Change Address

VOTE411 Voter Guide

Gloucester Township School District {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

An elected school board member serves a three-year term. The school board represents the concerns of citizens, taxpayers and parents to the school administrators, and represents the needs of the students and school district to citizens, taxpayers and parents. The school board does not operate the district on a day-to-day basis; that is the job of the superintendent (the district’s chief executive). Rather, the school board sets policies, goals and objectives for the district, and holds the superintendent responsible for implementing those policies and goals. (Abridged from NJ School Boards Association website).

Click a candidate icon to find more information about the candidate. To compare two candidates, click the "compare" button. To start over, click a candidate icon.

  • Candidate picture

    Brittany Bergeron
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Brianne Connelly
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    James Coyle
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Nancy Fritz
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Karen M. Maschke
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Charles "Chip" Pildis
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Daejah Purnell
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Shawn Singh
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Joseph M. Tursi, Jr.
    (NP)

Biographical Information

Why are you running for the board of education (Why are you seeking reelection)? What expertise do you bring?

If elected, what would be your top two or three goals for your first year as a Board member? (If you are an incumbent, what would be your top two or three goals for the first year in this new term?)

What is your view on test scores? What steps will you take to improve these scores (if improvements are needed)?

What measures, if any, do you feel are needed to improve the safety and security of our schools?

{_btnLabelFor(compare1, _isInSelection(compare1))}
{_btnLabelFor(compare2, _isInSelection(compare2))}
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Slogan Honest Committed Parents
I am running for the board of education because I believe that parents should have a voice on our board. In my township, there is currently only one remaining board member who actually has children in our schools. I believe that parents bring a valuable perspective to the board and that having children in our schools gives me a vested interest in how our schools operate. I want to ensure that every student has an opportunity to learn and thrive in a safe, supportive environment. Being an involved parent is the most important expertise I bring, but professionally I am an attorney which means I am used to reading policy, reading the fine print, and asking hard questions, all qualities that will be a benefit on our school board.
If elected, my biggest goals for my first year would be to start returning to a school board where the priority is serving the students and teachers, not political agendas. I want to create opportunities for the parent groups and teachers of our local schools to bring concerns/issues in their respective schools to the board. I will also be advocating for more transparency, making sure that decisions made by the board (policies, changes, etc.) are communicated clearly to parents, teachers, staff, etc. to avoid rumors/confusion as to what is happening in our schools.
While test scores can provide valuable insight into a child's learning, I do not think that they should be the sole measure of a student's abilities or a school's success. Test scores are important, but they do not show the whole picture of a student and do not capture qualities and skills (critical thinking, social skills, etc.) that are just as important to a child's development and growth, nor do they take into account that students learn differently. I think that, in early education, the focus should be on a student as a whole, not just the number on a test.
The safety and security needs of our schools should look differently depending on the ages of the students we are serving. In elementary schools, the focus is, and should be, focusing on creating a welcoming environment with secure entrances and close supervision. As students get older, such as in our middle schools, I believe that safety should include, not only making sure school entrances are secure, but that we are teaching and fostering responsibility and awareness in our students, addressing social pressures and helping students navigate more complex issues.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Powered by League of Women Voters Education Fund