I’m running because Mendham Township shaped me—first as a student in our schools, now as a parent of three children in the district, and as part of a family that has called this town home for generations. I believe strong schools are the heartbeat of our community. They prepare our children for the future, protect our property values, and reflect the pride we all share in calling Mendham Township home.
Our district already has so much to be proud of, but there’s always more work to be done. I want to ensure every student, every day continues to have the academic and emotional support they need to thrive while strengthening communication with families, taxpayers, and educators alike. My experience as a longtime PTO leader, education foundation board member, and community volunteer has taught me the value of collaboration and transparency. I’m committed to fiscal responsibility, academic excellence, and open dialogue—so our schools remain strong for students today and for generations to come
I bring a unique mix of deep local roots, global perspective, and hands-on school involvement that make me well-prepared to serve Mendham Township. I grew up here, left to build a successful career in the fashion and retail industry—including leadership roles abroad—and then returned to raise my family because I believe so strongly in this community. My career required strategic thinking, team leadership, and the ability to adapt quickly to challenges—skills that directly translate to guiding a school district.
Here at home, I’ve served in leadership roles within the PTO, collaborating with teachers and administrators to support programs that directly benefit students. I also own and restored Mendham’s historic gristmill, blending preservation with revitalization—a project that reflects my ability to respect tradition while investing in the future.
Whether through professional leadership, community service, or preserving our town’s heritage, I’ve consistently taken on roles that require vision, collaboration, and follow-through. I would bring that same energy and commitment to the Board of Education to ensure our schools remain a source of pride for every resident.
As a parent, a Mendham graduate, and a neighbor with multigenerational ties here, I know our schools are central to our community’s success. Retaining great teachers and maintaining strong academics are not in conflict with fiscal responsibility—they go hand in hand. When we invest wisely in our teachers and classrooms, we protect property values, attract families, and sustain the excellence that benefits every resident, whether or not they have children in the schools.
I would prioritize competitive teacher support, academic innovation, and smart resource management—seeking grants, partnerships, and efficiencies before asking taxpayers for more. My goal is a district that delivers the best education possible while respecting the trust and investment of every household in Mendham Township.
As a Mendham graduate and parent of three current students, I know how much our community values a strong academic foundation. My son Jonah’s passion for the sciences makes me especially attentive to ensuring our curriculum prepares students to excel in core subjects. Some parents have raised concerns about science achievement, and I believe a careful review—grounded in data, teacher expertise, and community input—can strengthen outcomes without overburdening students or teachers. At the same time, I want our district to stay ahead in technology readiness while keeping student safety front and center. From STEM innovation to the safe, thoughtful integration of AI tools, our students deserve both the skills and the safeguards to thrive in a rapidly changing world. By focusing on academic rigor, modern skills, and responsible innovation, we can prepare every student, every day, for success in school and beyond.
My motivation is that I would like to see the continued excellence in our education in Mendham Township and provide support to the administration.
Serving as a team leader as a swim coach, a committee member on different committees, a mentor as a supervisor and therapist, and an active and engaged member in my community makes me prepared for this role.
I would work in committees to identify areas that would need to be addressed, and work towards collaboration to build the best balance.
Honestly - none. Teachers and principals should be in charge of that.
I was motivated to run when federal education funding cuts were first announced, because I know how deeply these decisions can affect students and teachers. Now that the funds have been released, my commitment remains the same: to ensure we use every resource wisely and prepare for future challenges. As someone who learned English as a second language, I’ve seen firsthand how vital strong support systems are for students to thrive. I want to be a voice for children, families, and educators—protecting the quality of our schools, investing in teachers, and keeping our district among the top in the state. Running is a full-circle moment for me, turning my personal experiences into action for the community.
I’ve spent my career as a physical therapist serving communities and running my own business, giving me a firsthand view of both employees’ and employers’ perspectives—insight I bring to the Board of Education. Developing curriculum has taught me to research thoroughly, collaborate widely, and earn state and organizational approvals, skills I approach with curiosity and care rather than formality. My work has also taught me to listen deeply and find solutions beyond the obvious. As a mother of three, I understand the challenges families face daily. I’m ready to bring empathy, practical insight, and thoughtful leadership to support our students, families, and staff.
Retaining talented staff starts with creating an environment where they feel valued, supported, and inspired. Open communication, ongoing learning, mentoring, and flexibility build loyalty and motivation. A happy, engaged team directly impacts student learning, as staff who are mentally and physically supported teach more effectively. Our community offers many professionals who can contribute beyond traditional roles—supporting continuing education, sharing insights about the whole child and family, volunteering to lead activities, or organizing outdoor learning experiences that spark new ideas and teaching styles. Leveraging these resources enriches education without relying solely on increased taxes. When the community feels connected and invested, even small contributions are seen as shared investments rather than burdens. High-quality education and staff retention require a village approach—valuing collaboration, growth, and community engagement for the benefit of students and families.
My experience has been solely with the elementary school, and what I’ve observed is that while academics are strong, there are few objective ways to assess children’s mental and physical well-being throughout the year. I would love to see a clear plan of action with measurable tools to track how students are thriving, not just academics. Incorporating outdoor-based learning, social engagement, and mental health supports into the school day can help children become well-rounded, resilient, and curious. Having a way to monitor progress ensures these efforts are effective and that every child’s needs are recognized and supported.
I am running because I believe every student deserves both academic and emotional support to truly thrive. Success goes beyond test scores—it’s about making sure our schools are places where students are seen, supported, and encouraged to reach their potential. As a longtime parent, volunteer, and PTO leader, I’ve seen firsthand how strong partnerships between families, educators, and the Board can create meaningful opportunities for students. I want to bring a calm, collaborative, and solutions-focused voice to the Board, ensuring that we continue to build on Mendham Township’s proud tradition of excellence while preparing our schools to meet current and future challenges.
I bring a unique blend of local involvement, professional expertise, and proven leadership. As a parent and PTO Board member, I have helped raise $75,000–$80,000 annually to support teacher initiatives and student programs. I spearheaded the launch of the Middle School’s Virtual Math Lab and created the Parent & Community Speaker Panel, both of which strengthened academic and community connections.
Professionally, I have worked at Skadden Arps, Goldman Sachs, and Chubb, and I currently serve on the Mendham Township Finance Advisory Committee. These roles have honed my skills in budgeting, oversight, and long-term planning—critical to ensuring fiscal responsibility in our district.
In addition to my financial expertise, I am deeply committed to supporting mental health and wellness for students. I believe that creating an environment where students feel safe, valued, and emotionally supported is just as important as academic achievement. My goal is to advocate for programs and resources that prioritize student well-being.
Most importantly, I am known for being approachable, solutions-oriented, and deeply committed to supporting teachers, students, and families.
Balancing these priorities requires thoughtful, responsible decision-making that reflects the values of the whole community. Retaining strong teachers and ensuring a high-quality education must remain at the core of our mission, because investing in teachers is investing in students. At the same time, as a member of the Township’s Finance Advisory Committee, I understand the importance of fiscal responsibility.
I believe in responsible spending that prioritizes classroom needs, teacher support, and student well-being while avoiding waste and inefficiency. By focusing on thoughtful choices and diligent oversight, we can ensure that resources are used effectively--supporting both excellence in education and respect for taxpayers.
I believe our district already has a strong foundation, but we can continue to build by prioritizing student well-being and creating opportunities for students to connect learning with the world beyond the classroom. That includes expanding access to enrichment programs, fostering community partnerships that bring diverse voices and experiences to students, and ensuring that every child—whether they are excelling, need extra support, or have special needs—has the tools to succeed.
I would also like to continue supporting innovative approaches, like the Virtual Math Lab, that provide academic help in new and accessible ways. Ultimately, the goal is to prepare students not only for academic success, but for life—helping them grow into resilient, capable, and engaged members of the community.
I am seeking re-election to the Mendham Township Board of Education to continue advocating for all stakeholders—first, our children, their parents and educators, and then the 75% of taxpayers who do not have children in the schools.
In 2022 I ran and won election to the Board on the platform, “Transparency for Taxpayers.” Some people erroneously thought that meant cutting budgets. It never meant that. It meant working hard and willingly to seek savings and efficiencies. It meant taking the time to understand and track the details of the $19 million referendum improvements that are underway. It meant taking every relevant course offered by the school board association on school finance, governance, revenue opportunities, and more. It meant asking bold questions and listening carefully to the answers. It meant rejecting excuses like “we’ve always done it that way” and “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
I am running again because we always can do better and more, and I will keep—respectfully—asking the bold questions.
In the three years I have spent as an elected Board of Education member, I have served on the Personnel Committee and the Curriculum Committee; I am chair of the Policy Committee and the Referendum Committee; I am a delegate to the Morris County Educational Services Commission and the Morris County School Boards Association.
As a lifelong learner, I have earned 100 credits in school board continuing education, and I am the only Mendham Township School Board member to have successfully completed the Master Class program of the New Jersey School Boards Association.
I have lived in Mendham Township for 31 years and have served as Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Committeewoman on the Mendham Township governing body; chair of the Township Open Space Trust Committee for nearly 10 years in the 2000s and again when it reorganized in 2024; member of the Planning Board, the Public Safety Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Administration Committee, and much more.
I have the skill, experience and willingness to successfully navigate local, county, and state processes to benefit our schools.
Mendham Township schools are excellent National Blue Ribbon Award winners. The top-notch education provided to our children is an investment that most taxpayers willingly support. The investment pays off in high performing, successful students. And studies confirm that student success depends on high performing, dedicated educators.
“Securing Student Success”—the platform on which I am campaigning—supports our teachers beyond their fair and generous teachers’ contract. I encourage activities such as frequent, public acknowledgement of classroom innovation, recognition of the PTO’s efforts to make sure teachers have the “extras” they need, and broader communication of school pride to the non-school community. These are important intangibles that place no extra burden on the taxpayers.
I support the district’s “Every Student Every Day” credo, and I believe it applies to the whole student. Student success is more than high test scores and good grades. It encompasses responsibility, civic awareness, good citizenship and the qualities of empathy and “giving back.”
What keeps me awake at night can be summed in two words: artificial intelligence. AI’s breakneck introduction into every corner of our lives deserves educators’ concerted consideration. On the one hand, the power of AI is positively game-changing; it could, for example, create a customized learning plan for each child in alignment with the overall curriculum. But will it adversely affect personal creativity and a child’s innate drive to explore and discover? And how will it affect personal achievement? These are questions that educators must address.
On balance, one hopes that we can look back at the introduction of the internet/worldwide web, perhaps the most powerful tool of this generation, and apply the positive lessons from that experience to AI.
Special education is another crucial area to closely examine. To best serve our special needs children, how can we keep them within our district and our schools to the greatest extent possible? I advocate studying the “best practices” of other high performing school districts in the state that have advanced special education in this manner to learn ways our own district can serve our special needs cohort in the best possible way.
What continuously impresses me about Township educators is their enthusiasm, dedication and the incredibly high standards they hold for themselves and their students. This culture of care is special and has afforded my children the opportunity to thrive academically while also benefiting from the diverse extracurricular and social/emotional programs our schools offer. Our family feels incredibly fortunate to be part of this school community and it has been my privilege to serve as a member of the Board of Education.
Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed — academically, emotionally, and socially.
With over two decades of executive experience in healthcare finance and a deep commitment to public service, I bring the leadership, discipline, and transparency our schools need.
I am running to continue building a district that reflects the ideals that make our schools strong: educational excellence, fiscal responsibility, community strength, and student wellbeing.
Mendham Township Board of Education Experience: As a current member of the Mendham Township Board of Education, I serve on key committees, including Operations & Finance, helping shape budgets and strategic planning for our district. I also serve on the state’s Quality Single Accountability Continuum (QSAC) monitoring team ensuring our schools meet rigorous state standards.
Executive & Financial Expertise: I possess over two decades of senior management experience, where I have balanced multi-million-dollar budgets, taking fiscally decisive actions regarding resource allocation.
Commitment to Student Wellbeing: As Walk Chair of the Mendhams Stigma Free Task Force, I have raised over $25,000 for mental health and wellness programs for our schools and the community. I understand that academic achievement and emotional wellbeing go hand in hand.
Community Leadership: From reinvigorating the Mendham Township Education Foundation to co-founding the Chester-Mendham Angels, I build partnerships that have made our community stronger.
Mendham Township is incredibly fortunate to have exceptional teachers who are truly among the best in their field. As a board, each year, we set District and Board of Education Goals — all of which are posted on the district website — to keep ourselves accountable to Township residents. These goals, include measuring whole-child education and improving student outcomes, supporting professional teacher development, and using data to guide grade level instruction. We are consistently evaluating how we invest resources to make sure every dollar is used wisely and that we are managing taxpayer funds to keep the tax burden as low as possible.
Finding the balance between teacher retention, educational excellence, and fiscal responsibility is not just our goal — it is our responsibility as a Board of Education. As an incumbent, I can’t make promises about how we will do this, because that is the work itself: carefully and thoughtfully navigating these priorities on behalf of our community.
The State of New Jersey sets standards for every public school district curriculum. The Board of Education does not make specific curriculum recommendations; however, we provide curriculum oversight and evaluate outcomes so that our administrators, educators and support staff have the resources they need to do their job and every student succeeds academically, socially, and emotionally.
