Sandra Lorraine Senior is a native Long Islander. She attended Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, where she completed a triple major with honors in English, Speech, and Education. Upon graduation from Drew, Sandra was a substitute teacher in the Roosevelt School District which was followed by her first official teaching job as an early childhood teacher in Long Beach Head Start Program. Sandra has also taught the special population of adjudicated youth in the Juvenile Detention Center and worked part time as an English and Math Instructor in the Night School Program in the Freeport School District.
Sandra later entered the health and human services arena serving as the Coordinator of the Leadership and Training Institute’s Adolescent and Parenting Services Program, a program serving pregnant and parenting teens. This awakened a passion in Sandra to address quality of life issues in underserved communities. Working as the editor of a Health and Human Services Directory for the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island allowed Sandra to identify and existing resources for children and families. It also made her acutely aware of service gaps and disparities. Sandra went on to work successfully in county government as Senior Program Manager at the Nassau County Youth Board. It was at the Youth Board, under the leadership of the late Ann Irvin, that Sandra had the privilege of working with a supportive, dynamic, and exceptional group of women, who remain an important part of her life. Working at the Youth Board afforded Sandra the opportunity to work directly in communities and assist community-based organizations in service delivery and support to their target populations. After the closing of the Youth Board Department, Sandra became the Director of Community Outreach and Engagement for the Child Care Council of Nassau. In addition to providing access to quality childcare, advocating on behalf parents (specifically moderate- and low-income parents) at the county, state, and federal levels, raising awareness of the Council’s services, Sandra also supervised both the Parent Services and the Legally Exempt Enrollment Departments.
Sandra is a certified Youth Development Trainer, Parent Counselor, and Legally Exempt Provider Trainer. She holds certificates in mental health counseling, adolescent grief and loss counseling, crisis counseling, and emergency response. She has designed and facilitated board and staff development trainings for community-based organizations, health and human service entities, school districts, civic groups, houses of faith, and private sector entities.
Sandra has been the recipient of numerous awards. Most notably, she was awarded the Trailblazer Award for the Roosevelt Freeport NAACP (along with her brother, Mark), the Child Advocate Award, Woman of Excellence Award, Roosevelt Library, 2021 Community Advocate Award, Town of Hempstead and 2021Women’s History Honoree, Legislator Kevan Abrahams and Fidelis Care. Sandra has been recognized by the Nassau County Legislature, Roosevelt and Hempstead School Districts and many community-based organizations and civic groups for her work on behalf of youth and families and the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Sandra lives each day to fervently make her late parents and elders proud and to continue their legacy through serving God, cherishing family, and helping others. She counts the love and support of her family and friends as one of life’s greatest accomplishments and blessings.