Lisa A. Newkirk began her relationship with the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council of Orange County (ADAC), on October 7, 2024, as a prevention educator. She came to the prevention and recovery world with a bachelor’s degree in English from Adelphi University (1981) and a master’s degree in teaching (MST, 1998). Lisa had previously held head classroom teacher positions in universal pre-K, Head Start, fourth grade and sixth grade classrooms. Mrs. Newkirk was excited and delighted to “start my dream job with ADAC,” because it represented a chance to prevent addiction problems rather than solve ones after they had already started. Lisa has been working primarily in the Valley Central School District where she teaches the Mendez Foundation’s Too Good for Drugs and Violence curricula to kindergarten through fourth grade students.

Lisa lives in Ulster County, NY with her husband of 33 years, Larry. Together they have 2 sons, Larry Jr. and Willie Garrett and a grandson, Eliace. The couple is looking forward to traveling to Bermuda for their first-ever cruise in August 2026. Mrs. Newkirk enjoys playing with Eliace, serving others, gardening, beach trips, reading and traveling, both in the US and abroad. Her motto is, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”