VOTE411 Voter Guide

I'm a parent of two middle-schoolers, a 17-year resident of Lambertville, and an experienced educator with 17 years of full-time service in higher education, most of those years in the public sector. I'm also a historian, a published author, and an advocate for bringing passion and purpose back to education. My experience includes a three-year term on the South Hunterdon Regional Board of Education at a critical time in the district: from 2017 to 2021, I helped shepherd our district through challenging times: contract renegotiation after a period of extended impasse; navigating a contentious process of consolidation to come to a referendum, which passed, that addressed decades-old facilities issues and set a path for the future; selecting a new superintendent; and helping to steer the district's course during Covid, with its myriad challenges, in a way that supported the needs of learners and the community. I previously led the Curriculum and Technology Committee, bringing my professional experience as a university leader to aid the function of the Board. I am knowledgable, empathetic, and understand first-hand the role of a Board member.

Partnering with the state is a critical avenue to advance cost savings for local districts in New Jersey, as increases in fixed costs such as healthcare, utilities, and diesel fuel have put increasing pressure on our school budgets, just as they have on taxpayers’ own household budgets. At the local level, paying close attention to the cost of sending kids out of the district is important for South Hunterdon. Recently the board entered into partnership with Hunterdon County Polytech to launch a tuition-based performing arts academy. This kind of model is useful for us to think about ways to not only keep students in the district and thus capture cost-savings of out-of-district tuition and transportation, but moreover, to develop distinct district offerings that generate a net-positive for operating budget and serve distinct student needs.

We have existing models for generating community input that have proven useful, most notably the focus groups facilitated by a community social-service agency partner and the strategic planning process which the district will begin again in 2028. The current board has been developing additional measures to gauge implementation as part of board goals. As a returning board member, I plan to work with existing structures and constituencies to further embed two-way feedback between school leadership, the board, and parents and community members. One way we can expand communication that helps the board to establish the direction of the district and ensure it is representative of a diversity of voices is to build events into the school calendar that engage the community and provide informal avenues for feedback, which can function as a complementary stream to more formalized, and existing, streams. Making the schools a place parents want to be, where they want to volunteer and be involved as they are able, can further generate the kind of engaged, informed feedback that can help the Board to formulate its strategic vision.

As an educator working in the university sector, I take a skeptical approach to AI as a tool for teaching and learning in the PreK-12 grades. The kinds of policies I would support would be developed from questions such as: What proficiencies do students actually need, and when? What applications would be relevant for teachers to achieve larger goals and model ethical use of AI? Technology should be a tool whose use is determined by educators, not corporations. Does the tool help students develop a sense of judgement, of educated discernment? Does it empower learners? Public school districts are critical spaces for reinforcing a human-centered, developmentally appropriate approach to learning; developing the competencies, habits of mind, and knowledge needed to navigate the world, live in community, and engage in meaningful work in the future. It is from this position that I would evaluate policies governing the use of AI in the district.

The education and well-being of children are essential to a strong community, and that is why I am running for another term on the School Board. My background in mental health and nonprofit administration has focused on helping people reach their full potential, including families facing barriers that can affect educational success. I understand how social, emotional, and mental health needs influence learning, attendance, behavior, and educational outcomes. I bring a whole-child perspective to the Board, supporting policies and partnerships that help every student feel safe, supported, and able to succeed.

My top budget priority is to protect strong classroom instruction while thoughtfully expanding student-focused programs and strengthening teaching expertise. Like many NJ school districts, South Hunterdon Regional School District faces significant financial pressure from rising staff health care premiums. I will continue working collaboratively with district administration and the Board to identify responsible cost-saving options that support our staff and keep funding focused on the areas we value most. I believe we should continue advocating at the state level for health care reform and a more sustainable school funding formula. Additionally, I am enthusiastic about developing new programs, such as our School of Performing Arts partnership with Hunterdon Polytech, to help keep students in the district, broaden learning opportunities, and attract students from neighboring communities, and build our budget with increased tuition revenue.

The Board is returning to the practice of rotating meeting locations to make participation easier for more community members, especially families who may face transportation barriers. The district also holds regular focus groups, facilitated by local nonprofit partners, to ensure Latino families are heard and included in setting district goals. Our 2023–2028 strategic plan was successful because it was developed through active community participation, and the goals set over the past five years grew directly from that process. As we prepare to develop the next strategic plan, the Board will hold community sessions to review what has been accomplished and gather feedback as a way of broadening community engagement.

I strongly believe AI should never replace genuine learning, human connection, or the “productive struggle” that helps students develop critical thinking skills. At the same time, I do not believe an outright ban is the answer. AI is already part of our world and will increasingly shape the future our students enter. Schools should teach students both the benefits and limitations of AI, while establishing clear expectations for acceptable use and setting age-appropriate limits. Without that guidance, students may be more likely to use AI as a shortcut in ways that undermine their learning.