Belleville 2024 school board candidates share backgrounds, key issues, reasons for running

Personal background:
I am a graduate of the Belleville cosmetology program. I graduated with my license and have been doing hair since.

Public service background:
I have served on the board of education for the last 3 years. i have been a member of various committees while on the board. I have been an active member of the HSA for my children’s school and also serve on the board of directors for my children’s club soccer team.

Reason for running:
When I first got elected to the board I quickly realized my passion to be involved on a deeper level. I love being able to serve my community through local government. There have been various initiatives I have had a direct impact on and I am so excited to have the opportunity to serve another 3 years to see these initiatives come to fruition.

Biggest issue:
I advocate for increased parental involvement in school decision-making to ensure a stronger voice in shaping our children’s education.

I am committed to enhancing the safety and security of our school buildings to provide a secure learning environment.

I believe in raising awareness of digital responsibility by educating students early on about safe and responsible Internet use to build essential digital skills.

Campaign slogan and meaning:
Belleville’s Children First.

Approach to budget cuts and spending:
I have been fiscally responsible with spending in the district. I have called for a technology audit to weed out what we aren’t using. cutting back on wasteful spending is a priority.

The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire.

Personal background:
I moved to Belleville about 33 years ago. After college I moved away for a bit, but returned to Belleville in 2015. Currently I have a son who just started preschool in Belleville.  Currently I am a second grade math/science teacher in Passaic. This is my first year in the Dual Language Program. I am also the current second grade science curriculum writer. I started as a preschool paraprofessional in 2007. Then I went back to school to obtain my teaching license. I became a preschool teacher in 2013 and then in 2015 became a second grade teacher. In 2020 my grade became departmentalized and I was chosen to teach only math and science.  

I hold my P-3 license, Supervisor certificate, and MEd in Literacy with a concentration in Reading Specialist. I am currently working on my Bilingual/ ESL certificates.

Public service background:
Since 2007, I have been a dedicated professional in the educational system. My extensive experience has fueled a deep desire to create a broader impact in the community. I want to focus on the community I was raised in. Motivated by this passion for service, I am pursuing a position on the Board of Education.

Reason for running:
In my opinion, providing more resources for our multi language learners would benefit our students. Class sizes can also be something to improve so teachers are able to focus on each child’s learning needs. I would also like to continue the work the special education department has going on.  I would like for every family to be able to voice their concerns. I would also like  to increase community engagement with the school district to offer more workshops for parents. These workshops can talk about what their students are learning and how parents can help at home. There can also be workshops where parents talk about what worked for their children and how to make it more accessible for other parents. Continuing the events Belleville currently offers is also important. I want to listen to teachers and have discussions with them about how they feel about their current positions. I would like to work with the town government to improve student, parent, and teacher morale as well as potentially partnerships to benefit the school community and township as a whole.

Candidate’s biggest issue:
I believe the biggest issue is the support we need for our multi-language learners. I also want to look at the student dress code policy because many families have spoken up about their concerns.

Campaign slogan and meaning:
Teachers for Belleville.

It means that as a teacher I will be able to help Belleville make educated decisions on education for the education offered in Belleville. If I am voted into the BOE , one of my biggest decisions will be to choose the Superintendent. During my teaching profession I have had three superintendents and the most important quality is the passion they have had for the students. I also believe a Superintendent should be able to inspire their staff and motivate the students. I believe a Superintendent should be open to ideas and be able to communicate effectively with the people they serve, but at the same time be a strong leader.  

Approach to budget cuts and spending:
I would like to continue applying for grants to help us in costs the schools may need.

Additional information about candidate:
I want the voters to know that I am here for Belleville and I really want our children to be successful in all aspects of school. I want our children to have opportunities that will help them in their future careers.

The candidate did not respond to the questionnaire.