At the April 18th, 2007 Town of North Hempstead Board meeting, Maria-Christina Poons was unanimously appointed as the new interim Councilperson to represent the 4th Councilmanic District. She became the first Hispanic member of the North Hempstead Town Board.
The 4th Councilmanic District includes the villages of Roslyn, Roslyn Estates, Munsey Park, North Hills, Great Neck, Great Neck Gardens, Kensington, Kings Point, Thomaston, and the unincorporated areas of Manhasset and Great Neck, including Great Neck Gardens and Allenwood.
Ms. Poons, also affectionately known as “Kitty”, was born in Mexico City and immigrated to the United States in 1959. She has been a resident of Great Neck since 1963 and became an American citizen in 1965.
Known for her strong background in education and advocacy, Ms. Poons worked in the Great Neck School District for over 33 years. She also has extensive experience as a bilingual education consultant in several school districts in North Hempstead, including Manhasset.
A highly respected community leader, Ms. Poons has served as a board member of the New York State Safe Kids Coalition, the Manhasset/Great Neck EOC, the Great Neck Senior Center, the Great Neck Student Aid Fund, the Education Assistance Corporation (EAC), and the Great Neck/New Hyde Park North Community Fund. She also sits on the Town of North Hempstead Committee Against Domestic Violence.
Ms. Poons is Past President of the Hispanic Community of Great Neck. She is Chair of the Great Neck/Manhasset Child Care Partnership and also serves as Chair of the Episcopal Women, All Saints Church in Great Neck.
She is the recipient of many awards and honors. In 1994, she was inducted into the Town of North Hempstead’s First Annual Women’s Roll of Honor. In 1995, she was honored by the League of Women Voters during their Women’s History Month celebration. In 2006, CLASP honored her. She is also the recipient of the prestigious Giraffe Award from the Great Neck Chamber of Commerce and was honored by COPAY, the New York State United Teachers, the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the Great Neck/North New Hyde Park United Community Fund. She was also chosen as one of Nassau County’s Outstanding Hispanics.
Married to Ronald Poons, Past Chief of the Great Neck Alert Fire Company, she is the mother of three daughters and nine grandchildren. |