Meet the Team
Christopher Valencia
Regional CommissionerI would like to introduce myself as the new Regional Commissioner of Saugerties AYSO 595. I am a middle school Spanish teacher in Wallkill, NY and have been coaching for the school for the past eight years. I have been a resident of Saugerties since 1993 and have been playing soccer in the area ever since. Soccer has been a pivotal aspect of my upbringing and has taught me many life lessons. I look forward to shaping the soccer culture in the area and continuing the fun learning experiences that players get from the sport.
Player experience
-AYSO
-AYSO Travel
-Saugerties High School
-MHAL Champions 2003
Coaching experience
-Wallkill Boys Modified Assistant 1 year
-Wallkill Boys Modified Head Coach 2 year
-Wallkill Girls JV Head Coach 1 year
-Wallkill Girls Varsity Head Coach 3 years
-Wallkill Boys Varsity Head Coach present
-Nirvana 360 (2018-2020) Trainer and Coach
AYSO Certifications
-Conflict Resolution Training
-Safe Haven
-CDC Concussion Awareness
-Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Training
-Due Process Training
Other Certifications
-United States Soccer Federation (USSF) D License
Contact information
[email protected]
8455943615
Jodi Council
Coach Administrator
For over 15 years Jodi coached soccer at AYSO and other soccer club/athletic organizations. As an AYSO volunteer Jodi achieved several awards and many certifications including Advanced Coach Instructor, several Sportsmanship Awards, coached for AYSO United, and served for over a decade as a AYSO Board Member Coach Administrator/Instructor for Region 10 and now serves in Saugerties Region 595 in the same capacity. Additionally, he served as a member of Area staff/board for Area 1f/ Section 1.
Other key soccer credentials include a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) B License, La Liga Methodology Level I, II, and III Certificates, a United Soccer Coaches Goal Keeper Certificate, and regularly participates in continuing coaching education activities/conferences.
Jodi graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Psychology, holds a Masters degree in Education specializing in Curriculum and Instruction and is pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership. He enjoys all sports especially soccer, tennis, lacrosse, and enjoys traveling as a lifelong learner. Jodi has three adult daughters that’s all played AYSO.
3/B/595
Stephentown, NY
contact: [email protected]
AYSO BACKGROUND:
AYSO Volunteer since: 2005
Current AYSO Role(s):
- Coach Administrator, Region 595
- Coach Instructor, Region 595
- Area 3B Coach Administrator
Other AYSO Experience:
- Region 10:
- Coach
- Referee
- Regional Coach Instructor
- Regional Coach Administrator
- Used Uniform Coordinator
- Area 1F Coach Instructor
- AYSO United Coach
AYSO Certifications:
- Advanced Coach
- Advanced Coach Instructor
- Coach Administrator
- Implementing a Coach Mentoring Program CEU
- Regional Referee
- Safe Haven
- CDC Concussion Awareness Training
- Sudden Cardiac Awareness Training
Other Certifications:
- United States Soccer Federation (USSF) B License
- La Liga Methodology Level I, II, III Certifications
- California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Coaching Certificate
- United Soccer Coaches Goal Keeping I Diploma
- Masters in Education Curriculum & Instruction/Doctoral Candidate in Educational Leadership
Safety Director
Hello,
My name is Joe Santella. I recently relocated to Saugerties where my wife and I
have had a summer house for a few years and are now permanent residents.
Loving the beautiful game of soccer, I volunteered to serve on the board of the
Saugerties AYSO, Region 595. My role is Safety Director, these days a busier role
than might normally be the case if there were no pandemic. I bring with me more
than twenty-five years of soccer coaching experience in co-ed recreational soccer
programs, girls recreational soccer, boys and girls travel soccer, and service on
youth sports non-profit boards. I look forward to serving the Saugerties
community by applying my experience and skill in youth sports with my fellow
board members to provide a fun, safe and developmental experience to all our
registered players, as we grow the love for and participation in the worlds most
popular sport.
Playing Experience:
I began playing soccer on Long Island in elementary school back in the 1960s on
the school’s teams. My High School did not have a soccer program back in the
early 1970’s so I played travel soccer in a Suffolk County League. At Stony Brook
University I played my Freshman year on the school team. After college, over the
years I have played in various adult leagues on Long Island, in Jersey City and
Basking Ridge, NJ.
Coaching experience:
1994 – 2004 Sacred Hearts Youth Soccer Program – Director and coach
2004 – 2006 AYSO Brooklyn Region 473 – Youth team coach
2007 – 2020 Jersey City Soccer Association – Recreation program team
coach, travel program team coach, Director Travel Program, Director Girls
Program
I hold a US Soccer D license
Board Experience
1995 – 2004 Trustee Sacred Hearts Youth Soccer Program
2012 – 2021 Trustee, Vice President and President Jersey City Soccer
Association
2021 Safety Director AYSO Region 595 Saugerties New York
SecretaryHi everyone!
My name is Lauren Betterton and I am the Secretary on the Saugerties AYSO Board. I grew up in Saugerties, playing in both the AYSO program and on the JV and Varsity soccer teams at the school. I have been a special education teacher for over 15 years, most of those years spent teaching 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. In addition to teaching, I have been a volunteer for my school’s mentoring program. Years ago, I also coached track and field. I live in Saugerties with my husband and our two sons. I am looking forward to a great Spring Season! 
Referee Administrator
Hello all,
My name is Carmelina Dewitt and I am the Referee Administrator and the mom of three girls. I am a teacher by trade working currently at a nonprofit school in Kingston. I have been with AYSO for going on seven years. I started as a 8u parent member from the bench my first season. As my daugther advanced our region needed coaches so I started the next season as an 8u coach, then 10u coach and kept our VIP soccer going for challenged players which my middle daugther played. I have coached 12u and 13u divisions but never played myself.Saugerties then needed an RC for our AYSO because the standing person in charge wanted to retire. So I stepped in as RC for the three year position. In January 2021 I retired as RC but decided to stay and help our board and the new incoming RC get things going for our town.
I am passionate about making a difference in the lives of our youth and this program is one way I can give back to the community.
My hobbies are being a mom, lol. I enjoy spending time with my girls and family. Hiking and playing hockey along with boxing are all close seconds.
Currently I am just helping our Board get things going so our kids can play safely this Spring.
Let’s have a great season!
Registrar/Scheduler
Hi! My name is Stacey DeMille, and I hold the Saugerties AYSO Board position of Registrar. I grew up in Saugerties. Back then, I was known as Stacey Miller. I attended Grant D. Morse and graduated from Saugerties High School in 1988. I left the area to continue my education, graduating from Long Island University – Southampton, Temple University – School of Medicine, and New Jersey Institute of Technology. For several years, I moved around New Jersey finally settling down in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. In 2014, I returned to Saugerties to raise my two sons, Riley and Ryder.
I’ve been involved with Saugerties AYSO since my older son started in 6U back in Fall 2016. I started as an Assistant Coach, helping the Head Coach as best I could, keeping track of the young players while sitting on the bench and tying shoes – lots of shoes. I didn’t know much about soccer back then, but I loved watching and helping the children have fun and knew that volunteering was important to keep the Saugerties soccer program going. For the past 4 ½ years, I’ve held the position of either Assistant Coach or Head Coach in the 6U and 8U divisions for each season. Additionally, I’ve been a member of the Saugerties AYSO Board for the last 3 years, first as Coach Coordinator and then as Registrar for the past 2 years. If you’ve been on the soccer fields pre or post game in the last three years, then it’s likely you’ve seen my boys running around carrying field flags, ball boxes, and goal posts setting up and taking down fields.
Besides being a parent and an active Saugerties AYSO 6U and 8U coach for 4+ years, I was a Ski-Wee Instructor at Hunter Mountain for 7 years and a Tae Kwon Do Assistant Instructor for 3 years. I enjoy all sports and having fun with the kids.
Child Protection Advocate
Hello Parents and affiliates of the AYSO soccer organization.
My name is Emily Casiere, Saugerties Resident, Mother of three and AYSO board member. My husband William and I have been involved in this wonderful program for eight years. Teaching, strengthening and encouraging children through sport has been a passion of mine as well as my fellow board members. In my official capacity as Child Protection Advocate, the safety of your children is my number one goal, and to that end I will always be available to help with your concerns. I am very excited for our community to come together and have a great soccer season.