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I’ve been a special education teacher for over 17 years, and I’ve loved this work! Spending that much time in schools gives you a perspective that can be hard to see from the outside. I’ve seen what works, what students and teachers need, and where we can make things better. As a Board member, I would bring the knowledge and insight I’ve gained from years inside classrooms to help make improvements for our students, teachers, and staff. I’m also passionate about building community. When I’m walking around ShopRite and talking to people, I see how many wonderful people we have right here in our community. I often think, how can we get to know each other better? How can we help each other more? That’s really where my heart is in running for the Board of Education. I’ll bring my 17 years of experience in education to the table and listen and learn from the people in our community. I believe we can continue building a district where students are academically challenged while also caring about their well-being; where educators and staff feel valued and supported; where families feel connected; and where our schools and community can find more ways to learn from and support one another.
I’ve spent over 17 years as a special education teacher, and that experience has given me a perspective I believe would be valuable on the Board. I understand how decisions made at the district level can actually look and feel once they reach a classroom. I’ve worked with students, teachers, administrators, support staff, and families, and I’ve learned how important it is to listen, work together, problem-solve, and understand different perspectives. Being a special education teacher has taught me how important it is to genuinely know each student. Every child has different strengths, needs, and ways of learning. Listening to the student, working closely with their family, and really understanding who they are helps us give them the support and opportunities they need to be successful in school. I’m also a mom of two boys in our district and an active member of this community. I don’t believe being a Board member means walking in thinking you have all the answers. I’ll bring my experience, but I’ll also listen, ask questions, do my homework, and be willing to learn from the people around me.
I think the balance starts with recognizing that all three matter. Our students deserve an excellent education, we want great teachers to choose our district and want to stay here, and we have a responsibility to the taxpayers in our community. I don’t think one of those things should be considered without thinking about the others.
I would want to look carefully at where our money is going, what is making the biggest difference for our students, and where we may be able to operate more efficiently. I also believe retaining good teachers isn’t only about salary. People want to feel valued, supported, listened to, and good about the work they are doing.
I don’t believe the answer is simply spending more or cutting. These are real decisions that affect children, educators, families, and taxpayers. As a mom, educator, and taxpayer myself, I care about all sides of this. I would bring that perspective to the Board, ask questions, listen, and work to make thoughtful decisions that give our children the education they deserve while respecting the people in our community who are paying for it.
I wouldn’t come onto the Board assuming I already know what needs to change. I would listen to our teachers, administrators, students, and families and really understand what is working and what we could be doing better. After 17 years in education, I believe students should be challenged academically, but I also want them to be curious, excited to learn, ask questions, be creative, and understand how what they are learning connects to the real world. I would love to see emotional well-being and important life skills naturally become part of a student’s education, not something completely separate from academics. I also believe spending time outdoors is an important part of a student’s school day. Of course, curriculum decisions need to meet state requirements and should include the educators who actually teach it. I wouldn’t want to change things just for the sake of changing them. I want our students to get an excellent education while also having a school experience that helps prepare them for life.
My decision to run for the Board of Education grew naturally out of becoming more involved in our community.
I started attending local government meetings because I wanted to better understand the big decisions being made and how they could affect our schools, our taxpayers, and our community. Along the way, I saw how difficult it can be for residents to find the information they need to stay informed, and I found myself wanting to do more than simply follow along from the sidelines. At the same time, serving as PTA President at my kids’ elementary school for the past two years gave me the opportunity to see firsthand what makes our schools special, as well as the challenges facing our students, educators, families, and staff.
That’s what ultimately led me to run. I want to understand the decisions that will shape our schools, have a voice in them, and help make sure our community has the information it needs to understand them, too. My kids are growing up here, and I want to do my part to make sure Washington Township continues to be a community where every kid can thrive.
I bring both community and professional experience that I believe would be relevant to serving on the Board.
For the past two years, I have served as PTA President at Flocktown-Kossmann School, where I have advocated for students, worked to address equity across our elementary schools, advocated for appropriate resources for teachers, organized community events, and helped provide thousands of dollars in support to our educators. Most importantly, the role has given me the opportunity to work closely with teachers, staff, administrators, and families.
Professionally, I began my career as an attorney before moving into corporate media strategy. I currently manage multimillion-dollar budgets and negotiate commercial contracts for global brands. My career has required me to analyze complex issues, ask difficult questions, manage resources, negotiate with people who have competing priorities, and make decisions based on available information.
My experience in our schools and community, combined with my professional background in analysis, negotiation, budgeting, and decision-making, has prepared me to serve on the Board and bring a practical, informed perspective to the role.
I don’t believe these priorities have to be mutually exclusive, but balancing them requires discipline and thoughtful decision-making.
Great teachers are what make great schools, and we are incredibly fortunate in Washington Township to have so many dedicated educators. Retaining them is essential to maintaining the quality of education our children receive. Supporting our teachers and creating an environment where excellent educators want to build their careers and stay in our district must be a priority.
At the same time, the Board has a responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. I would want to understand the costs and benefits of major expenditures, evaluate whether programs are achieving their intended outcomes, identify opportunities for efficiency, and prioritize spending that has a meaningful impact on students and teachers.
We should pursue the lowest possible tax rate, but not at the expense of our children or the quality of their education. The goal should be to invest wisely, support our educators, and make sure every taxpayer dollar is working toward strong schools and a strong community.
I would not come to the Board with a predetermined agenda for changing the curriculum. I’d first want to understand what is working well and where there may be opportunities to improve. We have an excellent curriculum director in Washington Township and dedicated educators who know our kids and our classrooms. I believe we should trust their expertise and judgment, and that any changes should be based on what is best for our students, not personal agendas.
At the same time, I believe parents in the community should have a voice. I would want to hear those perspectives while also considering the expertise of our educators, student outcomes, and state standards. Those perspectives may not always align, and the Board’s job is to listen, weigh the information, and make thoughtful, informed decisions.
Most importantly, I would approach curriculum decisions with an open mind. If something is working, we should keep it. If there is evidence that something could be done better, we should be willing to ask why and consider change. My goal is simple: to make sure our kids receive a rigorous, well-rounded education that prepares them to succeed.
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