I love Roxbury and have called this my home for over 30 years. I raised my children here and all received excellent educations and were well prepared for their future. I want the children coming through the system today to be just as well prepared.
I believe Roxbury schools are falling behind in areas due to the focus of the BOE. I would like the focus to return to education, curriculum and retaining highly qualified teachers. There is also more to preparing students for life than academics. We need to keep in mind those going into a trade or into military service. We need well rounded adults prepared to go out in the world.
I also believe there needs to be more transparency with what the BOE is working on behind closed doors - our residents and taxpayers deserve information.
I am a prior Roxbury BOE member, as well as serving as the President. I was very focused on policies and governance, and strived to follow the Code of Ethics at all times. I know the history of the district, and am therefore able to look back at what has worked or not worked in the past. Currently I think the BOE is struggling with transparency, and I believe a return to how we historically did meetings - 2 per month with 1 focused on updating the public on the focus of each committee would go a long way to making the community have more confidence in the BOE.
I believe our Superintendent being willing to take on the role of Curriculum Supervisor is commendable and reflective of his commitment to the district, but I would like more research if there are other Administrators that would not have such an impact on students and education.
I think the REA contract needs to get more in line with neighboring districts so we can attract and retain qualified teachers. This will take a joint effort with the REA, but I believe it is doable. As President I was on a prior negotiating team where we were able to negotiate longer student contact hours in exchange for other line items that were a benefit to the members. Negotiating takes respect and work, but it can definitely be successful!
1. I think we need to encourage students to take AP exams. Even if they don't receive college credit, they are benefitting from the experience of taking college level exams.
2. At the lower level, after reviewing the latest school rankings, I have realized we have fallen far behind neighboring districts on state testing. Although teaching to the test isn't in a student's best interest, effort needs to be made to raise those scores.
3. The continuing effort of our Superintendent to raise ESL education as well as Special Education is an excellent start. Programs like the Aviation Program is helping students in ways that other districts cannot. And continuing our efforts to be a Choice School will continue to attract excellent students to the district.
As both a career educator and a parent in the district, I want to see the Board serve in its true, non-partisan role, not focused on personal agendas, but on how the Board can support the school district in providing a safe and enriching environment that honors all students’ interests and backgrounds, and, most importantly, providing them with the tools they need to be “future-ready” and be successful in whatever they decide to pursue once they walk across the graduation stage with their diplomas in hand.
I have worked in Higher Education for 25 years, spending the past six years at a community college in Northern NJ, with my primary role providing opportunities for high school students to earn college credits, either through taking college-taught classes or through dual enrollment opportunities at their home high school. Since I started my role, over 100 high school students have earned an Associate Degree as they completed high school.
Operating in both the higher education and K-12 sectors simultaneously, I have a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing young people as they consider what their futures hold after high school graduation, whether that be a degree path or immediate employment. In my professional role, I represent my college on many county committees, including the School Superintendents’ Roundtable and individual high school CTE advisory boards.
In my experience as a manager, I have always believed that you hire people with expertise to perform a role and, while you set the overall vision, you give them the freedom and flexibility to use their expertise while also giving them the tools and support to be successful. I believe the same holds true when it comes to both recruiting and retraining quality teachers. Retaining and supporting quality teachers is also an important aspect in delivering impactful and challenging education for the students, so they are set up for success. However, it is important to recognize that residents feel stretched thin by property taxes, which are the primary source of funding for our district - and that the cost of operating quality schools is only going to get more expensive. That is why it is imperative to invest time in exploring both grant opportunities and public/private partnerships with local and statewide employers who may be willing to invest in innovative programs that are mutually beneficial.
The State of New Jersey passed a law in 2023 requiring the teaching of media literacy in public schools. Since then, artificial intelligence has already rapidly changed the digital media landscape and is having a significant impact on entry-level employment. I believe it is critical to update our media literacy curriculum to significantly incorporate AI literacy as well. I would also like to see the district work with CCM to expand our dual enrollment programs, beyond piecemeal credit opportunities, towards alignment in multiple CTE programs that would benefit both college-bound and employment-bound students after graduation.
Teacher retention and school safety are two important issues for me. Too often our district loses young talented teachers. School safety is an area my experience will be very valuable and helpful in. There are so many simple steps to give parents, students, and teachers more piece of mind when it comes to their safety.
I have lived in Roxbury my entire life and was lucky enough to recently compete a 25 year career as a Roxbury Twp. Police Officer. The experience I gained rising through the ranks at Roxbury PD will be invaluable as I look to serve our citizens once again on the Board of Education. In addition I come from a teacher family. Both of my parents and my brother have almost 100 years of educational experience. So I have no shortage of places to turn to for knowledge and guidance.
While a police officer I was very active in my police union. I served as president of the union for a number of years. I was involved in every police contract which was negotiated and settled since 1992. We were very creative and thorough to balance the needs of the union member and taxpayer and in the end signed contracts in which both parties were very satisfied. I look forward to doing the same with our amazing teachers.
I would like to see more curriculum based on long term life success. Preparing students for experiences and hurdles they are most certain to encounter. Of course this encompasses many areas including self health, finance and investing, career paths, and even more specific topics such as unique electives one would utilize in their adult life.
I am running for the Roxbury Board of Education because I believe every child deserves the chance to simply be a child—free to learn, grow, and feel safe in school without being pushed toward any particular agenda. Schools should be a place where students gain the skills and knowledge they need to thrive as adults, while also feeling protected, valued, and supported. My motivation is to ensure that Roxbury provides an excellent education while maintaining the kind of schools that make our town an attractive place to live and raise a family. That means balancing high-quality academics and opportunities for students with responsible financial management, so that we keep taxes as low as possible for residents. I want to make a real difference in the lives of our children by fostering safe, supportive schools that prepare them for success in the real world, while ensuring Roxbury remains a strong, vibrant community.
As an incumbent on the Roxbury Board of Education, I draw on both professional expertise and personal experience to serve our community. For over 30 years, I’ve worked as a freelance graphic designer for small and large companies, and as an illustrator and editor for major educational publishers including Houghton Mifflin, Scholastic, and Pearson Education. My work as a web designer in the medical education and technology industries has strengthened my skills in communication, data analysis, and project management. Beyond my career, I’ve been a counselor for inner-city kids in Paterson and have served as the Media Coordinator for Operation Christmas Child in Northeast NJ. Most importantly, I am a special needs parent to a 19-year-old nonverbal son with level 3 autism, and an advocate for bringing alternative communication methods into public schools. These experiences have shaped me into a collaborative problem-solver and strong advocate, committed to ensuring every Roxbury student has the tools and support to thrive.
As a Roxbury Board of Education candidate, I know our district is facing real challenges. With over 21% of state funding lost due to S2 cuts, we’ve had to make hard financial decisions while trying to preserve programs and services for students. At the same time, we’ve seen too many valued teachers and administrators leave, creating added strain on our schools. My focus is on advocating for fair funding, improving transparency in how dollars are spent, and ensuring that we retain and support high-quality educators. Our students deserve stability, strong leadership, and the resources to thrive, even in difficult financial times. I am committed to working with the board, administration, and community to find solutions that protect our classrooms and prioritize our kids’ education above all else.
I believe Roxbury’s curriculum should focus on strong academics—reading, math, science, and history, trades, careers—while keeping lessons age-appropriate and free from outside agendas, sexually inappropriate content, or excessive emphasis on gender issues. Parents deserve transparency and a real voice in what their children are taught. My priority is ensuring every child feels safe, supported, and focused on learning the skills they need to succeed in life, while keeping classrooms centered on education, not politics.
I have worked in public schools. Teachers and students are unhappy. I have been asking questions for years to understand why and thinking about ways to bring the joy back into the classroom. Whatever we are doing right now, isn't working, so I am running to make a creative difference in how our schools function.
I wrestled with my own learning disorder to make it through college and ultimately earn a Masters Degree in Teaching. I know what it means to struggle as a student. I have worked in private preschools and public schools pre-k through 12. I have taught students of every age. I know the challenges student face. I know the challenges teachers face and I know the challenges that support staff face. I have experience inside the very schools I am seeking to serve.
I would like to make the environment better for teachers, less contentious and more collaborative. We as a community, got off track and started viewing education as an us verses them issue. It is not. Schools are successful when they have community support. We need to bring everybody back together to rise. As for the desire for lower taxes, I want the board to take a hard look at where the money goes and figure out what is wasteful spending.
I actually would love to make many changes to the curriculum that simply may not be allowed by the state. I would like to limit, or remove technology from the elementary schools and introduce more hands on, project based learning. I would like to encourage outdoor learning spaces at all schools. In the upper schools, I would like to add curriculum focused on understanding emergent technologies, and ways to think critically about media content. I would love to introduce classes in cyber safety and responsible use of social media.
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