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)
Slogan
Students First. Always.
As a student representative to the Collingswood Board of Education during my senior year, I advocated for the interests of Oaklyn students. I focused on rebuilding school morale, advocating for the board to focus on retaining our valued teachers, and ensuring that both students and teachers had the necessary resources. After graduating, I chose to continue my education at Rowan University so I could remain involved in our community to help others. I am running for the Oaklyn Board of Education because I want to support our students as a recent graduate who understands the current climate and culture of our district. I want to see our district continue to prosper and have the close-knit community it had when I attended Oaklyn Public School.
My first priority would be to review the budget closely, focusing on where funds are being allocated and finding areas for better investment. Why are we facing budget issues when nearby districts with similar challenges manage to make it work? Additionally, why did we hire another assistant superintendent for such small districts like Collingswood and Oaklyn? We need to find the best ways to allocate our resources to support our students and teachers.
My second priority would be to rebuild and maintain morale in our school. Both districts have experienced a decline in morale between teachers and district administrators. We must take steps to address this and retain our educators because when our teachers thrive, our students thrive.
I do not believe test scores determine a student's potential. Many teachers within our district would agree. However, it is still important to work on improving these scores, as they can provide valuable insights into which students may need additional assistance and support. To improve test scores, we must actively work with our educators to ensure they have the necessary resources and a realistic timeframe to cover all the learning materials included in the standardized tests.
Throughout elementary, middle, and high school, I experienced frequent lockdown drills. I remember hiding in the corner as a kindergartener, listening to our teacher read us a book quietly. We owe it to our students and educators to ensure they feel safe in our school. This includes investing in modern security equipment and systems, having effective security policies, and keeping a close working relationship with our police department.
No one should have to fear for their safety in school, and I am committed to doing everything I can to protect our students and educators.
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