Meet The Jefferson Board Of Education Candidates

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP, NJ — Three seats are open on the Jefferson Township Board of Education this year, and Patch caught up with the candidates ahead of the general election.

Amy Gould, Christopher Natale and Lary Wasserman are running for three open three year terms on the board. We asked all candidates the same four questions:

• Why are you running for Board Of Education?
• What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?
• What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?
• What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

All candidates were sent the questions at the same time, and were given the same deadline to submit them. They were given no minimum or maximum word count, and encouraged to write as much as they needed, or to keep the answers brief if they wanted to. Answers were submitted by email and are presented here as submitted. Wasserman did not submit by press time.

Amy Gould

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

Three years ago, I began my service in the BOE and have assisted in creating clear guidelines, developing strategies, and instituting needed changes in several areas of our educational system. I feel I have more to offer and would like to continue serving my community in this very important work.

What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?

There are two large challenges facing our school system. First, funding. The State has pulled back spending in our district and left the district having to place infrastructual needs on the back burner. We have substantial needs for renovated labs, classrooms, and other facilities. We as a community can help solve some of these issues by taking advantage of state aid that is available if we approve additiinal school funding in our community. I would help get the word out to the community so that, through providing information, each voter is confident in their choice to prioritze our children's education.

The second large obstacle we face in our system is comfort. We are comfortable with how we have done things in the past and will push back on new ideas. We need to embrace change if we intend to progress as a community. In my role on the BOE I have always been quick to listen, slow to reply, and strong in my pursuit of progress on all levels even when it was uncomfortable. I intend to continue toward our progress.

What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?

Inspiring, insightful, kind

What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

In my role as an estate planning attorney, I guide my clients to solutions, present alternative paths, and assist them in executing their goals. Almost perfectly paralleled to my role on the BOE, I have listened to the issues that we have encountered over the past three years, helped develop sound solutions by weighing options, and held the district accountable for executing the strategies we developed. I am strong and act with conviction even when it is unpopular. In acting, I explain my reasoning in a logical and objective manner so that otheres may be that inspired to join in my opinion.

Christopher Natale

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

I have lived in Jefferson Township for 19 years and have 2 children in the school system. I am running of the Jefferson Township BOE because I want to be an advocate for the educational needs of our community's children. I want to participate in the creation of a long-term vision, mapping a course that provides the necessary opportunities students need to reach their full potential.

What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?

Ensuring that our children have competitive advantages, so that they have access to the best possible opportunities. At the high school level, I would like the Guidance Counselors to really know the students they are responsible for. From the first day of Freshman year, they should be aware of the aspirations of their charges, including knowledge of their desired field of study. This will facilitate their ability to not only guiding the student to the appropriate courses to take during high school but also, which universities have highly respected programs for that course of study. Furthermore, they can ensure a complete understanding of the requirements for acceptance into those schools, as well as ongoing monitoring of the student's tracking towards those requirements.

What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?

Passionate, Approachable, and Pragmatic

What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

I have been working in Pharmaceutical Medicine Development for more than 20 years and have successfully led my teams to providing on-time, high quality deliverables. As part of this, I have developed the skills related to project management, risk management, collaboration, and developing long-term strategies towards achieving desirable outcomes.

Lary Wasserman

With a declining enrollment, population, and State funding, the Jefferson Twp School Board faces a financial burden. It is my desire to introduce efficienty by eliminating systems we can no longer afford.

With a Comprehensive Science certificate in the State of NJ I have taught at four year college, two year, and high school to include physics, chemistry, oceanography. As a founding faculty member at Passaic County Community College I was chosen by the tenured faculty as their delegate to the college Presidents Council. Also served as President of the Faculty Association and as Team Leader for Science (same as Department Head wih no administrative certificate). Currently a Navy Commander, Retired , having served aboard a destroyer during the Cuban Missile Crisis and as Commanding Officer of various reserve units. Teaching science in Paterson and Franklin Lakes has given me a wide view of different school districts. Currently I volunteer as a Trustee on various Boards.

[Editor's note: Wasserman did not provide a photograph. All answers are presented as submitted to Patch.]

All candidate images submitted by the candidates and used with permission.