Emma C. Chase Elementary School’s Mission is to work collaboratively with parents and the world community to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and compassionate life long learners who will help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect for themselves and others.
Belief Statements
- Every child deserves a safe and orderly environment in which to live and learn.
- Every child deserves an appropriate and purposeful education.
- Education is the shared responsibility of the schools, the students, their families and the greater community.
- Every child is unique and worthy.
- Every child needs to show respect and take responsibility.
Chase Elementary PTO
Please join us as we work together to enhance the school experience for all of our children. The best way to help and participate and be most involved is by coming to the meetings. Please join us as free pizza and babysitting is available for children.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact us via e-mail at ChasePTO@gmail.com Thank you!
PTO Board and Committee Coordinators
Michael Bruno President
Megan Travers Vice President of Events
Kait Reagan Vice President of Fundraising
Mary Bruno Treasurer
Kelly Bukovinsky Secretary
Cathy Keller Scholastic Coordinator
Ashley Hooper Communications Coordinator
Jennifer Unverzagt, Parent/Teacher Liaison
Patrick Keller, Membership Coordinator
Find us on facebook and our website or email CHASEPTO@gmail.com
About our namesake, Emma C. Chase
Our school is named after Emma C. Chase, who was First Superintendent of “Third District of Sullivan County,” which includes what is now the Monticello Central School District. In October 2024, Ms. Chase was posthumously inducted into the Monticello Central School District Hall of Distinction.
Here is her biography:
Emma C. Chase, born in Oneonta, New York, in 1869, was a pioneering educator and dedicated public servant known for her impactful role as a New York State Superintendent of Schools in Sullivan County.
Chase graduated from the State Normal School in Albany, where she developed a passion for education and a commitment to improving the public school system.
Her career began as a classroom teacher, where she quickly earned a reputation for her innovative teaching methods and dedication to her students. In 1911, Emma Chase was appointed Superintendent of Schools, a position she held for over two decades. During her tenure, she implemented significant educational reforms that improved the quality of education in the region. Her initiatives included curriculum enhancements, teacher training programs, and the establishment of community engagement strategies to foster stronger partnerships between schools and local families.
Chase was also instrumental in advocating for the expansion of educational facilities and resources, ensuring that students across Sullivan County had access to a well-rounded education. Her leadership was characterized by a forward-thinking approach and a deep commitment to the educational needs of the community.
Upon her retirement in 1935, Chase left behind a legacy of excellence in education and a lasting impact on the school system she so fervently served. Emma C. Chase passed away in 1944, but her contributions continue to be remembered and celebrated in Sullivan County, where her influence on the educational landscape remains significant.
Anecdote from a Student in Mamakating District 11 (Wurtsboro)
“Mrs. Chase gave us a lengthy lecture on cleanliness- bathing, brushing our teeth and cleaning our fingernails. When she was ready to leave, her Model T was stuck in the mud. She prevailed upon us kids to push her out. We complied with enthusiasm, but also with dire results. We were covered with mud from head to toe. As she pulled away, she waived her gloved fingers daintily and called out to us, ‘Tell your mothers it’s CLEAN dirt.’”