VOTE411 Voter Guide

My priorities are to establish a rapport with my fellow Board Members, school administrators, and educators by actively listening, asking questions, finding common ground to bridge gaps, and working collaboratively in the best interests of our students and district. I will be an active part of the process of selecting a new superintendent by working to find a candidate who wants to become part of our community, build trust, provide stability, and work collaboratively with the Board, school administrators, families, and students to maintain the strength of our district. I will partner with and support Acting Superintendent Kristi DeFazio in her new role to continue fostering a productive and collaborative relationship. I will collaborate with our district’s BA to identify revenue-generating opportunities that will help restore programs impacted by the failed public question, while also addressing rising healthcare, transportation, and inflation-related costs. I will remain informed and engaged as the state considers changes to the school funding system and advocate for a system that strengthens opportunities for all students. Finally, I will listen to families, educators, staff, and our broader community and disseminate public information in a timely and transparent manner.

I will review the district’s current academic, vocational, and fine arts offerings and understand our students' needs and interests. I will work with educators, administrators, students, and families to identify areas where we can strengthen opportunities, expand student choice, and ensure our programs prepare students for a variety of paths after graduation. Any changes should be thoughtful, data-informed, and aligned with the needs of our students and community.

I believe funding that directly supports student learning and growth, educators, and essential student services should be carefully protected. At the same time, I would work with fellow Board members, administration, and the community to find opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary costs without compromising the quality of education. Reviewing the district’s budget and understanding its priorities will be critical to making fiscally responsible decisions while keeping students at the center of those decisions.

I believe students and families in every community need additional support at different times. As a candidate who has not yet been officially elected, I will listen to our educators, administrators, and families to understand where the greatest needs are. Once elected, I will support policies and services that provide students with the resources they need to feel safe, supported, and successful, while using district resources responsibly.

Any policy regarding curriculum must meet the standards forth by the NJ Department of Education. If the curriculum needs to change to meet a new standard, parents and educators can share feedback. There is always an opportunity to work collaboratively to ensure state standards are met, and parents’ voices are heard.

The schools’ primary responsibility is to provide a safe, supportive, and stable learning environment for every student. All families should feel supported in the school. To that end, districts should continue to follow all guidance provided by the NJ Department of Education on this and any topic related to activities within the walls of schools.

The budget review process will be a top priority for me. I have built a career in financial analytics, and I’m prepared to ask tough questions about how money is spent. My goal is to find innovative ways to operate productively without sacrificing what our students need most.

I will also strive to nurture relationships among our educators, staff, school administrators, and township officials, so that we collaboratively work together toward the same goal. How we communicate matters, especially when difficult decisions must be made. I plan to ensure we always listen to and engage Robbinsville residents in conversation. People may not always agree with every decision the Board makes, but they should understand how and why those decisions were made.

I’m also excited to play a role in selecting our next superintendent. Beyond being a capable educational leader, I believe we need someone personable and sincerely dedicated to Robbinsville. We need a person who listens, develops trust, and brings our schools and community together.

I think it’s important to recognize that success won’t look the same for every student. I believe our schools should give kids the opportunity to discover what they’re good at and what truly interests them. I’d like to take a closer look at the programs we already have in Robbinsville and collaborate with the students and teachers who are actually in our classrooms every day. Ultimately, I want our students to leave Robbinsville with choices and feel they have the best possible support structure to make their future goals achievable.

I think we should be able to explain if we’re getting good value for every dollar in our district’s budget. Before deciding where we can save or where we need to invest, I want to further understand the budget from the ground up and make sure we take into account the perspectives of those who best understand our students' needs. Decisions cannot be made in private meetings without extensive input from our administration, Board members, and residents in Robbinsville.

It’s critical that we provide students who require assistance with a way to access it. Every child requires a different level of support, potentially at various times in their educational journey. Before determining what changes are necessary, I would like to hear from those who are closest to our students—our teachers, staff, administrators, and parents. They are best positioned to tell us what is working, where we might be falling short, and where the Board can make a difference. My job will be to take that feedback, ask the right questions, and help find practical solutions that put students first while also being mindful of the demands we place on our taxpayers.

Our curriculum has to meet the standards set by the New Jersey Department of Education. What’s important is that our parents have a voice in the conversation. When changes are needed, we should be open about what is changing and why, and give both parents and educators an opportunity to provide meaningful feedback. Ensuring all families feel safe when discussing this topic is critical.

As a parent, I believe our schools should always be a safe haven for all students. We need to educate and support our students while complying with the law and ensuring families understand the policies that affect them.

I believe a successful term on the Board starts with keeping our students at the center of every decision. Having served on the Board and several committees, I understand the challenges we face, particularly our current budget situation. At the same time, I believe we can address those challenges given time without losing sight of the positive future we want for our schools and students.

My priorities are: ● Student Achievement: Our priority must always be our students. We need to keep supporting students and ensure every student has the resources and opportunities to succeed. ● Fiscal Reliability: We have a serious budget challenge, and we need to be accountable for every dollar spent. That means identifying efficiencies, pursuing grants and partnerships, and creating new financial opportunities to reduce the deficit while minimizing student impact. ● Leadership & Community: We must continue building a positive working relationship with our new administrative team while maintaining transparency and accountability with our community.

I believe the district should continue building on its strong academic, vocational, and fine arts programs while recognizing current financial constraints. Working with the administration and curriculum teams, I would prioritize maintaining our current programs while exploring new opportunities that are sustainable and responsive to student interests. Engaging families, educators, and community partners can help us identify creative ways to expand opportunities without compromising the quality of existing programs.

I believe the district’s budget should prioritize a well-rounded, whole-child approach to education, recognizing that student success extends beyond academics. Funding that directly supports student learning and growth, and essential student services, should be carefully protected. This includes strong classroom instruction, student support services, extracurricular activities, athletics, and the arts. As responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, we should continually evaluate how we use resources and identify efficiencies before reducing student-facing programs. This could include reviewing administrative and operational expenses, improving purchasing practices, seeking grants and community partnerships, and exploring shared services where appropriate. Budget decisions should be thoughtful, transparent, and data-driven, with input from administration, educators, families, and the community. Our goal should be to preserve what has the greatest impact on students while responsibly identifying savings and new opportunities, ensuring every student can thrive.

Every student deserves access to the support and resources they need to succeed. The Board should focus on strengthening early intervention strategies, academic support, counseling, mentoring, family engagement, and partnerships with community organizations to address obstacles that may hinder student achievement. By fostering cooperation among families, educators, and community partners, we can quickly identify needs, connect families to appropriate resources, and create an environment where every student feels supported, included, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Curriculum policies must align with the standards set by the New Jersey Department of Education. Should there be a need for adjustments to meet new requirements, both parents and educators are encouraged to provide their input. This collaborative approach fosters an environment where state standards can be achieved while ensuring that the perspectives of parents are valued and considered.

The primary responsibility of the school is to educate and support all students in accordance with New Jersey law. It is essential for the district to ensure that staff are well-informed about the required protocols, prioritize student privacy and safety, and foster an inclusive environment conducive to learning for every child.