Slogan
Thoughtful Spending. Stronger Schools
Education
Masters of Science, Columbia University
The two largest challenges facing the school district are the education of our children and the costs associated with that education.
For the past 15 years, Asbury Park students have scored near the bottom of the State in standardized testing, and our graduation rates and next steps for our graduates is not as strong as it needs to be. We have a unique school district with distinct needs. In order to improve, a data-driven and metrics-based approach must be implemented, so we can track with facts and data what is working and what is not.
Secondly, the funding levels at Asbury Park were very high during the Abbott/S2 era, but that funding is no longer available and enrollment has dropped (almost 50% in the past 10 years). The infrastructure and budget need to be reviewed and rightsized for the district we have today. My concern is that further tax increases will push middle-class homeowners (many of whom have lived here for 15+ years) out of town and create a deeper drop in enrollment.
My focus will be on:
1) Thoughtful spending - making sure the teachers and children have what they need to succeed, but also making sure we aren't spending on things that don't accomplish those goals.
2) Data driven decisions - we must track progress on a regular basis and create easy ways to determine which children are on-track, those that need enrichment, and those that need intervention. This is not happening effectively today and can be greatly improved.
3) Stronger schools - By doing 1 and 2 above, we will create a strong and successful school system that parents will be happy to send their kids to. We should strive to re-build the enrollment by removing the stigma's around a public school education in Asbury Park. We were once a beacon of education, and I believe we can return there - we need to roll up our sleeves and do the hard work necessary to build these kids and the district back up!
I come from a family of teachers - both my parents were public high school math teachers their entire lives. My wife has been a middle school science teacher for the past 20+ years. I have seen success in education up close and I want to bring that experience to Asbury Park.
I've personally worked in the IT industry (Enterprise Software) for nearly my entire career and have started and ran 3 companies. I know what it takes to manage a budget, set expectations and targets, and measure them effectively. I'm an established leader and team builder that focuses on doing the right thing vs. trying to be right.
I have volunteered in many endeavors over the years, mostly with organizations that focus on helping others (Big Brothers / Big Sisters, Morganville First Aid and Rescue Squad, Soccer Coach, Finance Coach) and am interested in helping the children of Asbury Park reach their potential.
Parents involvement in their children's education is critical to their success. I will have an open door policy for all parents, but most important, I want to ensure that their teachers, principals and the Superintendent have an open door policy as well.
Just like there will be data-driven metrics for the children, we can measure and monitor the feedback from parents and make sure they are getting the support and information they need to make their children successful.
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