The 2014 school year was contentious in Highland Park with strong debates occurring over many issues including layoffs, tax hikes, standardized testing, adequacy of computers and classroom technology, and the fate of a controversial superintendent. On Nov. 4, the voters get to add their definitive voices to these debates.
Seven candidates are running for three vacant seats on the Highland Park School Board. The candidates are running as two slates of three candidates each, and one candidate is running without a slate. Highland Park School Board elections are non-partisan, so none of the slates or candidates is formally aligned with the major political parties. The candidates are:
Support Our Schools Highland Park: Anne Gowen, Rob Roslewicz, and Michelle McFadden-DiNicola
Unaffiliated: Michael Greenberg
Unite Highland Park: Ashley Wharton, Jordan Siegel, and Don Corr
Highland Park Planet reached out to all seven candidates and asked each to respond to an identical set of two questions. Below are their responses which have not been edited in any way. The answers are in alphabetical order according to the candidate’s last name.
DON CORR: UNITE HIGHLAND PARK
Question 1: What motivated you to run for school board? I assume that your motivation was fueled by your vision of how you wanted to improve the school system. So please in your answer elaborate on the area (s) that in your opinion need change/improvement and then delineate one or more initiatives that you would like to implement in the schools to create the best learning environment for Highland Park’s youth.
I am a long-time Highland Park resident and a father of a recent graduate. I moved to this town for the public schools , and those schools helped make my son the successful college student he is today. I want to serve on the board of education because I am indebted to the teachers and the staff that provided so much for my child, and I want to help to ensure that Highland Park will continue to offer a high-quality education for all its children. I have the commitment and skills to help lead our district through the challenges ahead.
My professional experience as a school psychologist has made me keenly aware of the difficulties that students encounter in order to succeed academically, and one of my top goals is to work on bridging the achievement gap and making all students’ success a priority. I also understand what it means to work in a school system, and I want to help our teachers and staff get the support they need to do their jobs successfully. If elected I’d like to work with the community to form a task force that would not only study Highland Park’s achievement gap but would pinpoint best practices and solutions for closing it. We must tap into community expertise to focus on this and find solutions as a community.
Question 2: How does your background/skills particularly qualify you for the position?
My experience as a psychologist and child study team member for the Princeton school district has prepared me to understand the dynamics of the relationships among teachers, students, and their families. Drawing from this experience, I can help the board develop and sustain a connective structure among school administrators, teachers, and the community that can provide exchange and continued dialogue. I also understand the need for strong, ethical, and focused leadership to guide our schools through challenging and unsettling times. Again, my experience as a psychologist informs my approach of thoughtful leadership and policy making.
MICHAEL J. GREENBERG: UNAFFILIATED
Question 1: What motivated you to run for school board? I assume that your motivation was fueled by your vision of how you wanted to improve the school system. So please in your answer elaborate on the area (s) that in your opinion need change/improvement and then delineate one or more initiatives that you would like to implement in the schools to create the best learning environment for Highland Park’s youth.
I am running for a position on the Highland Park Board of Education because I am passionate about education, and believe that everyone desires and deserves the same thing for their children – a high quality education. To provide a high-quality education for our children, all of the stakeholders – community members, members of the Board of Education, administrators, teachers and support staff – need to work together collaboratively. The current climate has unfortunately become incredibly toxic. This needs to change. We must set the tone for proper decorum for our students.
In order for this collaboration to be successful, we should be regularly communicating face-to-face with community members, teachers, support staff, administrators and most important, but often the most ignored – the students whom we serve. How many of the current board members do you think have spoken to students, not their own children, and asked the questions, “How’s it going?” “What would you like to see us try to do to make the schools better?” This would provide us with crucial information that no amount of data would show. We should additionally be tapping into the many talents and vast knowledge of our community; partnering with the professors and professionals who call Highland Park, New Jersey home and who would be a valuable resource for our students and staff.
In addition to the community collaboration, there are two major initiatives that I would like to implement to create the best learning environment for Highland Park’s youth. One is to create a volunteer committee of parents, teachers, staff members, other administrators that would be responsible for interviewing candidates for administrative positions. While the final decision would rest with the school board, often, many of the various constituencies create questions that are often overlooked by personnel committees. This would include the upcoming search for a Superintendent. As our recent past has proven, we can no longer rely on the methods previously used.
The second major initiative involves school safety. Hands down, our number one priority should be school safety. The recent chaos of school dismissals prove that there is an immediate need for drastic improvements to be made. Not only should schools be equipped with the latest in security, just as vital, the students should be made to feel safe. We are all aware that those students who feel secure, not only in the classroom, but in their school building as well, achieve greater academic success.
Question 2: How does your background/skills particularly qualify you for the position?
My background qualifies me to become a school board member since my entire 17 year career has been in education. As a classroom teacher, I understand fully the needs of the students, parents as well as the demands of State and Federal regulations. The Common Core rollout has been a public relations fiasco from the beginning, in not only the Highland Park school district might I add. With new assessments being implemented that are being tied to the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards, it is absolutely essential that the Highland Park Board of Education take a pro-active role in providing support for our students to achieve success on these next-generation assessments. How can we do this? We must support our teachers with valuable professional development, our parents with workshops on how to help at home, and classroom support from our faculty for our students.
I am currently on a team that is improving the Science curriculum to align to the Common Core as well as reflect both the state standards and the upcoming Next Generation Science Standards.
As members of various committees, from the teacher’s union to building-level management (student population ranging from 800-1050), I have both experiences in educational best-practices and those practices that did not work. Having these various experiences, plus being currently employed as a classroom teacher, curriculum writer and committee member, make me best qualified for the position as a member of the Highland Park School Board.
ANNE GOWEN: SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS HIGHLAND PARK
Question 1: What motivated you to run for school board? I assume that your motivation was fueled by your vision of how you wanted to improve the school system. So please in your answer elaborate on the area (s) that in your opinion need change/improvement and then delineate one or more initiatives that you would like to implement in the schools to create the best learning environment for Highland Park’s youth.
As a parent of two young boys, I have spent a lot of time in the Highland Park schools. But last fall I became very involved in school issues after the unexplained dismissal of ten school employees by the newly appointed superintendent. The more school board meetings I attended, the more research I did about education issues, the more I spoke to community members throughout the borough, the more interested and involved I became. In my professional and personal life I have always been committed to social justice and equity, and now I intend to use that commitment and my knowledge about education to support our schools on the board of education.
My goal is to make sure the needs of all Highland Park children are met – regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or gender, and regardless of whether they have special needs, are gifted learners, are still learning English, or represent other “categories.” I intend not only to listen to, but actively solicit input from, students, families, teachers, administrators and community residents, as appropriate, before making important decisions for the school district. I would like to see “town hall” discussions on a variety of topics, especially the school budget. Additionally, I would advocate for cultural competency training for board members, administrators, and staff, to help ensure that we are serving all students well.
Question 2: How does your background/skills particularly qualify you for the job?
I am an appellate attorney for prisoners unable to pay for legal representation. This career has allowed me to combine my love for doing detailed research on complicated issues with my passion for social justice. The past year has made clear that both of these traits are essential for school board members. As a board member, I will continue to investigate state and federal mandates for schools, analyze policy issues, and collaborate closely with all segments of the borough – all in an effort to create a school community that values teachers and administrators, considers the needs and desires of families and community residents, and most importantly provides Highland Park children with bright futures based on a high quality education.
MICHELLE MCFADDEN-DINICOLA: SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS HIGHLAND PARK
Question 1: What motivated you to run for school board? I assume that your motivation was fueled by your vision of how you wanted to improve the school system. So please in your answer elaborate on the area (s) that in your opinion need change/improvement and then delineate one or more initiatives that you would like to implement in the schools to create the best learning environment for Highland Park’s youth.
I have always been a passionate advocate for child-centered education that promotes respect for children, meeting them where they are in their individual development and honoring their natural curiosity and interests. I was drawn to stronger activism during this tumultuous last year. I became a founding member of Highland Park Cares About Schools (HPCAS ), an organization devoted to improving the relationship between the community and the school district and educating residents about current issues in public education.
Coming out of this year, I knew I wanted to help put our district back on track by joining the school board. Not just for my three school-aged children, and not just because I had experienced firsthand what getting on the wrong track could do to students, families, teachers and even our community. But because I believe so strongly that by working together in support of all the children in Highland Park we can ensure their academic success and social and emotional happiness. My goal is to work with other school board members to initiate, maintain and value two-way communication with school staff, families and community, keep our community informed about federal and state policies affecting our schools, and create a 21st-century learning environment that values all students.
As an educator I believe that assessing students in an appropriate manner to determine if they are able to retain concepts is very important, but that’s not the same thing as over-testing students or encouraging staff members to teach to the test. I want to make sure our schools continue to offer a full range of science, social studies, music and art classes. There is a delicate balance that can be reached between state-mandated testing and a full, rich and interesting curriculum for our students. I know I can help our schools keep that balance.
Question 2: How does your background/skills particularly qualify you for the job?
As an educator with a Master’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and ten-years of experience in various education settings, including a program for very young children that I created, I have a clear vision for high quality, child-centered education. My work with HPCAS and Save Our Schools NJ (SOSNJ), including helping to organize town-wide discussions, has shown me the need for more communication, more understanding and more collaboration when it comes to our schools. My work at the Highland Park public library has shown me what a kind and committed community we are. I look forward to using my skills and dedication, along with your commitment to our children and our borough, to improve our schools.
ROB ROSLEWICZ: SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS HIGHLAND PARK
Question 1: What motivated you to run for school board? I assume that your motivation was fueled by your vision of how you wanted to improve the school system. So please in your answer elaborate on the area (s) that in your opinion need change/improvement and then delineate one or more initiatives that you would like to implement in the schools to create the best learning environment for Highland Park’s youth.
I have been a volunteer in Highland Park for more than a decade, but over the last year I decided to focus my energies on our schools because of the problematic leadership of the former superintendent. I attended almost all regular and special Board of Education meetings and spent countless hours researching issues. In the process, I learned so much about public education in general and the Highland Park schools in particular. I have become knowledgeable about school budgets, standards and testing, use of technology, professional development, leadership requirements, etc.
The school district is emerging from a very difficult year, and numerous decisions will have to be made to improve our schools for all children. The most important decision will be choosing a new superintendent. But before any of this work can be done and done well, the school board needs to adopt a guiding principle of communication with, and inclusion of, parents, teachers and community members, all of whom have an enormous stake in our schools and our children’s futures. Recent district expenditures are an example of this – large expenditures were made on technology without a clear technology plan in place, even though parents and community members repeatedly requested one. My goal would be to establish a clear, carefully thought out plan that would take into account student and staff needs, testing mandates, hardware obsolescence and other considerations before investing in technology.
My children attend Highland Park schools. My wife, Jenni Chapman, owns a local business. We are committed to Highland Park and all its residents. I decided to run for school board because I want to help steer one of the most important institutions in our community in the right direction. In addition to focusing on communication, transparency and collaboration, I look forward to working to improve school morale, board financial oversight and operations, and the academic and extracurricular experiences of each and every child. I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing to serve my community.
Question 2: How does your background/skills particularly qualify you for the job?
School board members don’t function as educators or administrators. Instead, they work together to ensure the schools operate well through review and improvement of school district policy, selection and evaluation of the superintendent, and oversight and diligence around the school budget. I will bring to the board not only my experience as a public school parent, but also my professional know-how as a landscape architect who must regularly coordinate projects, budgets, and staff, while meeting deadlines and remaining in close communication with clients. These skills will enable me to collaborate with other school board members to establish goals and policies that reflect our community’s values while ensuring fiscal responsibility and administrative accountability.
JORDAN SIEGEL: UNITE HIGHLAND PARK
Question 1: What motivated you to run for school board? I assume that your motivation was fueled by your vision of how you wanted to improve the school system. So please in your answer elaborate on the area (s) that in your opinion need change/improvement and then delineate one or more initiatives that you would like to implement in the schools to create the best learning environment for Highland Park’s youth.
I’ve lived in Highland Park for 21 years, and both of my children received a high-quality education in this school district. I am running because I want to give back to the schools that helped my children flourish, and I know that my experience and background will help the district continue this legacy. I want our district to stay focused on building on and strengthening a rigorous and enriching curricula for our students, while promoting a culture of educational leadership in which teachers are encouraged and supported to achieve excellence in their craft. If elected, I would like to help the administration establish mentoring programs among teachers within the district, as well as ensure that professional development for our teachers is at an appropriate, supportive and effective level. I also believe that the administration must establish and implement fiscally sensible programs that meet district goals. It is important to find many ways to carry out our district goals and look to the wider community for resources through grant writing and use potential resources and programs at Rutgers that may enhance educational opportunities in Highland Park.
Question 2: How does your background/skills particularly qualify you for the position?
As a school counselor, I work with students who struggle to achieve. Every day, I see the importance of a student-centered and solid administrative infrastructure in the proper functioning of a district and, ultimately, for the success of its students. My job reminds me every day that teachers and school staff are the keys to building student achievement, and as a district we must find meaningful and consistent ways to support our teachers. Trust and collaboration between teachers and the administration is essential. My experience working with teachers and mentoring students of all backgrounds will allow me to focus on building and maintaining a solid mentoring and professional development program
ASHLEY WHARTON: UNITE HIGHLAND PARK
Question 1: What motivated you to run for school board? I assume that your motivation was fueled by your vision of how you wanted to improve the school system. So please in your answer elaborate on the area (s) that in your opinion need change/improvement and then delineate one or more initiatives that you would like to implement in the schools to create the best learning environment for Highland Park’s youth.
In November 2013, I went to a board meeting and learned that there were both fiscal and achievement issues in our district that were not being discussed in a community-wide manner. I felt that I could help promote discussion on these issues and volunteered to fill a vacancy on the Board in March of 2014. I believe that teachers and staff deserve an administration focused on collegiality, mutual respect, and support. Since the beginning of my tenure as a board member, I have been part of the curriculum committee. I have worked on the organization of the curriculum for all subjects and at various levels, the development of a support network for teachers and staff, and the general improvement of curricular matters. These are challenging tasks, but if we want our schools to remain strong, we need to give our teachers the support they need while maintaining an open dialogue with teachers and administrators.
I also believe that the community deserves an administration focused on transparency, communication, and engagement – our success as a district depends on our ability to unite and communicate effectively. The board of education must create an open system of communication that is collaborative, inclusive and respectful of all members of the community. If elected, I will make it my priority to create opportunities for active community engagement such as consistent group discussions that are open to all members of the community so that issues and concerns can be discussed on continual and regular basis.
Question 2: How does your background/skills particularly qualify you for the position?
I am a registered nurse with a master’s degree in information technology. I specifically focus on how clinical services, technology and operations intersect and can work in tandem to improve healthcare. My position requires that I collaborate with groups who work in three separate areas of healthcare and has enabled me to develop the skills necessary to bring clear and consistent communication among parties with different needs and demands. These skills will help me to foster an environment of open communication and collaboration both within the district and also between the district and the wider community. I believe in responsive leadership and will work to help the board establish and maintain clear and consistent policies that reflect our community’s needs. My knowledge of information technology has helped me contribute positively to board discussions on immediate needs, and I want to continue to help with the district’s future investments in technology.