronx when he was five years old. After attending New York City public schools until the age of 15, Brian moved to White Plans and attended Blessed Sacrament-St. Gabriel’s Catholic High School. He later graduated from SUNY Empire State College. His family life revolves around his children’s activities, including dance, marching band and color guard. Brian is married with two children who attend Arlington Central schools and has two dogs. His eldest child recently started ninth grade at Arlington High School and his youngest started second grade at Overlook Primary School.

Brian said the Arlington Connect process is important because it gets everyone involved and helps gather “points of view from the people most affected.” He said, “It’s important for the community to get involved because this is our school district and our community. This is an opportunity for us to have a say in what goes on and help shape the future.”

Sally Buttinger
Sally Buttinger has dedicated her personal and professional life to supporting the health and happiness of children. She taught physical education and served as a coach for 10 years in the United States and the United Kingdom. Today, she co-owns and is co-director of Camp Hillcroft in LaGrange with her husband, Greg. They are the third generation of Buttingers to run the camp. Sally also supports Sparrow’s Nest and the Child Abuse Prevention Center, including running races for Sparrow’s Nest and coordinating food drives for the Center. She also volunteers for Angels of Light, adopting children to receive gifts at Christmas and coordinating the delivery of presents. The Buttingers also sponsor various soccer teams in the Arlington Central School District, and Camp Hillcroft is involved with Lunch Box and the Urban Farm Center. Sally is the mother of three children, two graduates of Arlington High School and a current AHS senior. McKinley graduated from SUNY Oneonta and teaches in the Dover School District. Megan is pursuing her master’s degree in occupational therapy at Ithaca College and plans to graduate in May 2023. Scott is applying to colleges and plans to become a physical education teacher. 

Sally said it’s important to get involved in Arlington Connect. “Everyone wants change and everyone talks about change, but we are now providing the platform for changes to actually happen,” she said. “As an Arlington community, there are many voices to be heard with many varying opinions and ideas. This process will allow all voices to be heard and decisions to be made while looking at the big picture of these changes.”

Jeff Plate  
Jeff Plate serves as the site lead for a new design center for AMD in the Hudson Valley. His wife is a culinary arts graduate, working in the wine and food styling industry. They are the parents of two future Arlington Central School District students: a two-year-old boy and a baby girl due this winter. Jeff loves the outdoor activities in the area and the close proximity to New York City. He has a passion for his family, technology, trivia and Pittsburgh sports teams and plans to coach whatever sports his children want to participate in. “Today it’s hockey, tomorrow, who knows?” he said. 

Jeff said the Arlington Connect process is important in supporting students’ education. “Education is extremely challenging, and the best way to continue to always improve is to have conversations and discuss ideas,” he said. “No one has the right answers alone, but together as a community we can probably get close.” He encourages community members to get involved because “it’s an opportunity to share ideas and learn. Through this, I hope we are able to help suggest paths forwards which benefit our children. It takes a village, and now is a great opportunity to easily get involved.”